Peat Muck?

[paddles]

One of the problems I face is getting the soil? to stay covering the trees rootsystem in a mounded style, I have a shallow dish, and have decided to try my hand at a forest, I promptly got out my books and started reading (As you do) One of the required materials seem to be "peat muck" which appears to be a mix of clay and peat moss. Is this correct? I went down to the local nursery to talk to the horticulturist, and he felt that in the absence of specialist materials, that clay from the garden mixed with peat moss should work well? he further suggested that I stretch flyscreen wire (nylon sort) over the top until the plants roots establish sufficiently to hold all together.

Any suggestions much appreciated, I have time, it's summer here, and I'll leave all till june/july anyway I think, Maybe? possibly? Face it who am I kidding, unless someone replys "Don't do that you'll kill them all" I'll probably do it tomorrow!







Mind you, if they die, I won't need to cull?

 

[Tachigi]

Face it who am I kidding, unless someone replys "Don't do that you'll kill them all" I'll probably do it tomorrow!

Paddles,
Thats how everybody learned whether they admit it or not. Lord knows I killed my fair share of trees.

But that doesn't address your question

Peat muck, aka muck, keto is basically what you said. I add a little striped long fiber spagnum, and some akadama dust in mine it seems to bind better a trick I learned from an old Brit. I personally would shy away from the fly screen seems a bit to harsh to me. I use raffia or grafting tape to bind my muck ball.

You referenced that the book called for these items for a forest planting. You can use a large shallow pot and just good old bonsai soil to do this unless your bent on doing a slab. Have fun and good luck

 

[paddles]

Should I stick to one type of tree? or can I mix and match? i'll go take a phot of the dish I'm going to use, with a selection of the plants that I'm thinking of using, as always I'm open to advice.

Thank you.

What proportion clay to peat moss, i don't have any akadama dust, tho, is there a substitute material I could use?

 

[Tachigi]

Use what you have don't worry about the dust. As far as tree selection goes your the artist what pleases you is what is most important. Traditional Jap. forests have a tradition of one type tree, but you aren't Japanese so a alpine scene wouldn't be bad either. Have fun with it no matter what you choose and it will give you a good base to learn pot culture

 

[paddles]

Well, its done, no photo's looks yuk, I'll see how it looks in a day or three (Or mths?) one positive thought, I only used tree's that I won't be too sad if they die, and since I used 7 tree's it'll be a bit of a cull!

 

[Lance]

Hi Paddles
I create alot of mini landscape's and I find peat muck to be great... it holds the mountains together and you can pot on them etc, job done,

 

[moonie]

hello i new to this page i found it by looking up how to make muck. i tried on with terricotta clay spagnum moss and peat and just as a test i put a small desert fig into a muck ball and left it out. even watering everyday the ball has gone rock hard and i dont see the plant living. do i have to keep the ball under soil? is my recipe no good? any and all help would be great.
thanks.

 

[GrimLore]

What proportion clay to peat moss, i don't have any akadama dust, tho, is there a substitute material I could use?

1/3 each - peat, chopped sphagnum moss, and modeling clay. The clay I refer to does not harden and is available for children's projects at discount stores. Most use grey but there are shades of brown, etc... Most times a fair portion of the planting is covered with moss but pay attention to not letting it grow on the plant bases. The plants can be secured to the surface with wire. Many people will fasten the wire holders to the material using a couple of drops of crazy glue immediately followed by baking soda to harden it instantly. If you choose that method do it in a well ventilated place. I have seen the same done with epoxy and in some cases concrete depending what material you are bonding the wire(s) to. There are other methods but those are quite popular.

Edit: Also don't inhale sphagnum moss dust, easiest way to chop is by letting it soak a bit and tossing in in a blender.

Welcome, and happy planting!

Grimmy

 

[Vin]

1/3 each - peat, chopped sphagnum moss, and modeling clay. The clay I refer to does not harden and is available for children's projects at discount stores. Most use grey but there are shades of brown, etc... Most times a fair portion of the planting is covered with moss but pay attention to not letting it grow on the plant bases. The plants can be secured to the surface with wire. Many people will fasten the wire holders to the material using a couple of drops of crazy glue immediately followed by baking soda to harden it instantly. If you choose that method do it in a well ventilated place. I have seen the same done with epoxy and in some cases concrete depending what material you are bonding the wire(s) to. There are other methods but those are quite popular.

Edit: Also don't inhale sphagnum moss dust, easiest way to chop is by letting it soak a bit and tossing in in a blender.

Welcome, and happy planting!

Grimmy

Never heard of the baking soda trick before. I'll have to try that one.

 

[johng]

I create a little pile of baking soda first...nestle in the wire and then apply the superglue...instant holding power!!

 

[GrimLore]

I create a little pile of baking soda first...nestle in the wire and then apply the superglue...instant holding power!!

Thank you, I did explain that backwards now that I read it over again Hope all is good your way!

Grimmy

 

[Cypress187]

I create

How are they doing, they must be done by now, that was 8 years ago!

 

[willhopper]

Wear gloves when handling sphagnum moss. Flesh-eating virus risk.

 

[discusmike]

Good chance they never survived

 

[willhopper]

Good chance they never survived

LOL

 

[robert gardner]

Hello,
I am looking for a bag of pre-made Bonsai muck. I bought one a few years ago and just used the last of it.
I would like to buy another bag of it, problem is I can't remember who made it' If anyone knows who sells
pre bagged Peat Muck Please let me know, don't need much the last time I bought it it was in a five
pound bag,
thanks,
Robeet Gardner

 

[Martin Sweeney]

Hello,
I am looking for a bag of pre-made Bonsai muck. I bought one a few years ago and just used the last of it.
I would like to buy another bag of it, problem is I can't remember who made it' If anyone knows who sells
pre bagged Peat Muck Please let me know, don't need much the last time I bought it it was in a five
pound bag,
thanks,
Robeet Gardner

Contact Brad Russell at the Bonsai Learning Center.

Regards,
Martin

 

[robert gardner]

Martin,,
Thanks for the tip. I have just received my pail of super muck from the Bonsai Learning Center.
Great people to work with also awesome pricing on there products.

THANKS again,
Robert Gardner