WNC Bonsai
Masterpiece
The combination of the recent thread on akadama and watering and my decision to try a walk on the dark and use some akadama this spring leads to the following question. In a “typical” temperate zone setting what mixes of akadama, pumice, and lave work best with which trees? Now I know right off that some wise ass will say forget akadama, it will kill your trees, or there is no typical temperate zone setting but humor me and lets discuss the variables. I initially planned to use Boon Mix for my maples, JBP, hinoki, elms, hawthorns and a few of my other deciduous trees but keep most of my conifers in my standard pumice, haydite, pine bark mix.
So the real focus of my question is which species do you use akadama with and in what kinds or ratios with pumice, lava, haydite or other ingredients? As I said in my case I plan you use a basic 1:1:1 ratio of hard akadama, pumice, and heat expanded slate available here in NC. I will still toss in a handful or two of pine bark for every 5 gallons. I am hoping to bump up the moisture holding capacity of my soil and prevent the leaf burn that I frequently get on my maples. So please jump in with your experiences using akadama mixes with various deciduous and coniferous species.
So the real focus of my question is which species do you use akadama with and in what kinds or ratios with pumice, lava, haydite or other ingredients? As I said in my case I plan you use a basic 1:1:1 ratio of hard akadama, pumice, and heat expanded slate available here in NC. I will still toss in a handful or two of pine bark for every 5 gallons. I am hoping to bump up the moisture holding capacity of my soil and prevent the leaf burn that I frequently get on my maples. So please jump in with your experiences using akadama mixes with various deciduous and coniferous species.
umice:lava and some pine fines seems to work well. 
