Hello everyone, I am new to Bonsai and was wanting some advice about soil. I have read some articles and did some research online, but all that did was confuse me everyone says something different. I just would like to make my own mix from stuff that can be obtained from my local garden store.
You'll get a different opinion with each post here too, so don't count on this to unconfuse you! But, generally speaking soil MUST:
1. Drain well (you should be able to water it steadily from above without it running over the edges of the pot because it can drain as fast as you can add water)
2. Have plenty of space for air (larger granules, 1/8" to 3/8" commonly, always screen out the dust)
3. Retain some moisture and nutrients (not between particles, but within them)
4. Accommodate your watering habits/abilities. (If you tend to overwater, more porous soils may suit your habits.)
Some components commonly used include:
1. Lava Rock (
www.coloradolava.com/products.htm)
2. Pumice
3. Turface (used for baseball diamonds)
4. Bark (pine or fir...)
5. Akadama/Kanuma (expensive, wait a few years)
6. Gravel/screened sand from stream beds/Pool Sand
7. Haydite
Read here too, Brent has some well-written articles about soil:
SOIL BASICS:
http://www.evergreengardenworks.com/soils.htm
AGING OF CONTAINER SOILS:
http://www.evergreengardenworks.com/soilage.htm
DIFFERENT FROM DIRT:
http://www.evergreengardenworks.com/earthpot.htm
Good luck! Welcome to the sport of bonsai...