pure turface????

Mcspeed

Matt I guess my question would be what is your fert. schedule like(approximately anyway, I know many deal with it tree by tree), lately I have seen more than a few places where it talked about Americans in general are underfertilizing thier trees, which would probably take care of the toxic build up, but put the tree in an underfed state. Yours don't look undefed by any means, but I'm interested, if for no other reason I probably fall a bit short on what I could be putting on my trees .

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BrianBay9

I have also grown trees in 100% turface, with no obvious ill effects. Like most of us, however, I have no way of knowing if the trees would have performed better with a more traditional mix.

The only way to know is to set up the experiment - grow several similar trees (10 or more, same species, same size) in a traditional mix, and a similar group in 100% turface. Keep them in the same place, with identical care, and follow their growth over a period of months or years. Watering for the two groups would have to be adjusted to keep both soil mixes similarly moist.

I wish I had the ability to do this experiment now. I would encourage someone with the space and trees to try something like this. Most of these discussions in bonsai come down to the same thing......"x, y or z is better because it seems to be for me". Very rarely do we have enough data to make an informed judgement.

Brian

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_gonzo_

Good point Brian,

I say "for me" also.

For what it's worth, I have been in the nursery business for over 30 years and into bonsai for over 20. I HAVE done the experiments because I have the space and the material. I reached my conclusions with cuttings growing side by side in all manner of various concoctions.

Ideally, "for me" in S. Florida, I find I need to water too much (especially in summer) to use only Turface and found that about 60% works best as stated.

In Maine, I use closer to a 75% mix with equal (summertime) results.

I also found that foliar feeding (north and south) is highly under estimated. Certain ferts sprayed right on the leaves (especially the undersides) are taken in directly and produce very good results.

Cheers,

_gonzo_

kaedebonsai

Hi Bill,

I use Aoki cakes from Japan that replace every 6 weeks. Then neptunes organic fertilizer on the specimen trees every Sunday after church. Seems to work well for me. I grow tens of thousands of seedlings also in pure turface. I use knock off branch miracle grow weekly on those.

All,

Like many soil discussions, I guess what works best for you in your climate and your trees is the way to go.

Gonzo,

I have tried a little experiment a few years back with some maple seedlings. 50/50 turface and potting soil, and %100 turface. The 50/50 tree grew much taller, however had much thicker roots.
What I gave up on height I gained in an extreme fine, hair like root system. Obviously more idea for bonsai.
My trees don't grow as big, but certainly I get nice root masses on specimen trees which I like.
If I owned a full scale nursery growing for height, I would not use nearly as much turface.

Matt

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GB_Bonsai

I agree with Matt.

I use a lot of turface. It works for ME. The key for YOU, is to use what works for you in your environment. I suggest buying some inexpensive trees and running tests with those same trees in various soil mixes, including pure turface. See what works best for you. I can tell you that I have never noticed a difference with trees planted in pure turface compared to other mixes. I have used a ton of different mixes, as bought or as mixed. Just be careful and don't start off with your best tree first. Listen to what other people say, but remember, it is not gospel. Find what works best for you, not what works best for someone else. jmho.

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“Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain, and most fools do”
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GB_Bonsai

Well, that explains it. No need for experiments. Just go to church....

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bonsainewbie221

i have more than enough room to carry out this experiment. do u guys think it would be a good experiment to do it with ficus cuttings as they are readily available?


if not anyone got any cuttings they wanna get rid of for cheap so i can do some experiments. maybe like 10 or so.

nsmar4211

I use pure turface for my Portulacaria afra (after seeing a local bonsai nursery do the same). They are succulents and don't like wet feet, so it works out fine. In the summer I do have to keep up on the watering even for them though.

As for ficus, they didn't like the pure turface because it's too dry. Half and half with orchid bark (had a leftover bag) and they were happy, half and half with soil and they were really happy (too happy......gotta go find the saw.....).

The other tropicals (black olive, raintree, etc) just get a mix of turface/soil/bark and lots and lots of water.

The jaboticaba get soil.....they like wet feet here.

During the summer, many of my plants get stood in shallow containers of water even with using soil.

I also use turface as a top dressing, it makes a good soil watering indicator-if it looks bone dry I waited too long for anything other than the p. afra!

I do fertilize often during the summer when all the watering is done... weekly at some points.

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