Mixing Your Own Soil

All plants have different requirements when it comes to the soil they are potted in. Some plants prefer a soil that drains well and some prefer a soil that will retain moisture for a longer period of time inbetween waterings. Some plants prefer a more alkaline or acidic soil. If you are purchasing a plant or tree from us, you plant has been potted in the soil that is best suited for that particular plant and container size. You will need to research the appropriate potting mixture when you decide to repot.

WE SELL A VARIETY OF SOILS IN OUR WEB SITE AND WE ARE SURE YOU CAN FIND THE MIX THAT YOU WILL NEED FOR YOUR PLANT OR TREE.

AKADAMA IS A SOIL WHICH IS USED BY MANY EXPERT BONSAI GROWERS AND BELIEVED TO BE ONE OF THE BEST SOILS YOU CAN USE.

Akadama holds water and nutrients without water logging and facilitates fine root growth. The color of the soil defines it's need for water. Light tan soil needs water, dark brown - the water content is good. AKADAMA CAN BE USED STRAIGHT OR AS A SOIL ADDITIVE. AKADAMA IS MINED FROM ANCIENT VOLCANIC SOILS. THIS IS CURRENTLY ONE OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY SOILS.

IT IS THE FIRM BELIEF OF THE WRITER OF THIS INFORMATION THAT THE BEST SOIL OR SOIL ADDITIVE IS THE OLD, ANCIENT, TRIED AND TRUE METHOD OF BONSAI FOR CENTURIES... DA TA DA DAAAAAA.......... AKADAMA AND KANUMA SOILS. IT CAN BE USED ALONE OR AS AN ADDITIVE TO YOUR BASIC SOIL. IT NOT ONLY HAS IN ITS OWN STRUCTURE A FANTASTIC GROWING MEDIUM, IT IS THE PERFECT DRAINING SOIL. AND YOU KNOW JUST WHEN TO WATER. I FEEL THERE IS NOTHING BETTER TO POT IN TO HELP A PLANT RECOVER FROM TRAUMA SUCH AS BEING OVERWATERED TO THE POINT OF WITHERING LISTLESSNESS. I LIKE TO USE IT WHEN I FIRST TRANSPLANT SEEDLINGS. OF COURSE I ADD A FEW LITTLE THINGS HERE AND THERE TO COME UP WITH WHAT I FEEL THE PLANTS REQUIRE FOR A GOOD UPBRINGING AND IT SEEMS TO BE PAYING OFF FOR ME. OF COURSE, THAT IS MY OPINION AND PLEASE FIND OUT WHAT WORKS FOR YOU IN YOUR PLANTS SURROUNDINGS.
A LITTLE RESEARCH CAN HELP YOU.... HELP YOUR PLANT, TO BECOME ITS OWN WORK OF ART. THERE IS A BIGGER ENJOYMENT OF A TREE COVERED IN FLOWERS AND BEAUTIFUL FOILAGE THAN IN A TREE THAT IS SURVIVING. YOUR CHOICE OF SOIL IS AN EXTREMELY LARGE PART OF YOUR BONSAI'S LIFE AND IT SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. ONE LAST THOUGHT, CHOOSING THE CORRECT SOIL IS ALSO AN INVESTMENT IN THE FUTURE HEALTH OF THE PLANT. YOU CAN THINK OF IT AS A PREVENTATIVE MEASURE. SOGGY, MOIST SOIL ATTRACTS BUGS !!

KANUMA IS A HIGH QUALITY SOIL USED MOSTLY FOR ACID LOVING (LIME HATING) PLANTS.

Azaleas, gardenias, camelias all love acid soil and Kanuma soil is perfect for them. This soil helps to grow fine roots necessary to keep larger plants in smaller pots. Kanuma soil retains moisture and its PH varies from 4.5 - 5. YOU CAN TELL THE SOILS WATER REQUIREMENTS BY THE COLOR OF THE SOIL. LIGHT COLOR, NEEDS WATER AND DARKER COLOR DOES NOT NEED WATER YET.

SOIL ADDITIVES ARE SIMPLY PUT.... ADDITIVES TO YOUR SOIL ! LET'S DISCUSS A FEW AND HOW THEY HELP YOUR SOIL.

VERMICULITE is used as a wetting agent in germinating seeds and propogating cuttings. Vermiculite retains water.

RED LAVA is a porous material which will hold water and still allow draining from around the roots. Red lava is relatively heavy compared to pumice and will not float to the top of the mix. Lava can easily be removed from the roots at repotting. Red lava rock can also be used crushed as an attractive top dressing.

BLACK LAVA - works on the same principal as the red lava and can also be used as a top dressing.

CRUSHED GRANITE - can be used as one of the basic components of bonsai soil mix. Crushed granite can also be used as a top dressing when creating paths and stream bed designs. Crushed granite looks very attractive as a decorative layer on humidity trays. When mixed with the soil, crushed granite helps to retain water while allowing for generous draining. The rough surface areas stimulate the plants to grow new fibrous root systems. Mixing granite is ususally pin head to match head in particle size.

PUMICE - is an additive used for better water drainage. Pumice is appropriate for dry condition loving plants such as succulents. Pumice helps the soil hold more air while retaining the proper amount of water. Air is also important to your plants health.

TURFACE - or calcined is a clay product fired at approx. 1200 degrees and is then ground and screened to remove the small particles. Use calcined clay on you top soil dressing and it will take the guesswork out of watering. Calcine clay is an excellent soil additive, it is porous and still promoted good draining. Just like Akadama, the clay lightens in color as it dries out. The darker the clay is, the more moisture it is holding.

It is the firm belief of this writer that the best soil or soil additive is the old, ancient, tried and true method of bonsai for centuries.... da ta da daaaaa..... Akadama and kanuma soils. It can be used alone or as an additive to your basic soil. It not only has in its own structure a fantastic growing medium, it is the perfect draining soil. And you know just when to water. I personally feel that there is nothing better to pot in to help a plant recover from trauma such as being over-watered to the point of withering listlessness. I like to use it when I first transplant seedlings. Of course I add a few things here and there to come up with what I feel is required for a good upbringing and it seems to be paying off for me. Of course that is my opinion and please find out what works for you and your plants in their surroundings.

A LITTLE RESEARCH CAN HELP YOU.... HELP YOUR PLANT, TO BECOME ITS OWN WORK OF ART. There is a bigger enjoyment of a tree covered in flowers and beautiful foilage than in a tree that is merely surviving. Your choice of soil is an extremely large part of your trees life and it should be taken seriously. One last thought, choosing the correct soil is also an investment in the future health of the tree. You can think of it as a preventive measure. Soggy, moist soil attracts bugs and diseases.