Njyamadori
Chumono
What is the cheapest and best soil mix for conifers ?
What is the best soil mixes for conifers?
- Thread starter Njyamadori
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Eckhoffw
Masterpiece
Nurseries commonly use a pine bark peat mix -cheap And effective.
WNC Bonsai
Masterpiece
Which conifers? Bald cypress are very different from junipers, and some pines want more water than others.
Njyamadori
Chumono
Pines maybe eastern white pines
Njyamadori
Chumono
For better drainage should I add akadama , pumice and lava rock ?
Eckhoffw
Masterpiece
I think it depends on your specific specimen and plan for it.
If your ready to put it in bonsai pot, the amendments may be a good plan.
If you plan on sizing up or growing your tree out, A larger pot with a cheap nursery like mix can be just fine.
Nybonsai12
Masterpiece
Akadama, pumice and lava rock is a good mix for pines. there are cheaper alternatives of course, but I prefer the akadama pumice lava mix. i Used to have an eastern white pine and it did fine in that mix before I sold it, because well, it was an eastern white pine...
Shibui
Imperial Masterpiece
'Best' and 'cheapest' are not usually the same. The best mix is the one that works for you at your place under your conditions and that varies considerably which explains the frequent differences of opinion among bonsai growers.
All the trees here are in the same mix - conifers, deciduous, tropicals. I don't have time for mixing custom mixes for each tree but they still all seem to grow well.
All the trees here are in the same mix - conifers, deciduous, tropicals. I don't have time for mixing custom mixes for each tree but they still all seem to grow well.
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
DO NOT use a pine bark-peat mix for pine bonsai. It stays too wet!
Landscape nurseries use it in deep pots on trees that are intended to be shipped to a tree lot without getting water for a few days then purchased and planted out relatively soon.
For pine bonsai, most use a mixture of akadama, lava and pumice in equal parts.
Landscape nurseries use it in deep pots on trees that are intended to be shipped to a tree lot without getting water for a few days then purchased and planted out relatively soon.
For pine bonsai, most use a mixture of akadama, lava and pumice in equal parts.
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
1 part Pine bark Mulch, 1part Espoma Soil perfecter, 1 part red lava stone, 1 part Pumice. All mixed by volume. You have to watch you levels of water to make sure you don''t over water or under water.
Njyamadori
Chumono
Okay yeah that’s what I thought to I boaight akakdama , lava rock and pumice from eastern leaf
HoneyHornet
Shohin
I like to add a decent amout of Safe-T-sorb ;fullers earth..great inorganic substrate for real cheap..add with pre bought succulent mix and its great
Then again the conifers I have best luck with are cedar ..I dont seem to do well with the few pines ive pulled...i dont think I was on to fullers earth at that time tho come to think of it
Then again the conifers I have best luck with are cedar ..I dont seem to do well with the few pines ive pulled...i dont think I was on to fullers earth at that time tho come to think of it
Leo in N E Illinois
The Professor
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If you stick with the Akadama, pumice, lava mix, you will have success. It is a good mix.
Buy some straight pumice, and keep it on hand. Possibly some straight akadama. To dry a mix out, you add more pumice & or lava. To make a more water retentive mix, add more akadama.
Bark, Diatomaceous earth, Turface, haydite, perlite, rock wool, decomposed granite, crushed granite, quartzite, chopped rubber tire mulch, horticultural charcoal, coconut husk chunks, coir, vermiculite, peat, long fiber sphagnum, river gravel, sand, marl, leaf mold, and many other things all have been used as part of bonsai mixes, with varying degrees of success, but usually with some success. If watered correctly, most any of these components can be used as part of a mix.
Key trait is particle size. All mixes are improved by being sieved to a uniform particle size. Eliminate coarse and fine pieces. The more uniform, the better the air voids in the mix. The better the health of the roots.
You can grow trees in just about anything, but the traits of a Akadama, Pumice, & Lava blend are hard to beat. This the "best" tried and proven mix.
It is far better to pick one mix, like akadama, pumice & lava, and learn to water and fertilize it correctly, than it is to have a dozen different mixes, each requiring its own watering frequency and fertilizing adaptations.
Buy some straight pumice, and keep it on hand. Possibly some straight akadama. To dry a mix out, you add more pumice & or lava. To make a more water retentive mix, add more akadama.
Bark, Diatomaceous earth, Turface, haydite, perlite, rock wool, decomposed granite, crushed granite, quartzite, chopped rubber tire mulch, horticultural charcoal, coconut husk chunks, coir, vermiculite, peat, long fiber sphagnum, river gravel, sand, marl, leaf mold, and many other things all have been used as part of bonsai mixes, with varying degrees of success, but usually with some success. If watered correctly, most any of these components can be used as part of a mix.
Key trait is particle size. All mixes are improved by being sieved to a uniform particle size. Eliminate coarse and fine pieces. The more uniform, the better the air voids in the mix. The better the health of the roots.
You can grow trees in just about anything, but the traits of a Akadama, Pumice, & Lava blend are hard to beat. This the "best" tried and proven mix.
It is far better to pick one mix, like akadama, pumice & lava, and learn to water and fertilize it correctly, than it is to have a dozen different mixes, each requiring its own watering frequency and fertilizing adaptations.
MrWunderful
Omono
No such thing as “cheapest” and “best”.
Eckhoffw
Masterpiece
Yes. Funny how with experience my cheapo ingredients are getting less and less used. I’m really wanting to transition to primarily pumice and lava. I will admit to still using larger particle sized calcined clay and DE mixed in to stretch out my supply though. Trying to pot up large containers for collected material gets very expensive very fast!
yenling83
Omono
Great podcast called Bonsai Wire, the latest episode is Jonas(Bonsaitonight.com) and Michael(Crataegus.com) discussing Michael's new book primarily, however they go fairly in depth about different mixes they use depending on different factors. I'd definitely recommend checking it out!
Hey guys. Hope i can use this thread for my question.
Well i am quite new in bonsai. Already read some therads about soil but didnt find info about pine burk mulch. Everybody says it has to be composted. How can i determine if it is or not if on the bag is not written. I am wondering what happen if i use normal pine bark mulch? What problems can show up. I add a picture of the much i found in local store. I gladly ask you for some explanations about that.
I would like to use pine bark and perlite for mugo pines.
Lime stone would be ok as inorganic component instead of granite?
Well i am quite new in bonsai. Already read some therads about soil but didnt find info about pine burk mulch. Everybody says it has to be composted. How can i determine if it is or not if on the bag is not written. I am wondering what happen if i use normal pine bark mulch? What problems can show up. I add a picture of the much i found in local store. I gladly ask you for some explanations about that.
I would like to use pine bark and perlite for mugo pines.
Lime stone would be ok as inorganic component instead of granite?
Attachments
Just don’t.
pines grow great in strictly inorganic soil.
I use akadama, pumice, and lava.
Some people refuse to use akadama. Ok, then just use equal parts lava and pumice. Just water more often. Be sure to sieve the mix to assure uniform particle size.
Thank you for answer.
I hope i can find those ingredients for the mix.
Can you also give me some more explanations what can cause mix i mentioned above? I like to understand that more.
stu929
Shohin
I just recently ordered the public that was on sale and was thinking the same thing. I have a bunch of trees I would like to throw in pots in the spring. All are very pre bonsai but I like the idea of getting them in the correct soil. I was beating adding in extra pumice to cut the mixture a little thinner. I wish I could find a good deal on akadama or lava but I haven't seen anything.
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