Red Cedar mulch for soil componant?

Entling

Hi.

I was using some Western Red Cedar mulch in my garden, and I was wondering if this could be used as part of the soil for my bonsai. Has anyone any opinions or experience using it? I know people have recommended Fir or Orchid bark, but I do not know if this has the same qualities. I was able to sift it and get a good amount of it, but I am not sure if this would work. Thanks

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TreeBay

When I used cedar chips as a ground mulch it seemed very resistant to decay. It also didn't seem to hold much water. I used it in a spot in the yard that sometimes collected water and found the stuff floating at the top all the time. It might be best to experiment with it first. Some barks contain tannins which inhibit the growth of other plants. Can you get this stuff graded at an appropriate size for bonsai? Something like smaller than 1/4 and larger than 1/8 inch?

Some interesting things I saw recently, that aren't directly related to this subject:

"Bark chips (nuggets) from large mature pine or other softwood trees such as cypress trees contain mostly lignin (dark material in bark), wax and protected cellulose that resist decay."

Concerning the use of hardwood (not conifer) bark in mulches - "These materials rot readily.... low in nitrogen content. The fine particles (less than 3/4" diameter) in such mulches cause nitrogen immobilization in soil...The microflora that decomposes the wood particles takes up the nitrogen required for growth of plants. The result is that the plant becomes starved for nitrogen"

http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/3000/3304.html

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