Question about soil availability

[Kelsan23]

Alright, I’m in south FL and was hoping someone would have some suggestions for purchasing soil components, if I wanted to mix up my own. I’ve purchased from Bonsai Jack and they were great but I’m looking to mix my own, in hopes of getting more soil for the money...if that’s possible.

Buying pumice, lava and akadama seems to be very expensive in large quantities, at least on the east coast.

Does anyone have any suggestions on where to buy the good stuff on this side of the country or alternatives that would work in the Florida heat?

 

[kale]

I have my eye on this stuff. There is a landscape material wholesaler near me who carries it so I was thinkin of buying maybe a dozen gallons or so.

rooflite - Green Roof Media Products

rooflite – green roof media products, growth media products, and green roof soil for long-lasting intensive, extensive and semi-intensive green roofs.

www.rooflitesoil.com

 

[Adair M]

The best way to get good bonsai soil is to get a couple friends together and buy it by the pallet. It gets shipped in, and everyone splits it up. Some bonsai clubs do this on an annual basis.

Try www.bonsaitonight.com. Jonas has done this for me.

 

[sorce]

They've used Napa 8822 Floor Dry in Florida successfully.

Sorce

 

[Moridin]

They've used Napa 8822 Floor Dry in Florida successfully.

Sorce

I'm sorry but how? I have pallets of the stuff at my store so I have a easy supply of this.

 

[sorce]

I'm sorry but how? I have pallets of the stuff at my store so I have a easy supply of this.

There is a very valid argument that even product inside the 8822 bags isn't always the same. We have yet to find another DE or floor dry other than 8822 that works as well and consistently.

Is it #8822?

How how? Lol! I use it straight cuz I haven't found any "pine fines" from HD to mix it with since the one year I did and got excellent growth.

Sorce

 

[Moridin]

Is it #8822?

Yep I usually have about 50 or so 25 pound bags in the back of my store on pallets and about 1500 sitting at my local distribution warehouse. Shops order this stuff from me daily.

 

[HorseloverFat]

Yep I usually have about 50 or so 25 pound bags in the back of my store on pallets and about 1500 sitting at my local distribution warehouse. Shops order this stuff from me daily.

8822 is a LARGE component in MOST of my Substrate mixes.... I just ask the NAPA guys to save me the top two off of each pallet... they’re quite helpful about it.. but if YOU, personally, have wholesale access... run with it!

 

[sorce]

Shops order this stuff from me daily.

Nice.

Napa Oil Dry part no. 8822

Yes, this is elsewhere. However. It deserves it's own thread. Cat litter? Also known as Napa Oil Dry part no.8822. Works fine alone. Mixing is for DJ's. You don't lose a lot to sifting, even if you lose half (you don't, more like 1/6), -$3, oh poo. Lose half your akadama and your out 5...

www.bonsainut.com

I used it sifted at first to use the bigs, but found the smalls (dustfree) to grow things much better.

So I just been skimming off the top lately.

Using the settled dust at the bottom is about the only thing I wouldn't recommend.

Sorce

 

[Moridin]

That's crazy but awesome. I'll have to bring a bunch home when I get back to the store next week after my vacation is over.

 

[HorseloverFat]

Nice.

Napa Oil Dry part no. 8822

Yes, this is elsewhere. However. It deserves it's own thread. Cat litter? Also known as Napa Oil Dry part no.8822. Works fine alone. Mixing is for DJ's. You don't lose a lot to sifting, even if you lose half (you don't, more like 1/6), -$3, oh poo. Lose half your akadama and your out 5...

www.bonsainut.com

I used it sifted at first to use the bigs, but found the smalls (dustfree) to grow things much better.

So I just been skimming off the top lately.

Using the settled dust at the bottom is about the only thing I wouldn't recommend.

Sorce

Indeed.... my sifting processes have become quite crude and barely necessary since I started getting bags off the “top” of the pallet.

 

[HorseloverFat]

That's crazy but awesome. I'll have to bring a bunch home when I get back to the store next week after my vacation is over.

Just mask up when mixing.... it’s worth it....

 

[sorce]

Siiift in the wind....

All I do is siiiift in the Wiiiiiiind.

Sorce

 

[sorce]

Actually, I been wet sifting and wet planting.
Underwater.

It's mad easier!

Sorce

 

[HorseloverFat]

Siiift in the wind....

All I do is siiiift in the Wiiiiiiind.

Sorce

That reminds me of a 10-strip party that five of us had once.. we found my friend, Alyssa, outside in the sandbox, singing “Dust in the Wind” ..crying about how beautiful it was.

 

[BuckeyeOne]

Alright, I’m in south FL and was hoping someone would have some suggestions for purchasing soil components, if I wanted to mix up my own. I’ve purchased from Bonsai Jack and they were great but I’m looking to mix my own, in hopes of getting more soil for the money...if that’s possible.

Buying pumice, lava and akadama seems to be very expensive in large quantities, at least on the east coast.

Does anyone have any suggestions on where to buy the good stuff on this side of the country or alternatives that would work in the Florida heat?

You have a great supplier very close. A little pricey, but great product! And free shipping over $199.
Not sure how close you are to Merritt Island.
American Bonsai Tool & Supply Co. - High Quality Stainless Steel Bonsai Tools & Supplies

 

[Moridin]

Nice.

Napa Oil Dry part no. 8822

Yes, this is elsewhere. However. It deserves it's own thread. Cat litter? Also known as Napa Oil Dry part no.8822. Works fine alone. Mixing is for DJ's. You don't lose a lot to sifting, even if you lose half (you don't, more like 1/6), -$3, oh poo. Lose half your akadama and your out 5...

www.bonsainut.com

I used it sifted at first to use the bigs, but found the smalls (dustfree) to grow things much better.

So I just been skimming off the top lately.

Using the settled dust at the bottom is about the only thing I wouldn't recommend.

Sorce

I can't believe I just read 21 pages on stuff I've used to clean up 1000's of gallons of oil over the years to grow trees in.

Checked with one of my counter guys this morning and we are actually sold out in the store at the moment but we have 900 bags in the warehouse. At $4.80 each my cost I had them order in 10 bags for me and I'll see how it does during next repotting time .

 

[HorseloverFat]

$4.80

 

[sorce]

can't believe I just read 21 pages on stuff I've used to clean up 1000's of gallons of oil over the years to grow trees in.

Reckon that is your special definition of Crazy!

I had a hydrophobic problem with this Boxwood..

Baseball Boxwood Broom

This one is oddly special to me. You see, there's this little woodsy area behind the H.S. (Morton like the Arboretum) that I always pass. Lot of good looking stumps on the fenceline, I've always wanted to go in. Well about 3 weeks or so ago, I got the chance. We had a baseball practice there...

www.bonsainut.com

But it was potted to deep and water wasn't getting in...had I submerged it now and then, it would have been fine.

I haven't noted it again, but it is certainly worth a cautionary eye. The wood chips help change the shape enough to negate any hydrophobia.

Sorce

 

[JonW]

I got a few boxes of pumice from General Pumice Supply. You get usually get 10-15% off as a newcomer or on holidays.