Mallsai

[nurvbonsai]

i decided to give my first tree a fancy new home in a pond basket, hopefully it'll get a little thicker and less embarrassed to be called a 'mallsai' - aka a roadside rescue with a questionable past. i mean, who wouldn't want a tree that's been sold by a shady vendor on a busy Rd? Despite the dodgy origins, i’m stoked these trees can lead people to discover the art of bonsai and connect with fellow tree enthusiasts through clubs and communities.

Any comments are appreciated. Thank you. I put a bottom aeration of perlite. 25 % or so and filled the rest w potting mix.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Good move, you have given your tree a shot at a real future. It will take 5 or so years, but possible

 

[Joelshack2362]

Nice job, now is a great time to learn your environment for your tree and learn good water routine for it.

 

[Paradox]

Good idea to repot it into a bigger container to allow for growth, but I think you are going to find that potting mix is going to stay too wet for a juniper's liking and will cause some issues down the road

 

[nurvbonsai]

Good idea to repot it into a bigger container to allow for growth, but I think you are going to find that potting mix is going to stay too wet for a juniper's liking and will cause some issues down the road

Anything else to recommend? Perlite is on the bottom and regular potting mix on top.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

A uniform mix is better than stratified layers. The soil mix is dependent on your watering habits. For junipers, 100% pumice is common. ive had good success with potting mix such as you have but mixed 50% with pea gravel and perlite. Juniper like drier conditions.

 

[souvik1811]

I would agree with the advice here on potting mix. Ive killed some conifers in the past using organic soil with perlite. I used to think that using rich fertile organic soil would help in thickening the trunk quicker - but it seems to be counter-productive. Plus free-draining inorganic soil would really take full advantage of your pond basket to let in oxygen from the sides well.

I have a RMJ that was potted with vermicompost and cocopeat and perlite. It did ok for six months with no real growth, but then, it started having the dreaded browning and crisping at the tips. I did an emergency repot a few weeks back. Surprisingly the soil wasnt even soggy, it was just evenly moist, but possibly with less aeration. Any of our local tropicals might have loved that mix - but apparently RMJs like it even drier than most other junipers. After the repot, the browning stopped, and I have the green growing tips back again now.

 

[nurvbonsai]

Stratified meaning layered and uniform meaning percentages? Thanks

 

[Gabler]

Stratified meaning layered and uniform meaning percentages? Thanks

Yup.

 

[nurvbonsai]

Should I dump the soil out and add pea gravel on top of the perlite and add more soil on top?

 

[Gabler]

Should I dump the soil out and add pea gravel on top of the perlite and add more soil on top?

No. Blended is better than stratified.

 

[nurvbonsai]

So does that mean I can buy peat gravel and just sort of place a level of it on top? I understand logically now what you mean but in a practical sense I don’t.

With what I have now, can you explain how best to go about it without losing anything structurally? Thanks.

 

[nurvbonsai]

I’m convinced to dump it all out, mix it all up in a bowl and blend it together with perlite, peat gravel and potting mix

 

[brentwood]

I’m convinced to dump it all out, mix it all up in a bowl and blend it together with perlite, peat gravel and potting mix

I've had such good luck with straight pumice on small junipers in pond baskets, highly recommend if that's still an option
B

 

[nurvbonsai]

I've had such good luck with straight pumice on small junipers in pond baskets, highly recommend if that's still an option
B

I think someone else said that was viable. I’m still wrapping my head around the idea that these trees can grow like this.

 

[Gabler]

I think someone else said that was viable. I’m still wrapping my head around the idea that these trees can grow like this.

Yeah. You could actually kill it in peat-based potting mix if your watering isn't nearly perfect. Junipers and pines don't like wet roots, and they do like lots of air. My junipers are in 100% pumice with a top dressing of chopped peat moss to keep them from drying out too quickly in the sun.

 

[brentwood]

I think someone else said that was viable. I’m still wrapping my head around the idea that these trees can grow like this.

I was going to post this earlier, here's one of my best successes, sick little nana that is now pretty happy after 2 summers in pumice
Good luck whatever you end up doing!
B

 

[nurvbonsai]

I was going to post this earlier, here's one of my best successes, sick little nana that is now pretty happy after 2 summers in pumice
Good luck whatever you end up doing!
B

That’s awesome. Today I ended up trying a recipe with perlite, pumice and potting mix. It seemed like a happy medium of not too wet and not too dry I also visited my nursery for f2f feedback on moves and information incorporated here.

 

[Wulfskaar]

I think someone else said that was viable. I’m still wrapping my head around the idea that these trees can grow like this.

Contrary to common sense, the roots need air and to not be sitting in water.

Bonsai soil is granular. The individual granules can hold water themselves, which the roots "drink" from, but also allow for the excess water to freely drain. As the water drains from the bottom, fresh air will be sucked down into the soil.

Adding fine peat or garden soil may clog up the drainage, not allowing water to flow freely, and will itself hold extra water. In bonsai, we often use more granular organics, like bark (depending on the species).

I'm not sure I'd recommend doing a 3rd repotting this spring, but you might do some more research in a couple years when it's time for the next repotting.

 

[Gabler]

... chopped peat moss ...

Correction: I meant to say chopped sphagnum moss.