Bonsai Soil Alternatives?

Question

Are there any Bonsai Soil Alternatives, because i cant seem to find any in the big department stores and i don't like to buy online. Are there any alternatives that i can find in big stores like Home Depot? Or is it possible to make it homemade with somethings I might find at stores like Home Depot. And if possible, give some more information on Wiring, cause i Don't understand it that well.

Answer 1

This owner/grower/artist is very willing to help. I've attached the link to his soil page, but please explore the rest of his site for ideas on plants and also for their care and cultivation. He has some plants which he has been cultivating for 20+ years.

http://www.american-bonsai.com/default.p...

Answer 2

A good bonsai soil is well draining yet has some water retaining abilities.  Soil mixes can be composed of anything from lava, perlite, turface, vermiculite, pumice, calcined clay, pine bark mulch, etc.  Another thing to consider is particle size.  The soil mix should be sifted to remove the fines that would clog the soil and prevent adequate drainage and air circulation.  Particles should be between 1/16 to 1/4 of an inch, depending on the size of tree, pot, and water needs.  Smaller particles retain more water.  You can read more at the link provided below.

Answer 3

It's easy to make your own bonsai soil...

It must be well draining - to allow air circulation, gritty - to promote root development, and able to hold enough water so as not to dry out too fast.

The two basic components are organic and inorganic material. The soil should be a ratio of these two components depending on the type of tree you are growing - conifers use more inorganic, deciduous use an equal mix, tropicals use more organic.

Organics -

Peat moss

Pine Bark

Inorganics -

Pool sand

Turface

Decomposed granite

Vermiculite

Pearlite

The easiest mix you can make very inexpensively has only two ingredients. I've been using this mix for years with great success & just vary the amount of each to balance the ratio.

1. Turface - fired clay that holds water and doesn't break down over time. The standard ingredient for almost all commercial bonsai mixes. Available at any Agway.

http://www.agway.com/catalog/home_and_ga...

Also made by Shultz as "aquatic plant soil"  - but way more expensive.

2. Nursery mix potting soil - I use Fafard brand. It contains pine bark, peat moss and sand. Available at any good nursery supply. Also known as "Bark mix" or "Nursery mix". Sunshine, Pro-mix and Fafard all make a similar product.

http://www.fafard.com/index.php?p=151