AusBonsai

hey guys

Ive never really spoken to anyone about what is the best potting mixture for bonsai's.
just want to see what everyone else is using and what positive and negative results they have come across.
I use a mix of organic soil, crushed clay balls and pumice stone with coarse sand. all roughly equal parts.

there are countless threads on that subject if you use the search button mate.

I use mix from 2 bonsai nurseries , all of which are different but they get the job done

mcraig89 wrote:hey guys

Ive never really spoken to anyone about what is the best potting mixture for bonsai's.
just want to see what everyone else is using and what positive and negative results they have come across.
I use a mix of organic soil, crushed clay balls and pumice stone with coarse sand. all roughly equal parts.

What sort of trees do you usually plant in your mix? Do you adjust the ratios to suit the needs of different types?

Jarad wrote:

mcraig89 wrote:hey guys

Ive never really spoken to anyone about what is the best potting mixture for bonsai's.
just want to see what everyone else is using and what positive and negative results they have come across.
I use a mix of organic soil, crushed clay balls and pumice stone with coarse sand. all roughly equal parts.

What sort of trees do you usually plant in your mix? Do you adjust the ratios to suit the needs of different types?

I have four ficus one juniper and one swamp cypress, its pretty much the same for all but the swampie I like to add a little more
organic soil as they like to stay moist but I am only a newbie to this bonsai game so not sure if im doing it write or wrong,
I haven't had any problems yet though, touch wood.

Brian wrote:there are countless threads on that subject if you use the search button mate.

cheers mate!! appreciate your input

I have too many trees to be able to mix special batches for each species so everything here gets the same - tridents, Japanese maples, pines, elms, azaleas, natives, figs etc.
I buy a bulk mix made from 20% coarse propagating sand (around 4-5 mm) 80% 3-6mm pine bark with added fertilisers and trace elements. Trees seem to be growing just fine in that mix in growing pots. For bonsai pots I have been adding about 2 parts coarse Maidenwell high silica diatomite? but I think the bulk mix is open enough to do well even in the shallow bonsai pots.

thanks shibui

I also use the same mixutures for training bonsai and for my bonsai too and have no troubles. I think im going to have to look into this diatomite I've read
up on it partially and sounds to be the goods for the shallow pots. and I might experiment with the pine bark and coarse sand might be a lot cheaper.

Jarad wrote:

mcraig89 wrote:hey guys

Ive never really spoken to anyone about what is the best potting mixture for bonsai's.
just want to see what everyone else is using and what positive and negative results they have come across.
I use a mix of organic soil, crushed clay balls and pumice stone with coarse sand. all roughly equal parts.

What sort of trees do you usually plant in your mix? Do you adjust the ratios to suit the needs of different types?

Nope do not vary at all except for Azaleas. they have 100% Kanuma.

2/3 diatomite, 1/3 Zeolite.
Going to try adding Pumice when I can get over to Botany and pick some up.

Ken

I use the same mix as Ken, except with Pumice because I haven't been able to acquire any Diatomite at the moment.

Also for Ken! I found out that Canley Vale Nursery sells Pumice. which should be a lot closer than Botany!
it is actually quite a nice Nursery, the sell plastic bonsai training pots which are quite cheap and have a large variety of bonsai pots (small and large to VERY LARGE) and also have a nice spread of standard to advanced nursery plants.

if some of you are thinking oh i bet he works there! haha i don't! I was just impressed and recommend to anyone with some spare time

Cheers
Matt

I use a mixture of 50% Megumi bonsai soil and 50% Diotiamite. Works great. I cut costs buy adding coarse sand in when transplanting in growing pots/ pre bonsai.

Question for kcpoole. Where in botany do you go to get pumice?

matty-j wrote:I use the same mix as Ken, except with Pumice because I haven't been able to acquire any Diatomite at the moment.

Also for Ken! I found out that Canley Vale Nursery sells Pumice. which should be a lot closer than Botany!
it is actually quite a nice Nursery, the sell plastic bonsai training pots which are quite cheap and have a large variety of bonsai pots (small and large to VERY LARGE) and also have a nice spread of standard to advanced nursery plants.

if some of you are thinking oh i bet he works there! haha i don't! I was just impressed and recommend to anyone with some spare time

Cheers
Matt

Cheers Matt. Will have a nosey
Ben

Ben Thomas wrote:I use a mixture of 50% Megumi bonsai soil and 50% Diotiamite. Works great. I cut costs buy adding coarse sand in when transplanting in growing pots/ pre bonsai.

Question for kcpoole. Where in botany do you go to get pumice?

I have not gotten there yet, but Scott Roxburgh has purchased from them before Banksmeadow ( next to airport)
http://www.australianperlite.com/pumice/horticulture/

thanks for the tip at canley vale, but that not really convenient for me either!

Ken

so from what I can tell there isn't much difference between the pumice stone and diotiamite as they both have the same qualities only pumice is cheaper?
awesome responses and gives me something to think about when experimenting with a new mixture.
thanks everyone.
cheers Mat.

Just been over to Kingsford and the Enfield to get potting supplies.

Pumice is no longer availabel to the public from Ausperl, but they use a company in Kingsford to distribute

Lux Cuttings is a hydroponic supplier an they are stocking bags of Pumice
http://luxcuttings.com.au/#contact-us

Enfield produce now has new stock of Diatomite (Kleensorb) that initially looks like the original hard material.
I will be testing it first tho

Ken