Soil Mix for Juniper

one_bonsai

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Would a mix of 70% pumice and 30% potting mix be OK for a Juniper.
 

Wires_Guy_wires

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No, "potting mix" in my world is potting soil. It's not ideal stuff for the long term because it will end up in the bottom of the container. The pumice will act like a filter for the first few months, but once the soil starts breaking down, it will clog the drainage holes and form a cake of mud on the bottom.
 

Leo in N E Illinois

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Would a mix of 70% pumice and 30% potting mix be OK for a Juniper.

You are in Australia. 70% pumice and 30% diatomite of the same particle size would be great. Critical that the particle size be similar. Maidenwell quarries diatomite there in Australia, so it would be a same continent sourced local material.

Coconut husk chips as used for orchids, would work, as would lava as already suggested. Try to keep particle size uniform, with no fines.
 

Leo in N E Illinois

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Also in Australia you have local access to Pinus radiata bark chips. Radiata pine is common for pulp plantations, their bark chips are popular as potting mix with orchid growers because they don't break down very quickly. Usually I get 3 years use out of radiata bark versus one year out of douglas fir bark. Radiata bark is good in a bonsai mix. Again keep the pumice as the dominant ingredient. And keep particle size uniform.
 
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