Grass topper as soil?

[BeepBeepBonsaiSheep]

So was doing some repotting with used potting/ nursery soil

Ran out halfway through a pot and grabbed an open bag of grass topper. Watered and it instantly drained until the water backed up on the used mix

Potted up one extra piece and used 100% of the grass topper. As expected, it instantly drained through and didn’t pool

This might be JUST the thing I was looking for for the desert climate where I live. I don’t think pumice or #8822 will hold water during the summer heat. This organic mix seems like it’ll hold the water I need. Plus it’s much lighter to move bigger nursery pots with this than #8822 when soaked

The consistency reminds me of very coarse coffee grounds

I’ll do some testing along side my cups of pumice and #8822

Ideas? Discuss

 

[sorce]

I had some "lawn soil" in bags that I used to amend aka fill the garden beds.

I think it can be a useful component.

Fuck Pumice. Why it gotta float? Makes life a bitch. 8822 till the world blow.

Sorce

 

[BeepBeepBonsaiSheep]

Here’s my testing setup:

It drains a little slower than pumice or #8822. We’ll see how it does with multiple soaks and drys. See if it compacts like potting soil

 

[Colorado]

I would never use this in a bonsai pot. On my lawn, sure.

Pumice will hold all the moisture you need. If you need to increase moisture holding capacity, then decrease the particle size and increase the size/depth of the container.

 

[Colorado]

Here’s my testing setup:

I don’t mean to burst your bubble, but this test is completely irrelevant.

The lawn topper, just like nursery soil, will degrade and compact in a short amount of time - weeks to months. When we have bonsai that need to stay in the same pot for AT LEAST one year, it’s just not an objectively good option.

 

[BeepBeepBonsaiSheep]

I would never use this in a bonsai pot. On my lawn, sure.

Pumice will hold all the moisture you need. If you need to increase moisture holding capacity, then decrease the particle size and increase the size/depth of the container.

I might go with the #8822. I can get a 20# bag across town for $12 vs a 5# of pumice for the same price ordered from Oregon

 

[BeepBeepBonsaiSheep]

I don’t mean to burst your bubble, but this test is completely irrelevant.

The lawn topper, just like nursery soil, will degrade and compact in a short amount of time - weeks to months. When we have bonsai that need to stay in the same pot for AT LEAST one year, it’s just not an objectively good option.

I don’t doubt that. I’d just like to see for myself. And it’s 30sec of my time for this running experiment while I’m watering my material anyway

And we’ll see how it does with my yamadori in recovery material as well

 

[Ininaatigoons]

Interesting find! Lots of poop in a recycled forest producy base! I am always looking for an affordable well draining grow medium. So far the only thing I have found is Pine Bark mini nuggets that I have painstakingly finished and screened myself. Reptibark is nice, but just as costly as Bonsai Jack (which is very affordable for bonsai pots, but not grow pots). I bet if the topper was used with perlite and sand it would be a great and affordable grow medium. Some trees like a denser soil anyways.