Bonsai Soil / Aggregate Test Report 2014

[BonsaiJack]

Here is the link. This report is more than 6 months in the making. Please email if you would like to see a soil mix or aggregate included in the next report.

http://www.bonsaijack.com/BonsaiJack_Bonsao_Soil_Aggregate_Report_2014.html

Thanks
Jack

 

[Vin]

RIP the Great Soil Debate.

 

[barrosinc]

Lots of info to analyze... thanks for the time invested!

 

[mike sommers]

I can attest to Jack's products. I'm currently using his 221 organic mix for my tropicals and they are doing fantastic. His soil components are very clean and properly screened. Bonsai Block is a unique product, it looks and performs great. I suggest you give his products a try - you won't be sorry.

 

[barrosinc]

why did you leave akadama out of chart 7 and 8?
On the same charts you use indicators that have 6 digits, but there are 7 different aggregates.

Most importantly on the mix water release I am having a hard time following these numbers


Does bonsaiblock have another name?

 

[BonsaiJack]

Good question. "This section of the report will cover soil mix pH levels using aggregates we offer". This report is limited to what is available locally. It does not cover every soil mix or aggregate on earth.

Akadama is not a local aggregate and not included in charts 5-8 so the 7th character has been truncated.

If you have a soil mix you would like to have included in the next report please submit a sample.

Yes, BonsaiBlock is also know as 1/4 inch Calcined Clay.


Thanks
Jack

why did you leave akadama out of chart 7 and 8?
On the same charts you use indicators that have 6 digits, but there are 7 different aggregates.

Most importantly on the mix water release I am having a hard time following these numbers
View attachment 65007

Does bonsaiblock have another name?

 

[barrosinc]

Good question. "This section of the report will cover soil mix pH levels using aggregates we offer". This report is limited to what is available locally. It does not cover every soil mix or aggregate on earth.

Akadama is not a local aggregate and not included in charts 5-8 so the 7th character has been truncated.

If you have a soil mix you would like to have included in the next report please submit a sample.

Yes, BonsaiBlock is also know as 1/4 inch Calcined Clay.


Thanks
Jack

i thought as you had used it beforehand that it would be there... my guess us that the 1:1:1 akadama, pumice, lava would be a very useful comparison as do many people use it. I live abroad so have never actually seen akadama in real life.

 

[coh]

I'd like to know more about the analysis methods, especially concerning pH.

For the individual aggregates, how was the pH determined? Were the aggregates crushed and soaked in distilled water? How many samples were tested? What is the error range? For instance, when you give the pH of turface as being 4.41, how representative is that? I remember from our previous discussion on this issue, that the manufacturer indicates that turface can have a range of pH values. So if you only tested one sample from one bag, that sample may not be a good representative.

Similarly, how was the pH of the mixtures determined? Pour-through method or were the components crushed and soaked in distilled water?

The reason I'm asking about this is because we don't crush our aggregates, we use them whole...and that may have a significant impact on the resulting pH in the pot. If you read the link to the Cornell document on container pH (that you have at the end of your report), you see that the pH in the container is strongly affected by water alkalinity and type of fertilizer used.

Also, I would recommend testing the "holy grail" soil mix, also known as Boon Mix...1/3 each of lava, pumice, akadama. You have all the components.

Thanks for posting the info.

Chris

 

[BonsaiJack]

Max, check the two charts now. The truncated leading zeros have been corrected. That was confusing. Good find.

Akadama, pumice and lava were tested. This is mix # 0101001. See the bottom two graphs.

i thought as you had used it beforehand that it would be there... my guess us that the 1:1:1 akadama, pumice, lava would be a very useful comparison as do many people use it. I live abroad so have never actually seen akadama in real life.

 

[BonsaiJack]

Thanks for the reply Chris. The pH value for a 1/4 inch aggregate is just that, not a crushed aggregate. I hope this clears up the confusion.

You also asked about how the tests were completed. They were performed in a Florida lab. You are welcome to perform your own pH tests to contradict our results. Please post them here when they are complete.

You asked about pH for Akadama, pumice and lava. This is mix number 0101001 with a pH of 7.7

Thanks
Jack

I'd like to know more about the analysis methods, especially concerning pH.

For the individual aggregates, how was the pH determined? Were the aggregates crushed and soaked in distilled water? How many samples were tested? What is the error range? For instance, when you give the pH of turface as being 4.41, how representative is that? I remember from our previous discussion on this issue, that the manufacturer indicates that turface can have a range of pH values. So if you only tested one sample from one bag, that sample may not be a good representative.

Similarly, how was the pH of the mixtures determined? Pour-through method or were the components crushed and soaked in distilled water?

The reason I'm asking about this is because we don't crush our aggregates, we use them whole...and that may have a significant impact on the resulting pH in the pot. If you read the link to the Cornell document on container pH (that you have at the end of your report), you see that the pH in the container is strongly affected by water alkalinity and type of fertilizer used.

Also, I would recommend testing the "holy grail" soil mix, also known as Boon Mix...1/3 each of lava, pumice, akadama. You have all the components.

Thanks for posting the info.

Chris

 

[coh]

Thanks for the reply Chris. The pH value for a 1/4 inch aggregate is just that, not a crushed aggregate. I hope this clears up the confusion.

You also asked about how the tests were completed. They were performed in a Florida lab. You are welcome to perform your own pH tests to contradict our results. Please post them here when they are complete.

You asked about pH for Akadama, pumice and lava. This is mix number 0101001 with a pH of 7.7

Thanks
Jack

Thanks for the additional explanation. I'm not interested in contradicting your results, just trying to make sure that (1) the testing methodology is understood, and (2) that people understand that other factors (water quality and fertilizer used) are important in determining the overall pH of a container mix...initial pH of the dry aggregate is only part of the equation.

So is it correct that a single sample was tested for each aggregate?

Chris

 

[BonsaiJack]

Chris,

I agree. Adding an acidic fertilizer for example will increase the acidity. I doubt anyone will argue that statement. This report is based on soils and aggregates.

You are asking about how may times the pH tests were performed. More than 100 were submitted, some single and some duplicates. If you submit Turface for pH testing 100 times I am sure you will eventually get a value your are more comfortable with. These are our results. Feel free to test your own Turface and post the results.

Thanks
Jack

Thanks for the additional explanation. I'm not interested in contradicting your results, just trying to make sure that (1) the testing methodology is understood, and (2) that people understand that other factors (water quality and fertilizer used) are important in determining the overall pH of a container mix...initial pH of the dry aggregate is only part of the equation.

So is it correct that a single sample was tested for each aggregate?

Chris

 

[coh]

You are asking about how may times the pH tests were performed. More than 100 were submitted, some single and some duplicates. If you submit Turface for pH testing 100 times I am sure you will eventually get a value your are more comfortable with. These are our results. Feel free to test your own Turface and post the results.

Thanks
Jack

Not the point, not the point at all. When you publish "results" like this, you should describe the procedures and how many samples were tested. Otherwise the "results" can be very non-representative and misleading.

Anyway, I've said what I wanted to say. Others can draw conclusions as they see fit.

 

[pbethune]

Bonsai Soil

Awesome job BonsaiJack!!!!

 

[markyscott]

Thanks bonsaijack. Can you help us understand how to derive porosity, air-filled porosity (AFP), and water saturation from these numbers?

Scott

 

[BonsaiJack]

Scott,

Thanks for the reply. Sorry but the tests you mentioned are not included in this report. Maybe in the next.

Thanks
Jack