Can't Keep Up With Watering... Water retentive but Bonsai acceptable substrates?

[doc spring _work]

Hello.
Advanced gardener but bonsai newbie. I typically dabble in fruit trees and veggie gardens outdoors, and tropical plants indoors. I'm really enjoying Bonsai and learning a lot from the wealth of information available here at Bonsai Nut.
I'm having an issue though that I'm looking for resources for. Links and info appreciated. Thanks in advance.

I have mostly pre-bonsai technically, but I still call them my bonsai . I keep them in bonsai pots for aesthetics. Mostly conifers (spruce and pine) at the moment, but considering collecting a local deciduous tree. These live outdoors, but I frequently bring them inside (I like to look at them, and don't trust the crows in my area...)..

My issue is - I simply am really struggling to keep up with watering. I have a busy life with a young family, lots of travel, sports, activities, etc - and I cant always give these bonsai the attention they deserve from a watering perspective. I feel like on days it does not rain, the soil is in need of watering either every day or every other day. Most of the time that's fine - but some weeks that's simply very difficult to do. I'm aware I could setup a sprinkler/dripper system on a timer, but that's a last resort for me - as I do enjoy watering with a hose/can.

So - how can I make my soil more water retentive WITHOUT bogging down drainage? What are the most water retentive components that are acceptable/encouraged in Bonsai practice? As a frequent gardener I love my organic soils and composts, but recognize that is generally not a good idea in these wide, shallow, bonsai pots. My current mixes (all aggregates are 1/4in) are either "33% Scoria / 33% Pumice / 33% Pine Bark" or "80% pumice / 20% organic potting soil". The former is the healthier mix I am sure but I have to water often, the latter is I think generally discouraged but it does retain more water due to the organic soil.

I've also studied https://www.bonsaijack.com/blog/author/storeadmin88/page/83/ (Bonsai substrate test report) and while very interesting - my main takeways were bark retains the most water and expels quickly, turface retains moderately but doesnt give back much, and akadama performs similar to turface but a little better. Charcoal performs well as for as retention and release, but has other issues and probably cant be a large percentage in the pot. Everything else is just a stinking fast draining rock ! haha

What to do ? Am I missing something that could increase overall water retention, to the point where I could water every 4-6 days ? Or do I just need to get over it and accept that daily watering is a part of bonsai practice?
Thank you

There is tons of soil advice available already along with watering ideas.. I want to offer up a different solution.

Aquatic/swamp trees are a fantastic way to work around watering.. this is why as I've gotten further into bonsai I've began to have the belief that the bald cypress is the perfect beginner bonsai tree, allowing people to learn the basics of pruning wiring and other such practices while letting the beginner not struggle with the most difficult part of the hobby watering.

So if limited on time and looking for a new plant (given the post was made about 6 months ago) I highly recommend switching plants rather then playing with soil mediums... Yes this thread has fantastic advice for soil mixes, I think soil mixes depend heavily on local conditions for different plants requirements as well.

 

[Notsureaboutplantnames]

As many others have said, I am in the same boat but have found several work arounds. Larger and deeper glazed pots for many of my plants, fast draining soil with some decent water holding capacity. (some coco, perlite commercial and add additional pumice or lava rock.) I don't like ground growing due to back issues, gophers, and years in greenhouse production.

I have most of my plants bonsai and other maples and conifers on drip, but a different valve.

If you can afford a timer you should look at the Hunter Node(s). Connects to a live irrigation valve and operate just like a timer but you can set the days and duration of irrigation from seconds to I guess hours.
I have one and used it successfully while on vacation during our hot late summer. I am thinking of adding the rain gauge to override when raining (though we dont get much rain in the santa cruz area). Programmable via bluetooth but not internet access.

https://www.dripdepot.com/node-stations-1-solenoid-yes?gad_source=1