Some facts about bonsai soil

[markyscott]

It is the Beam Clay lava.

I got mine from Plant City Bonsai in Clermont, GA.

I dont know if Steve has any right now. I bought several bags last year that I'm using.

By the way, I gave a workshop today on some zelkova Steve brought in from California. They turned out pretty well! SERIOUS root work!

And, I repotted my little zelkova that I had screwed to a board. Sandy took some pics. I'll start a new thread about it.

Beam clay can be purchased from the manufacturer if they are out at Plant City. They are located in New Jersey. Their prices are quite reasonable - they sent a sample of the lava rock to me a few months ago - it looks like a good product.

http://www.beamclay.com/13 - Bonsai.pdf

Scott

 

[kirk@localbonsai.com]

beamclay..... hmm, good find! shipping must be a killer though ?

 

[markyscott]

Check with them. May not be too bad to MA, particularly if you're buying in bulk. Get some friends together and buy a pallet.

Scott

 

[Diolated]

Tough break, I guess you will have to use what works for you. Again I did not write this to change anyones mind. That thread was titled the "best soil for bonsai" and this is some facts that show how that process relates to akadama.

I can attest to the fact that Akadama left outdoors through an Upper Peninsula winter breaks down nearly completely and turns to mush.

 

[Vance Wood]

I can attest to the fact that Akadama left outdoors through an Upper Peninsula winter breaks down nearly completely and turns to mush.

Good, bad or indifferent, information is always welcome.

 

[barrosinc]

I have not read this entire thread...

But I have an interesting picture to share:

This tree was half bare rooted a year ago. It had been in the typical commercial bonsai mix with some pumice, pine bark and sand. Half of the rootball was washed out and replaced with Boon Mix.

Here are the results, a year later.

Sorry, but the picture doesn't help...
I read that the boon mix is the light grey, but there isn't enough detail to learn anything from the pic. Do you have a closeup?

 

[Vin]

Some interesting opinions from notable professionals: http://www.bonsaiempire.com/blog/akadama-soil

Personally, as much as possible I have avoided the use of Akadama and my trees seem very happy. I'm not
looking to debate but I did find the responses from the experts interesting FWIW. I found Colin's response
to question 4 very interesting. Have fun reading,,,, if you dare.

 

[Adair M]

Some interesting opinions from notable professionals: http://www.bonsaiempire.com/blog/akadama-soil

Personally, as much as possible I have avoided the use of Akadama and my trees seem very happy. I'm not
looking to debate but I did find the responses from the experts interesting FWIW. I found Colin's response
to question 4 very interesting. Have fun reading,,,, if you dare.

Interesting article. One guy said he doesn't use akadama on conifers because you can't bare root conifers to replace akadama when it breaks down.

He must not know how to do a HBR (Half Bare Root) repot.

 

[wireme]

Some interesting opinions from notable professionals: http://www.bonsaiempire.com/blog/akadama-soil

Personally, as much as possible I have avoided the use of Akadama and my trees seem very happy. I'm not
looking to debate but I did find the responses from the experts interesting FWIW. I found Colin's response
to question 4 very interesting. Have fun reading,,,, if you dare.

I read that too, I find it hilarious in that the opinions of a variety of professionals are so varied, it's a lot like reading a soil wars thread here. Looks like it's up to each of us to decide who to believe and what's best for our climates. I'm becoming a bigger fan of Colin Lewis lately, reading his articles and writings. Not necessarily this one linked maybe but in general he seems like a smart sensible bonzai man, I like to read his thoughts and opinions.

 

[Anthony]

Yet Sifu [ @Adair ]

in Japan, one side is recorded as only using gravel, and the other blends Akadama with gravel.
Even in Japan, opinions differ.

I think with an old J.B.pine, I would stick with an inorganic that does not break-down. Clay
makes me nervous.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[JoeR]

I have to say, I potted my first tree(s) in akadama and I now see why everyone loves it. It looks nice if nothing else!



I think I am an akadama fan now.



Should I sift the akadama from the bag? I think it would damage it too much so I did not, and its a relatively similar size.

 

[coh]

I saw this article posted a while back on facebook. Thought about posting it somewhere on this forum but never got around to it.

Ask 5 different bonsai artists about soil, get 5 different opinions...many of them quite contradictory. And then people wonder why soil threads are so much fun!

I started experimenting with some akadama in my mixes about 3 years ago. Some of those trees are due to be repotted this spring. Looking forward to seeing what those root systems look like. I have a set of tridents that I potted in 4 different soil mixes ("Boon mix", turface/grit/bark, potting soil based, and one other that I cannot remember). Top growth was similar in all mixes, will find out shortly what the root systems look like.

 

[GGB]

I read this just in time!

 

[GroveKeeper]

A mix I'm experimenting with is coarse perlite and chopped sphagnum, mulched with wood chips. It's nothing revolutionary but the perlite and sphagnum seem to compliment each other nicely. And the sifted wood chip mulch looks really nice as a top dressing in my opinion.

 

[Adair M]

A mix I'm experimenting with is coarse perlite and chopped sphagnum, mulched with wood chips. It's nothing revolutionary but the perlite and sphagnum seem to compliment each other nicely. And the sifted wood chip mulch looks really nice as a top dressing in my opinion.

Sifted wood chips is a bad idea. As it decomposes, it removes nitrogen from the soil. If you like the look, use sifted orchid moss as a top dressing.

 

[Adair M]

Yet Sifu [ @Adair ]

in Japan, one side is recorded as only using gravel, and the other blends Akadama with gravel.
Even in Japan, opinions differ.

I think with an old J.B.pine, I would stick with an inorganic that does not break-down. Clay
makes me nervous.
Good Day
Anthony

Akadama is not clay.

 

[GGB]

I've heard that wood chips remove nitrogen so I avoid them. BUT, I checked the roots of a pine this morning and noticed mycorrhizae (spelling) all over the root ball. And extremely concentrated on the wood chips in the soil.
As a side note, I did not mix this soil myself, but may consider a very small amount of pine bark in my mixtures

 

[Dalmat]

I have a set of tridents that I potted in 4 different soil mixes ("Boon mix", turface/grit/bark, potting soil based, and one other that I cannot remember). Top growth was similar in all mixes

I think this should close all soil threads.

 

[Adair M]

I think this should close all soil threads.

Actually, no. Top growth isn't the point. It's root growth!

 

[coh]

Yeah, it can't "close all soil threads" for a number of reasons. Total number of trees used was small (about 16), they were all one species (trident maple), and they were young (2 or 3 year old seedlings). So not necessarily a fair comparison for other species, or older/established trees, etc.

I'll update once I check out the roots, will post pics if there is a dramatic difference between the soil mixes.