Soils: Any Opinions?

SierraBonsai

I think Jim is William's evil twin brother

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LinK

I use 1:1:1

Peatmoss, riversand, humus

I don't know if is ok, but I read of this kind of mix on a book.
If you live in a place that is raining a lot you should put some more riversand in your soilmix.

If someone consider this an error please tell.

Cracker_Jack

Ok first of all im new to bonsai so dont kill me if this is a stupid question, but does having a mostly indoor tree have any factor in ur choice of soil mixes?


also....


I was wondering what soil has worked best with tropical bonsai for you guys?

pioneersnt

Here in Anza, the local soil is mostly D.G.(decomposed granite). Is the high Iron content usefull? Has anyone used D.G. for their bonsai?

irene_b

Thought this might be a good time to bump this thread since so many are starting to repot.
Mom

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plant_dr27

Thanks for the nudge. This article is very helpful.

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Glider

I use akadama for all my trees, except the azaleas for which I use kanuma. These work perfectly in the climate here (North London). They both drain very well and both hold suficient water that I am not having to water every hour in summer.

In this climate I need to water once a day in summer. Twice if it gets really hot (in July/August). Because I use the same media, the drying times are consistent between trees (pot size notwithstanding), which makes the need for water predictable and so eliminates any nasty surprises in high summer.

Double line brand akadama is hard enough to hold its integrity for many years. Only the top 0.5 inch breaks down due to freezing and constant wetting/drying. Below half an inch where it stays consistantly damp, it holds its structure and all I need to to is top dress every other year. I have a black pine that's been in the same pot for four years so far and after top dressing this year, still drains like it was just repotted.

Kanuma, because if what it is, tends not to break down anyway.


I agree with this completely. It's the nature of nature that (abhoring a vacuum) any initially sterile medium will only be that way for a very short time unless kept in a lab. After watering in a freshly repotted a tree (in akadama or kanuma), the media become inoculated with all the spores and bacteria that the rainwater carries (I only use rainwater), plus what was on the roots of the tree to begin with.

Add a comaratively gentle fertilizer (organic cakes) and mineral suppliments like maxicrop and within a few weeks the pot is a thriving ecosystem of microorganisms; bacteria and beneficiel fungi. I can smell the rich, loamy scent every time I water (I love it). If I scratch away the surface layer of the akadama my pines are in (e.g. when top dressing), I can see the pots are full of mycorrhyzal hyphae. I can see it at the drainage holes too.

I'm a strong believer in; 'Feed the soil and the tree will look after itself'. I do use chemical feeds to boost trees that are growing on, but mainly as a foliar feed and only rarely as a soil drench (it's a bit harsh on the beneficial fungi and inhibits its growth).

I'm not suggesting pure akadama/kanuma is the best, or even good for everybody, but for my particular circumstances and climate, these two potting media offer the best solution. They give me simplicity, consistancy and predictability (controllability) and give my trees excellent drainage, lots of air and good water retention, plus an ideal ecosystem for all the microorganisms that everything depends on.

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