|
|
|||||||
| Register | FAQ | Members List | Calendar | Mark Forums Read |
| Forum | Gallery | Weather | Journals | Links | Webring | Wiki | NEW:Shop |
| Articles | Opinion | T.O.D. | NEW:Radio | Contests | Humor | NEW: Auctions! | Donate |
 |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes | ||
|
| ||||
25-Nov-2002
|
#1 |
|
Tree herder
 
|
Potting Soil Ingredients
I have read in lots of places things like:
70% sifted THIS, 20% graded THAT, 10% plain WHATEVER. The trouble is, sharp sand varies in composition, akadama varies in grain sizes, John Innes #3 varies in content depending on who supplies it, and so on. I have recently begun sorting all my ingredients out and sifting them all, so that I could start repotting next year following some sort of system, rather than just bunging handfuls of ingredients together until it looks sorta right. Pictures elsewhere on the net and in books/mags all show little piles of ingredients, but NOT TO SCALE!! what is the point of having nice clear pictures if there is nothing to use to scale them  So, I will post a series of photos of all the ingredients I currently have, all graded from fine to medium to coarse, with something for scale. What I want to know is, which of these (if any) matches any of your stuff, and what sizes do you use for different size bonsai. I already have a pretty clear idea in MY mind , but it would help me to know I'm right (or wrong) if I had some feedback. Thankyou. Regards, TB
__________________
"Do not be hasty, that is my motto" -JRR Tolkien, The Two Towers. ----------------------------------- christopherguise.co.uk |
|
|
|
Sponsor Message
|
Potting Soil Ingredients |
|
Forum Sponsor
|
|
|
25-Nov-2002
|
#2 |
|
Tree herder
|
AKADAMA
plain akadama: dust, medium, coarse.
__________________
"Do not be hasty, that is my motto" -JRR Tolkien, The Two Towers. ----------------------------------- christopherguise.co.uk |
|
|
|
|
25-Nov-2002
|
#3 |
|
Tree herder
|
SHARP SAND
Sharp builder's sand: fine, medium coarse.
(I know builder's sand needs washing...  )
__________________
"Do not be hasty, that is my motto" -JRR Tolkien, The Two Towers. ----------------------------------- christopherguise.co.uk |
|
|
|
|
25-Nov-2002
|
#4 |
|
Tree herder
|
'PROPER' BONSAI GRIT
Washed grit advertised as bonsai 'top dressing' (
 ): fine, medium, coarse.
__________________
"Do not be hasty, that is my motto" -JRR Tolkien, The Two Towers. ----------------------------------- christopherguise.co.uk |
|
|
|
|
25-Nov-2002
|
#5 |
|
Tree herder
|
JOHN INNES #3
Finally the organic component, John Innes #3, as supplied by B&Q in the UK: fine, medium, coarse.
__________________
"Do not be hasty, that is my motto" -JRR Tolkien, The Two Towers. ----------------------------------- christopherguise.co.uk |
|
|
|
|
25-Nov-2002
|
#6 |
|
Tree herder
|
The sieves I have at the moment are not exactly efficient...took about an hour to sieve these quantities...
 also some big stuff may have crept into the wrong bags... ... you get the picture though...Regards, TB
__________________
"Do not be hasty, that is my motto" -JRR Tolkien, The Two Towers. ----------------------------------- christopherguise.co.uk |
|
|
|
|
25-Nov-2002
|
#7 |
|
YOU CAN NOT RUSH TIME
|
Hi there, as you know I am not an expert. I make my soil from items the size of the medium or middle bag in each f your groups. I would use the akadama and the grit as well as an organic element the same size as them both. I use the same three items in my soil, I just adjust the percentage of each for the type of tree... to be honest I do not know if I am correct, but my trees seem to like it!
Or simple put.... I have killed my share of trees, non from the soil mix I use!
__________________
A Bonsai student living with his trees at N 44.37 W 77.49... Think before you act... then think again... no good comes from rushing |
|
|
|
|
25-Nov-2002
|
#8 |
|
bonsaiTALK ArchMaster
 
|
TB, Jay
I would also use the middle size in my 5mm orchid bark and Haydite. My mix is 6 parts orchid bark, 4 parts haydite and 1 part coprapeat. The peat is obvioulsy the finest particle in the mix. I have not loat a tree with this mix. Wish I knew about it when I first started then I wouldn't have lost so many trees. David |
|
|
|
|
25-Nov-2002
|
#9 |
|
bonsaiTALK Adept
|
TB:
I use Hadite in about the size in your middle bags as well. I mix mine only with peat moss 50/50 for all but the large trees. I then have to watch the fertilizing which I do every two weeks with a 20-20-20 water soluble type. For the larger trees I use a little larger particle with 1/3 each of hadite, peat and pine bark. It REALLY drains well. So far everything has thrived on the mixes. Oh, I also augment the watering with Superthrive which really helps as well. I think there are as many soil recipes as there are bonsai folks to be honest. Whatever works for you is the best mix I think.
__________________
Regards, Ed |
|
|
|
|
25-Nov-2002
|
#10 |
|
bonsaiTALK Master Chief
 |
Soil mixes
Jay; no offense taken. I believe that specific questions deserve specific answers. As to bonsai mixes I have found that it is most importiant to have about 70%inorganic and 30% good organic materials. There are almost as many diffrent recipies as there are bonsai artests. Personally I am spoiled as I always have sufficent soil for any potting project that may come up.
Glenn
__________________
ripsgreentree It requires an open hand to give and to recieve. |
|
|
|
|
| Thread Tools | |
| Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads
|
||||
| Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
| Soils: Any Opinions? | Ron Martin | Soils, Fertilizer & Repotting | 37 | 3-Jun-2008 01:33 AM |
| Re: Wiring...how damp is my soil? | Andrew G | REC.ARTS.BONSAI | 1 | 9-Sep-2004 01:00 PM |
| What Soil Do You Grow Out In? | BonsaiBen | Soils, Fertilizer & Repotting | 11 | 26-May-2004 04:29 AM |
| Another ?? on Bonsai Soil | hooligan | Soils, Fertilizer & Repotting | 2 | 31-Jul-2002 02:59 PM |
| What's the big fuss about soil ingredients? | TreeBay | bonsaiTALK FAQ | 0 | 31-Oct-2001 02:37 PM |
Linear Mode
