local soil mix

[Blackthumb]

I'm seeking opinions on a general purpose soil mix.
These are the things I can get locally.
I'm near Myrtle Beach, SC if you happen know something locally that I don't.

- Diamond Pro (like turface)
- Dyna Rok (I haven't actually been to the retailer yet, so I'm not sure what size they have)
- I found a mulch retailer that has lava rock, but it said average size is 1 inch
- I can probably get chicken grit or dry stall.. but research on those has left me confused.
I don't know if dry stall is really appropriate, and I don't know what to look for in chicken grit
- Pool filter sand or play sand
- various organic mulches or potting soils at lowes and home depot.

Now I know an obvious answer is "contact a local bonsai club" and I will after summer when I have time to get involved in one. But, in the meantime, can I get some suggestions from you guys?

I was thinking about a general purpose mix of Diamond pro, Dyna Rok, and pine bark as these seem to be the easiest for me to get.

 

[Dav4]

drystall is pumice...great component of a mix or used straight. Chicken grit is good as a filler, I use crushed quartz(sand blasting sand) for my filler. Not familiar with Diamond Pro, but have been using turface MVP for a decade with good results. Lava is wonderful, much like pumice, but you need it in a smaller size, say between 1/8 and 1/4". Pine bark is fine as an organic component to a mix...I haven't used it in years as I just use a 100% inorganic mix of turface, crushed quartz, and lava for most re-pots.

Dave

 

[rockm]

Do NOT use play sand or sand box sand. Far too fine and will clog easily. I have used Swimming pool filter sand, though. It is excellent in bonsai soil, not too fine, but not too coarse. My supplier went out of business though. The brand I used was Mystic White--crushed quartz.

The brand of chicken grit you're after is "Granni Grit" comes from quarries in N.C. User the "starter" grade for soil. You can also use the "grower" grade for coarser soil. However, this stuff is after all crushed granite and it is VERY heavy in containers. Haydite is expanded shale used in cinder block plants that is lighter and just as good, or better than chicken grit.

As for mulch, you dont' want to use the landscape stuff right out of the bag--too bulky and requires a lot of sifting and you lose 90 percent of it. Try to find composted pine bark mulch. It is sold as "soil conditioner" to amend clay soils. I've gotten it at Lowes in bags in the mulch section as "landscapers pride". There may be other brands that are similar --whatever you find MAKE SURE COMPOSTED PINE BARK and not other stuff like dolomite.

 

[Blackthumb]

ok interesting bit of info here...
this may even be worth its own thread because I'm confused, and others may be too.
I called KAT company that makes "Dry Stall"
the lady I spoke with seemed familiar with using Dry Stall in bonsai, and pointed me to southern states co-op.
She very specifically said not to confuse the product "Dry stall" with "Stall Dry,"
because the latter contains clay that can be harmful to bonsai.

The crappy part of this story is that I called the 3 closest southern states retailers and ALL of them said
that they had the Stall Dry, but not Dry Stall

 

[FrankP999]

Some Southern States dealers may order the Dry Stall for you if you ask real nice. That's what I did but I had to buy a minimum of 5 bags.

 

[Umeboshi]

The lady you spoke with is right, you want dry stall not stall dry. Stall dry is a very fine consistency and useless for bonsai soil. Dry stall is great. I now use a mix of dry stall, turface and a smaller amount of uncomposted pine bark. Do you have Agway in your area? That is where I get dry stall. If not you can find the dry stall website, they have a list of retailers.

 

[Blackthumb]

Well I ran down to the tractor supply company and found manna pro chicken grit (insoluble crushed granite).
They didn't have grani-grit brand, but I'm fairly confident after looking at the grani-grit website this is the same thing.
Bonus: They also had a nanking cherry sapling that I think I'm gonna stick in the ground for a couple years.

So anyway my revised idea for soil mix is

40/40/20
Turface/Grit/Pine Mulch

I like the "idea" of 100% inorganic, but it makes me a little nervous with my work schedule and travel. It's entirely possible I may miss a watering here and there.
I would think having that bit of mulch in there may make it a tad more forgiving.. just a theory

 

[rockm]

You'll want the "chick grit" from Manna. If you use the regular grit, you will have a VERY fast draining soil. Also make absolutely sure the grit you're getting isn't the medicated stuff for chicks AND that it isn't the oyster shell grit.

I ran into a problem when I looked for grit at my local feed store. Found pigeon grit that was a more attractive grey/brown color than the whitish granite stuff. It contained anise oil though. I guess because pigeons are gourmet eaters...Oil is not what you want in your soil.

 

[jk_lewis]

The major problem (for me) with both the chicken grit (Granny Grit) and Dry Stall is that they are snow white. NOT attractive in soil, IMO.

 

[Blackthumb]

The major problem (for me) with both the chicken grit (Granny Grit) and Dry Stall is that they are snow white. NOT attractive in soil, IMO.

That's why I refuse to use perlite.. that stuff is uuuuuugly lol
The particular grit I picked up has a gray color that I think will look fine