Alternate soils for azaleas?

[Handsome John]

So in my neck of the woods, there is next to no way to get my hands on Kanuma for a decent price that I have seen, what other mixes do you use for Azaleas? Unless some people where to pick some up in Ontario without me having to sell my firstborn for it haha

 

[fredman]

I hope enough people gives input on this, as I want to know to....

 

[Stan Kengai]

Pumice and bark (pine or preferably fir) in a 2:1 ratio. This is what I use on azaleas in larger training containers. I haven't tried it in a bonsai pot, though. Top with sphagnum moss to prevent floating soil.

 

[barrosinc]

I have used bark, pumice, sphagnum moss, peat moss, something local that looks like kanuma in different proportions. Always high amount of bark and pumice. Azaleas have good roots usually unless the soil doesn't drain well.

Keep it on the acid side.

 

[Wilson]

From everything that our brothers from the south east US post, seems like just good topsoil (fafard) or peat mixes for acidity. Have you checked out the bonsai guy in London, only asking cause it says you're in southern Ontario.

 

[petegreg]

It's same here, kanuma is as expensive as akadama. I've found a replacement of akadama - DE, lava , zeolite and pumice, have I really, the time will tell.
But haven't found any replacement of kanuma so far if I wanna go inorganic.

 

[GrimLore]

I use Fafard Premium Topsoil mixed with Course Sand and some Horticultural Perlite in the past with excellent results. @johng uses similar and you cannot argue his are great... This year I am growing a few more and I am switching out the Perlite with Fine Pine Bark Mulch. They like damp not wet and either works good. If you "need" to dress them up for a proper pot I would use the same and top it off with a 1/2 inch or so of crushed volcanic rock or similar for looks.
That Fafard in actually manufactured in Canada so getting it should not be a problem. Here it costs 4.99USD for a bag and contains nothing but black rich composted soil. I "might" find a twig in 1 of 3 bags but that is rare...

Grimmy

 

[Wilson]

@petegreg how do you like zeolite? I get chabazite here, I know it is more frequently used in Europe.

 

[petegreg]

Oh well, I can't say anything against using it. But....
What I could read about it, it can hold too much fertilizer or nutrients. This can become an issue with species we need to control (start and cease) fertilizing, not my issue with my trees in development. I use it in mixes, but have few trees planted in pure zeolite. The same species at the comparable stage of development in DE...I really can't see the difference, only if it's heavier. In any case I wouldn't underestimate it as a substrate or its part.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Pumice 50%, small bark and peat moss 50%.

 

[Lazylightningny]

bark and peat moss in equal amounts?

 

[Bonsai Nut]

bark and peat moss in equal amounts?

For me? Yes. I should have said 50% pumice, 25% bark, 25% peat.

They seem to love this mix. My wife was actually having me move some of my pre-bonsai onto the porch over the holidays because they looked so nice with all their blooms.

 

[Handsome John]

Well that gives me alot of ideas of what to play with, thank you everyone!

From everything that our brothers from the south east US post, seems like just good topsoil (fafard) or peat mixes for acidity. Have you checked out the bonsai guy in London, only asking cause it says you're in southern Ontario.

And yeah hes where i get my lava rock pre-graded so that i don't have to do so much work hah but i should ask him what he uses too.

 

[fredman]

50% pumice, 25% bark, 25% peat.

That is the one that I would go for next replant. I tried pure pumice but it did not do it for me. The ones I had in pumice with some composted bark in did better, but still not as I would like. The peat makes more sense to me...

 

[Handsome John]

good thing i can that stuff easy, pumice, peat and does it matter what kind of bark or should i just stick to pine?

 

[GrimLore]

does it matter what kind of bark or should i just stick to pine?

I use what they grade as Fine Pine Bark Mulch in potted.

Grimmy

 

[Handsome John]

sweet Grimmy thanks!

 

[Wilson]

@Handsome John how are his prices for lava? Does he carry other substrate? His website/Web presence is pretty lacking.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I use what they grade as Fine Pine Bark Mulch in potted.

Grimmy

I agree. When I said small bark you want the small particles not larger than pea gravel. If you look closely at my photos you can see the bark; it looks like dark particles about the same size as the pumice.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

This is what I use