Mix your own Media/Soil blend (Bulk buying options)

[kbonsai8]

Hello to all the bonsai nuts out there!! I am very interested in mixing my own bonsai soil blend. Looking through the usual suspects for options (home depot, amazon etc) , it seems like smaller pumice (bulk <3/8") is on the more expensive side. Has anyone ever found an economical source for pumice and other bonsai soil components as well? Not trying to step on anyone's toes who sells this stuff but would love to find some better/cheaper options buying in bulk so I'm not breaking the bank!! I am open to suggestions for a lot more than pumice but figured that would be a good starting point. I am in the greater Chicago area also BTW. I have also seen pine shavings being used for collected Yamadori. I'm starting to think a farm and fleet store may not be a bad option to consider.

-Kyle/Kbonsai

 

[rockm]

Your mix will greatly depend on your physical locality. Those of us who have made Typically have to source local ingredients. What’s available in Miami won’t be in Boston.

Your local bonsai club is the best place to ask this question. They know what’s available locally and what will work I your climate. You will get a hundred responses here about what to use. Most will probably be problematic if they live in areas that don’t have the same climate as you.

Also it CAN be les ls costly to mix your own but it can also be A LOT more expensive depending on what you’re using. I used to make my own mix for years got tired of doing it. Spotty supplies of ingredients shipping costs etc made it to aggravating. I also use over a hundred gallons of soil depending on the year. My trees are on the large side. One takes 25 gallons of soil at repotting

 

[kbonsai8]

Your mix will greatly depend on your physical locality. Those of us who have made Typically have to source local ingredients. What’s available in Miami won’t be in Boston.

Your local bonsai club is the best place to ask this question. They know what’s available locally and what will work I your climate. You will get a hundred responses here about what to use. Most will probably be problematic if they live in areas that don’t have the same climate as you.

Also it CAN be les ls costly to mix your own but it can also be A LOT more expensive depending on what you’re using. I used to make my own mix for years got tired of doing it. Spotty supplies of ingredients shipping costs etc made it to aggravating. I also use over a hundred gallons of soil depending on the year. My trees are on the large side. One takes 25 gallons of soil at repotting

Ok, great point!! Makes a lot of sense that the best options for bulk would be location specific. Thanks for your input.

 

[rockm]

Ok, great point!! Makes a lot of sense that the best options for bulk would be location specific. Thanks for your input.

You should fill out the location info for your avatar to the left. Doesn’t have to be specific country/state will do it. We have international membership

 

[James W.]

Chicago bonsai club is a great resource, tap them. Ask 6 people and get 13 opinions.

 

[kbonsai8]

Chicago bonsai club is a great resource, tap them. Ask 6 people and get 13 opinions.

I plan on joining the Chicago Bonsai club... not sure if its the same as the Midwest Bonsai society/Chicago chapter. Have 3 young kids right now and very little time for meetings/events but that is definitely a plan for the near-ish future! Is there a effective way to use them as a resource through this forum?

 

[kbonsai8]

whoa lol, not sure how that happened! Looks like I modified your comment somehow...

 

[RJG2]

Closest club to me is an hour and a half away - it's worth the club dues even if the only thing I did was participate in their spring "bulk buy" of akadama/lava/pumice.

Being on the East coast, shipping is the real killer.

 

[rockm]

Join the club even if you can’t make meetings in person. Clubs usually send out newsletters etc. that can have a lot of info on resources and events. Attending at least one meeting would help you contact people and get to know their faces and Vice versa. Contacts are an important part of the hobby that are often overlooked but make things so much easier

 

[PerryB]

Local hydroponic suppliers can be a great resource for pumice especially. They typically are selling to cannabis growers, but I've found good prices on pumice, pond baskets, fish fertilizer, liquid seaweed, humic acid, Clonex, etc.