Bonsai Soil, April 2015

I talk about the use of bonsai soil and then mix up a batch from locally found ingredients.

[@meatsandwich7552]

The Bob Ross of bonsai. So many happy trees! Very informative in every video even if you are discussing basic trim methods or style ideas for your trees. Thank you for creative ideas for my own!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks, it's great to have a good community of viewers. I'm sure in the coming years there will be many successes and always some failures!

[@limelendez4725]

Hello Mr. Saunders, my name is Li and I'm a bonsai beginner I got into the art of bonsai like a year ago and I been watching your tutorials there some of the best I've seen so far please keep up the good work.....THANK YOU SO MUCH BECAUSE I'M LEARNING A LOT FROM YOU....GOD BLESS YOU AND ALL YOUR BONSAI CREATIONS....I will keep watching and thumbs up.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Li Melendez Your very welcome and I'm glad you enjoy the videos! I am always learning also.

[@SomewhatHonest]

Have you kept up with bonsai? :)

[@ChenHaziza]

@@TheBonsaiZone that answer alone makes you a great man. joining all the thanks for all the pointed guidance very understandable content.

[@freakyace9225]

Good

[@bigphatbugger]

Best and most detailed explanation of bonsai soil I have seen so far. Thank you.

[@drewmadenew3000]

Mr. Saunders I would really like to thank you. I accidentally found a video of yours a couple years ago, and it started a fire in me that has turned into an obsession! Bonsai has become my life. It's taught me patience and serenity. I was a really uptight guy. Easily bored and had a bad attitude. But finding your channel, and growing as a person while growing trees has changed my life. God bless sir! Keep it up!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Very nice to hear Christopher. Bonsai can change your life, it changed mine in a very positive way. It almost becomes a lifestyle and changes the way you think about nature and yourself. All the best Christopher in your bonsai adventures!

[@drewmadenew3000]

Nigel Saunders, The Bonsai Zone thanks Nigel.. the fact that you have 76,000 subscribers, and you have responded to all my comments means a lot! Thanks again brother. Be well!

[@arthurjackson277]

Nigel so happy I found you. You are a natural at instructing. I really appreciate your work. I have been collecting and cultivating Bonsai for over 40 years, but always enjoy learning from the experts.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you Arthur, I wouldn't call myself an expert, I too am just a student trying to learn all I can about my trees! Happy growing!

[@ellietobe]

I don’t even have a tree as yet. I want to start with a tree that I choose from the wild and practice and learn on that. I have been reading and watching videos and am amazed that any living things can live on the inorganic soil that most use for Bonsai. Mr Saunders has explained some of the reason why but there is more that I need to comprehend before I choose a tree and a mixture.

[@EpistemeUM]

Thanks for the wealth of great info! I do a little sifting for my succulents, but on a smaller scale. I was worried when I saw all the dust flying! Please consider wearing a mask, with all is good but at least with the perlite. Perlite is a silicate. Long-term inhalation can cause silicosis and cancer at worst, at best make you much more vulnerable to respiratory problems. It's awkward but worth it and I wanna watch a lot more of your videos! Which are so far, awesome! I'm having a ball digging through and learning :)

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks, I do use a mask all the time now, glad you are enjoying the videos!

[@bonsaitherapy1468]

I watch this video over and over again. This one and Bonsai Iligan. Simple and straight to the point.

[@shngsam8777]

Thanks Nigel, this is the best tutorial video i seen so far because you start off by explaining is about us , how often we wanted to water and what weather we in , etc and than going into the mixture ratio

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you, it's maybe a little long, but it's an important topic also!

[@shngsam8777]

totally agreed ! this is an important topic

[@goakitchen9780]

I always enjoy your videos Nigel, they are so full of professional information and help. Thank you.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you, it's nice to hear!

[@mikeycityify]

This video is very well appreciated Nigel. What a gift. Thank you for sharing this.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@BackSeatHump]

You're a courageous man, Nigel. Soil mixture is a difficult subject to convey but you've done well! I use (1) non-perfumed cat sand (instead of turface), (2) pebbles, and (3) potting soil - although after seeing this video of yours I think I'll start using compost/peat instead of potting soil. Nice video!

[@laughingc0w]

Best soil video. Very informative and helpful. I watched a bunch of diff vids and this was the most helpful. Thank you!!

[@ellejayn]

I just have to tell you Nigel, you have me completely addicted to this soil mix. I use it for EVERYTHING. Bonsai, houseplants, now even non-bonsai outdoor plants - at least as a base for just about everything. If something's not sifted, I get all twitchy! (I also started using a moisture meter, but mainly just on houseplants.) I lose a lot less plants now, it's wonderful.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Ellejayn, good to hear!

[@ellejayn]

@@TheBonsaiZone unfortunately I cannot just up and repot as spontaneously as in the past, I dislike how long sifting takes. But, what can you do.... eh?

[@christianbenavente6202]

On a serious note. This video was very helpful. All the soil videos ive seen before just go on about Akadama and lava rocks, but you are the first i found to actually talk about the organic aspect of the soil😅 thanks for another informitive video and am currently bingeing your channel. Keep up the good work

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you Christian, you might want to check out the playlist tab and watch the progression of the trees in order!

[@invernomuto00]

oh god I was super focused on the details of soil sifting when the random chicken showed up and I lost it.

[@oscarpalm4863]

Inquisitive animals sure brightens up any day. :)

[@herzymasna]

Thumbs up for his hair style !

[@nsolanoc.]

Gokú bonsáibuilder!!?

[@anthonychristina5038]

His hair is a specimen bonsai in itself. 10/10 hair style

[@khanos73]

better than African/Jamaican style

[@babyboltbark]

😀 absolutely. It has a personality and will of its own.

[@aapreborn]

Is it a hair style? Looks like he just woke up lol (joke) looks nice Nigel thanks for the info.

[@AmirKhan-lv9sk]

hi, I'm Aamir from Pakistan I have seen some bonsai videos of yours, you are doing best of bonsai learners. i'm also your fans I think you are best bonsai docter. thanks for sharing good videos. please make a mimosa poudica bonsai video.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I'll see what I can do, thanks Aamir.

[@Frethzel]

This is what im looking for to find out. Soil mix bonsai it depends to your country weather and species of your bonsai. Very informative

[@meatsandwich7552]

Even failures teach us something. Thank you for all of your hard work. you definitely have a sub here!.

[@CallMeJuancho]

Hope you're getting money from these videos man, lots of great work here!!! I appreciate all the knowledge, you got yourself a new subscriber!

[@souvikdhali4605]

sir at first of all I am wanted to thanking you for such kind of good videos from you, your videos are always really helpful for me and specially in this video it just clear my all doubts about the Bonsai soil your videos are always very good and always helpfull to me in gardening thank you sir thank you so very much...

[@TheBonsaiZone]

You are very welcome Souvik!

[@jfkeeling]

Thanks Nigel, I have some seedlings growing, great videos, got me excited to try bonsai. Now I know what I need to do for great soil.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Good luck and happy growing Jesse!

[@BannanaOnFloor]

Thank you for making this! It's my first time repotting and you make it seem a lot less scary than I thought it was going to be!

[@debkousik8943]

Marvellous. Inorganic and Organic, watering , Sunlight , and more .

[@manuelmeier9462]

Dude, your videos are so helpful to get started in bonsai! Hope for the best and thanks a lot

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Manuel, nice to hear and I hope your trees grow well!

[@amos7541]

that's great thanks for the advice I like the way you take time to explain keep up the good work I am truly your follower

[@xqsqxmz2450]

7:30 so true! i do always feels the "bonsai soil" is more like the grow medium that support the plants to stand and hides the roots in dark, like other style of clay pebbles, not the actual soil which can provides a lot more stuff for helping or confusing......... great content

[@ericbrown4761]

I bought into the NO ORGANIC WHATSOEVER pitch, and now I wish I had given it some more thought. I'm going to have to come up with a way to mulch my trees until I can repot them next spring. The mercury is hitting the lower 90s already where I live and its only early May. I believe I can live with a little decomposition. I'll be spending most of my time watering and fertilizing this summer, just trying to keep them all alive. Not much time to enjoy their beauty or plan any future styling unless I'm doing it under shop lights. Lesson learned the hard way, straight aggregate is not the way to go unless you live in Argentina, or Alaska. Great video Nigel. Thanks.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Eric Brown Thanks for your insight on inorganic soil, I think your idea of adding a mulch layer on top will keep the humidity at a nice level and allow you to water and fertilize less.Some people will put white plastic over the top of the soil to keep it cooler and stop surface evaporation. Check out Walter Pall's talk on inorganic soil and feeding.... kzbin.info/www/bejne/h2KUeYCNltl2rrs

[@ericbrown4761]

Nigel Saunders I have Nigel. It's a great video and very educational. I'm working on a automatic watering system at the moment set to come on just before sunup, then I'll water manually in the evenings. I sort of compounded my problem with the use of terracotta pots. I'm going to purchase some organic fertilizer to keep on the soil surface at all times and feed every ten days as Walter suggested. My next batch of soil will however contain either turface or vermiculite, possibly even pine bark. Straight aggregate is a bit too fast for me and doesn't leave me any room for an occasional miss. Lesson learned the hard way. I be able to breathe a sigh of relief once I get my sprinkler system set up. Thanks for the link.

[@friedoompa-loompa2876]

Him saying "Do you live in Canada" and the sound of the mourning doves flying in the background was a clear indicator for a fellow Canadian like me to use a similar type of soil

Bonsai hair style.

[@BencozakaKamagore]

Canopee Addict

[@rotor1851e]

Good one! Most professors look this!

[@danachats8944]

Capitán Obvious Loads of fine root growth on our Nigel.

[@comradegarrett1202]

Good ramification, broad canopy

[@taciturnip]

Asymmetrical.

[@amandawelch9125]

I repotted my ficus this spring. It spent the last 2 years in regular potting soil. This year I potted it up in a some cactus mix (a great draining soil) and I add vermiculite. I'm hoping it with act like perlite and also make it so I don't have to water it as much. This plant has been grown indoors and I'm watering it every 3 days which is more often then other plants I have. If it does well after this repotting and root trim, I'm hoping to move it outdoors for the first time.

[@fabulously695]

Amanda Welch with bonsais and bonsai type trees we water every single day. Potting soils traps too much water and makes the roots rot

[@DavidWilliamRose]

Dear Nigel - thank you for this recommendation. I've been buying the premium stuff, and simply cannot afford to keep that up. I just purchased your exact recommended mix and look forward to trying it out soon. Given that the first bag is 1/2 the soil, and I can get 8 cubit feet for 5 dollars, I think my Bonsai Soil costs have gone down by about 90%! Thanks again for all that you do! David :)

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Let me know how it works for you David, I'm using 1/2 perlite and 1/2 turface and then if I have composted pine bark, I'll add about 10 to 20 percent to the mix.

[@DavidWilliamRose]

@@TheBonsaiZone I shall indeed! Our weather is virtually the same as yours (we're just a couple hours from KW. I could not find a pine bark compost at the available stores. Do you expect an organic potting soil might do for the 10-20% organic compound?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

@@DavidWilliamRose The potting soil may clog the air spaces in between the soil particles, it would be better to leave it out. We get our composted pine bark from the orchid society, they get it shipped in in large quantities. You could use ground up coconut husks instead, even peat moss, if you screen it to remove the dust and fine particles.

[@DavidWilliamRose]

@@TheBonsaiZone Thanks so much for your advice and guidance! One more question I promise...Must the bag actually say "compost", or will simply something that says pine bark do? The stuff I'm finding looks drier than what you've found. My options for finding this locally are very limited. Thanks again Nigel :)

[@TheBonsaiZone]

@@DavidWilliamRose I sometimes buy the bags of pine bark mulch that doesn't say composted pine bark, I leave the chips out in the rain for a few months and then use it. You might have to cut the pieces into smaller chunks, some people use an old blender to do this. It's very time consuming, but it help out the trees a bit. most of the time I make my soil without pine bark, just because I don't have any made up! What city are you near Dave?

[@PapaOsmubal.OscarBalajadia]

I am learning a lot from you, sir, great videos.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you!

[@valakhawlhring1028]

Hats off.... you arre my most watched youtube bonsai handler..... your way of presenting and explaining, demonstrating etc etc are just too perfiect.... ( u should really go for a pro documentary videos :) )..... Thanks again...

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you Vala, it is very enjoyable making the videos!

[@yunikubonsai-dubai93]

Your little apple is first rate...you live in an amazing climate for bonsai!

[@Eram.Abbasi]

This was very helpful. I have another request......can u plz do a video on rain water usage. Like how u collect rain water etc etc

[@anthonychristina5038]

thank you for making these videos!

[@robmaxwell189]

I always wondered why the soil in bonsai books looked like gravel. this is a real eye opener.

[@SidsTrees]

Thanks Nigel. Any chance of an update on your willows soon. Really interested to see how your experiment with standing pots in water turned out Sid

[@blancaalvarez607]

Wonderful,thankyou Mr. Saunders.

[@aasheeshgautam04]

Lovely video. Full with knowledge. Appreciate if you can answer my questions ☺️ 1. For extreme dry and hot weather, what would be the best mix? 2. How imp is sunlight? If it's not direct sun light, would it work? 3. Could you please explain something about liquid fertilizer? How to use and what are the names? I am a big fam of yours and thanx for spreading knowledge. It really means a lot for me as I don't have Bonsai community in my place (Kuwait) and people don't have much interest in plants. Thank you Sir, Ash 🙏🏼

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Sunlight is important for some trees, other trees can and like less intense light. It is best to check the requirements of the particular species of tree. It may be best to shade the trees from direct afternoon sun so the trees get morning and evening sun when the temperatures are cooler. I would keep the soil mix the same, but place a disc of plastic or foil on the surface of the soil to stop surface evaporation. A tray of water under the bonsai pot will also supply water to your soil on really hot dry days if necessary. I put a small pinch of powdered 20-20-20 (with micro nutrients) in every watering 2 litre can of water I use. The trees get watered and fertilized when they need it. You would have to check what brands are available in Kuwait and use whatever you can get. I would try and use some of the native trees in your area, maybe Eshnan, Ghaf and Acacias. I think it is important to have some bonsai trees that represent your country and bring good memories to you!

[@kmartinc2]

Thank you sir, love your videos

[@sazzadarefin8234]

nice video to remove monotony . sir Nigel is excellent !

[@skyrunner95]

Thank you for sharing knowledge man.

[@marcosavila6668]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH MR. SAUNDERS. KEEP THE GOOD WORK..

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you Marcos!

[@jasonblumears539]

Thanks Nigel !

[@donabellahardeneravlogs790]

Very nice presentation 👏👍👏

[@rickschulte8594]

Thank you, you were what i was looking for. I want to do this, and never have. Sincerely Rick

[@asifyani6543]

Excellent,...spot on, you need to watch this...

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you!

[@carlostrevino4912]

Very good information. Now I understand what Bonsai soil is.

[@TheNatrjack965]

Yet another get video Nigel thank you .

[@princessuwu69]

This guy is so so so pure and innocent

[@mangalajayasekera4249]

Awesome ...thanks for sharing

[@treykoehle9232]

Can you do a tour of all the bonsai you have.

[@clintparsons3989]

Great Scott!

[@faustinae3927]

Awesome video ❤ Now I understand 🤔👍

[@johncloud8161]

thanks Nigel, another helpful video

[@PrashantSharma-xh1ko]

Hi Nigel, Thanks for the very informative video on Bonsai soil and I have watched most of your video and I really like it but most of all I like your hair too. my concern writing to you is that I am new enthusiast on bonsai and here I am looking for your guidance on bonsai soil for the area that I live. to give you the slight description where I come from, I live in placed called Gangtok, Sikkim, little closer to himalaya though it gets quite hot and humid from end of April till Oct but usually here there is no as such summer, it starts raining from the May till throughout the august, September and October feels like sunny summer and winter starts from November to April. I am hopeful that I am being able to give you some picture of the area that I live. I am collecting loads of succulent and now collecting some plant trees and pines but my interest is getting bigger into bonsai and here I am looking for your guidance on the bonsai soil which suits the plants that I live in. I hope you will get a time to read my comments and aswell as question. Take care and stay safe

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Hello Prashant, I use a 50/50 mix on all my trees. 1/2 perlite and 1/2 turface. This is what I can get locally at a good price. It may not be the perfect soil, but it works well. I sift my soil to remove the dust and fine particles and I fertilize very, very weakly, every time I water.

[@PrashantSharma-xh1ko]

@@TheBonsaiZone thank you.

[@samujohn]

Thanks jeffer for your advice. I will stop using charcoal for my bonsai :) I am trying laterite stones now with compost and perlite and yet to see the difference.

[@MrNosajwhitey]

awesome look u have almost a mad bonsai scientist Nigel

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks, maybe I let my hair grow a little too long!

[@carlostrevino4912]

One other thing I have been considering is using a cheap blender to break down the chunks of pine into manageble sizes. In addition, I will try and put pine needles in the blender and see if this works to add to my mix.

[@timlaning99]

Hi Nigel, in my country (The Netherlands) I don't believe turface is sold. What would be the best replacement for turface if I wanted to make, for instance, a 50/50 mix of perlite and turface?

[@quangvietphi9483]

Your dry soil makes the roots really strong! I always watch the way you soil the trees, and I wonder how it is mixed? is it made from the soil only? could you guide the elements please?

[@quinnrivers4710]

Looking forward to the Mars planting. If I may ask, would a mix of pumice, perlite,and bark be ok? I have many things currently planted in it, guess we'll see come spring :). I've found if I spray water, then floating isn't an issue with the perlite. Thank you for sharing your craft with us. I get so happy when I'm notified of new content.

[@leapyear9460]

This was awesome! Safe-T-Sorb is gonna save me some money!!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

It works well as long as you mix it with perlite!

[@killermiller3041]

Great video where in Canada do you buy safe t absorb I can only find it on staples website thanks

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I get it from TSC it's sold as in large bags! www.tscstores.com/40LB-INDUSTRIAL-SAFETY-ABSORBENT-P4769.aspx

[@himangshunath4486]

we should have a world bonsai organization for organizing bonsai show in each and every country . nice info.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

That would be good! I think they are trying to organize a national club here in Canada, it's a start!

[@BeyondBonsai]

Big fan Nigel! If I'm not mistaken Turface is not fired. That's the difference between Turface and Akadama. Akadama is Fired clay, and the turface is just organic clay. I could be wrong about this. I grow in Lava Rock, Pumice and A touch of Perlite. BSOP Mirai Bonsai mentions in their bonsai soil video explains that that is what makes Akadama different, being fired at 5,000 degrees or whatever changes the chemical properties. Again I could be wrong.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Turface is popular here in Canada, maybe because of the extreme winters. Many people find Akadama breaks down too quickly in our weather. I have seen the Bonsai Mirai video and it definitely makes sense, if you are in a refinement stage with your tree. Akakdama is very expensive and I would have to drive 1 1/2 hours to get it. Turface is also fired and the kind that I get from TSC holds up well. The soil remains porous and free draining for many years, good for growth, but maybe not so much if you want to slow the tree down for refining the fine branching. Thanks!

[@deadeyeski]

Thanks for the great videos. Thanks for the tip on the Safety Absorbent. I was buying the actual "Turface All Sport" product from a local Jon Deere dealer for an arm and a leg. The product you recommended is a bit more affordable from the local TSC. Plus I can get my chicken grit there, I also mix a little of that into my soil. I tend to get lazy, so often I don't get a chance to water my trees. I use a bit more organics in my mix. I also don't always remember to fertilize on schedule, so I figure more organics won't hurt me. So, you start out at the quarry? I thought we would see you buying yards of various soil ingredients!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

deadeyeski Glad you could find some affordable ingredients for your soil.

[@Mannavegr]

Great video! What do you think about only using vermaculite and perlite? Thanks!

[@aasheeshgautam04]

You are a rockstar🙏🏼 thanks for the guidance.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Your very welcome, keep in touch and let me know how your trees are doing.

[@aasheeshgautam04]

Sure, i have made some plant from seed ie; Apple, Orange, pomegranate and olive. Once they are big, i will share visuals with you :-) Also i am hunting Acacias and Ghaf from wild life :-) Thank-you Nigel. You are a big support!

[@uptide1214]

For succulents I'm guessing more pumice and less organics to let them dry faster; or do they mostly care about the time between waterings? Or I'm completely wrong and they only require special treatment after root pruning?

[@valentinrieuf9983]

Have you found any use for the fine particles sifted? Maybe to grow plants that like wet feet?

[@edbegginerbonsai1951]

Can you use vermiculite instead of perlite?

[@cauebahia]

Hi Nigel, I know this is an old video. But I heard you saying (at 23:00) that if you were going to use the soil on deciduous trees, and if the soil was intended to evergreen trees, you would add the composted pine bark to it. Why is that? Thanks!!

[@vivalarica]

Great informational video! Thanks

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you Erica!

[@alfakir431]

It is very scientific. Thank for share. I'm Ferry from Indonesia

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you Ferry, I love the bonsai trees from Indonesia, always a pleasure to watch a video from your country!

[@alfakir431]

In Indonesia we use volcanic sand with different size fine or coarse. I do believe I can use it to get porous permeability.

[@samuellopez105]

Thanks for the video Nigel. As always it was thoroughly informative. I do have a question. I recently repotted a Fukien Tea Tree in a mixture of pumice, lava rock, calcined clay and pine park fines. Is that a good soil?

[@bigshortstack2929]

Unscented clay cat litter is a LOT cheaper that the oil-dri. And it is the same stuff. Many years ago, I was a long distance truck driver and once picked up a bulk load of clay pellets from the "mill" in Alabama to carry to a receiver who would bag the stuff in bags labelled as oil-dri. Both the shipper and the receiver told me that the cat litter and the oil-dri came from the same bins.....that they just bagged the material in differently marked bags. If you have a pet dog, the same situation is found in bags of dry dog food. The highest priced bags of dry dog food comes from the same bin as the cheapest discount store brands. The distributors would fill bags according to the orders from the various brand companies from the same bulk tubs. I know this is entirely off subject, but I feel folks should know this info so that they can save a lot of money on some of the things they buy. All food bags and boxes are printed by a large company called The James-Rivers Corporation that has several locations throughout the U.S. They even print the inserts for music CDs. I once hauled a load of printed CD labels for an artist's new release that I had to take to a secured dock at the receiver's location because that album had not been announced yet. I apologize, Nigel, again for taking up so much space with this unrelated comment.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you, a good practical comment! We should all be looking out for a quality product at a reasonable price!

[@bigshortstack2929]

@@TheBonsaiZone One last idea. Instead of buying bags of bone meal and blood meal for planting trees and shrubs in your yards' landscaping, use the cheapest dry dog food and toss a couple of handfuls into the planting hole. That dog food contains blood meal and bone meal along with some various grains. The plants love it and so will the earth worms. I kind of wonder if one were to run some through a blender to get it reduced to a fine powder, and dust a small amount in the bottom of a bonsai pot before adding the bonsai soil, the bonsai plants would "reach" for that food. It may or may not work. I'd leave that to someone who knows exactly what they are doing.......YOU. Have a Blessed Day.

[@njw1383]

Do you still use this soil mix today? I don't think i've seen you use compost in your mix for a long time. Do you just use turface and perlite these days?

[@A.C.556]

Hey Nigel, im wondering if its too risky or safe enough if i repot my bonsai trees, specifically just to change to a better soil mixture? Only concern is that i repotted them 4 months ago, in mid spring. I got some of the ingredients you mentioned and want to change the soil. No root pruning. Any advice? Thanks! Very helpful video to help me understand what my bonsai need!

[@parsonthind5806]

Hey i was thinking about making a soil using Akadama and triple mix. I plan on growing my plants mostly indoor because most of the time its really cold here. We only get good weather from later may to mid september. Since its gonna be dry inside due to the heat i was planning on using that to retain the moisture in the soil using akadama and providing nutrients using the triple mix. Please advice if i can use this to grown: jacaranda mimosifolia, weeping willow and flame tree.

[@John-kc8td]

Nigel, great information. In one of your videos, I think you said you use chicken manure as your only/primary fertilizer? Would you mind making a companion video on your fertilizer and fertilizing process? Thanks so much, your information is invaluable.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Will do!

[@ashleybonner5423]

Hello Nigel, I aspire to keep bonsai succulents and am establishing a number of cuttings and new propagation in attempted sekijoju formations. Would a soil mix typical of succulents (1 part compost, 1 part sand and 2 parts grit) still work for bonsai with succulents or is it still a necessity to use bonsai specific soil? Thanks.

[@bluebulk]

Great video 👍 this helped me a lot.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you Matt!

[@doruksal]

thanks for all the educational videos. it's also a pleasure to just listen to you, when I have to work at the computer. anyway, as far as I know, perlite is quite brittle. don't they break into smaller, and thus unwanted, particles whey you mix them with turface like that? also, would it be better to use dusk mask, at least a basic one?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Yes, a dust mask should be a must, the dust is bad to breath in! The perlite generally seems to hold it's particle size and shape even after several years in a bonsai pot. I have seen very fine roots grow in the soil so I believe it acts a lot like akadama in the fact that the roots will grow into the particles and split them apart. This may depend on the type of tree and the time between re potting, but I have seen this happen.

[@derrickparsons]

Hello Mr. Saunders, I hope you don't mind answering questions from beginners. I purchased a Forest Terrarium kit to decorate the top of my bonsai soil. Included in the kit was some Douglas-fir tree bark, I was think of mixing that in with my soil as an organic component. The pieces of bark seem to be the perfect size to allow some breathing room for the roots. Do you think that would be of any benefit? Many Thanks for the advice and the great videos!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Fir bark is a good organic component to add to your soil. Ideally it should be composted Fir bark, here is an article on the subject.... www.colinlewisbonsai.com/Reading/soils1.html

[@derrickparsons]

Thanks for the response. I suspect the bark hasn't been composted so I'll only use it for decorative purposes. The article was really helpful, hopefully I can find some proper soil ingredients this time of year. Many thanks!

[@clintonbirnie9126]

During the summer months I usually vacation for several weeks, sometimes a month. It worries me to have other people water my trees for me. I am wondering if I could add more peat to the mixture to hold water for a little longer? Or should I add more compost material?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

If you are away that long, your going to have to rely on someone to water them properly. If you pay them a certain amount for every tree that is alive when you get back, you'll find they'll do an excellent job! The person watering should check the trees at least once per day. Even with lots of compost, a tree can dry out in a day, on windy dry hot days, sometimes even quicker. If you are going to be away for a short period of time, two days, you can place the trees in the shade with a tray of water underneath. One fellow in the club used a sprinkler on an automatic timer to water his trees for almost a month while he was in Africa. All his trees survived!

[@clintonbirnie9126]

Thanks, I like the auto sprinkler idea I never thought of something like that.

[@easymode_RL]

How do you feel about just using sterile inorganic mix and putting a thin layer of compost as a topping?

[@jetjazz05]

Perlite... wow. Ever since I was a child I thought that the perlite in potting soil was styrofoam beads to help aerate the soil. I always wondered why no activist groups were complaining about the use of syrofoam to make soil fluffy lol.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Some of the cheaper soil mixes do use Styrofoam particles in the soil mix. I would stay away from them!

[@bottomingoutsniper3925]

A LOT of people in the bonsai community say don't use fuller's earth for bonsai. I did buy some but have not used it yet.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

People use it incorrectly and then make statements that it is no good. This happens a lot in bonsai. Turface used by itself will compact and if it dries out it will make watering very difficult if not impossible to do. You will get dry spots in your soil that will stay dry even if you submerge the pot for a long period of time. People also say that it holds too much moisture and may rot your roots. All this is overcome by adding perlite or pumice into the mix. I use 50 percent turface to 50 percent perlite. This mix works excellent and lasts for many years. The soil remains very porous and is easy to water. The roots love growing through the air spaces and all my trees are very healthy in this medium. All the particles should be sifted to get a 3 to 4 mm (1/8") particle size. The soil doesn't look very good with the white perlite particles, but they quickly turn colour and look natural in time. People will tell you the perlite will float on the soil when you water it, but it doesn't.

[@BackSeatHump]

I wonder, Nigel, if you could do a video comparing the advantages and disadvantages of turface vs. akadama ... perhaps even including cat sand. I think it would be greatly appreciated by bonsai KZbinrs.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

+BackSeatHump Check this out.....www.bonsainut.com/index.php?threads/akadama-vs-turface-vs-pumice.15654/ and www.bonsai4me.com/Basics/Basicscatlitter.htm I have only used turface, I would have to do a lot of testing with other products over the long haul, to form any conclusions. I think all three products work well, if the tree is watered and fertilized correctly. I may tackle the subject in time, it is a good suggestion!

[@BackSeatHump]

+Nigel Saunders Thank you for the link. The reason I ask is because I find your presentations very satisfying, gentle on the ears, easy to understand, and void of double-negatives. Not all KZbin “gurus” are capable of all that.

[@taciturnip]

Illuminating. Thanks.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Scott, food for thought!

[@abyss538]

Big fan sir

[@vixtorocha]

it's REALLY hot here all year long, is it better for me to not sift my soil as much as you so it won't get dry that fast? or should I just water more frequently?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

It is better to water more frequently if you can. You can place some flat stones on the surface of your pot to help stop surface evaporation, just lift them off when you are watering. Moss or sand on top of your soil will help to hold moisture in the soil also. The spaces between the particles in the soil are important to give fresh air to the roots. Roots just love to grow in these spaces!

[@nicelderla1821]

Sir good day can i use pebbbles organic compost coco peat and loamy soil for my for ficus tree? Is that a good mix sir for tropical country like philippines thanks 😊

[@brotissimo8942]

Hey Nigel! Love the videos! I’m learning everything I’ve done wrong so far :p. Question though. Once you’ve mixed up the soil how long will it last in storage and is there any care you need to give it while it waits to be planted in?

[@zimmy1958]

Thanks you so much.

[@4178coa]

Mr. Saunders, thanks for making this video. I was looking for the alternate method of making the soil on the cheap since akamada and the other mixing ingredients specially made for bonsai can be pricey; I find this awesome. The part I'm lost is on the compost part. I understand that sifting the materials to get the thicker parts and removing the finer parts are important but so far locally, the organic compost seem to be very fine, granulated and not thick material aquarium gravel like. Can you guide me a little deeper in that part?

[@4178coa]

Also if anyone else in the US want to chime in for any support please do so. My nearby stores are the home depot, Lowes, tractor supply.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I haven't been using any organic material in my soil and so far the trees are doing well after many years, at least 7. I find that the birds and animals are attracted to the organic material and are always messing up the trees. Since I switched to a non organic soil, I have had far few problems. The soil I use is 1/2 perlite and 1/2 turface. The turface is sold as Safetysorb at TSC.