Bonsai Soil

The bonsai soil video. A detailed description of my formula for bonsai soil, and some alternatives for some ingredients. Oh -- and we also repot a really nice Japanese Black Pine bonsai, and detail some recent pruning. For more information, please visit www.kuromatsubo... - and look for the bonus video at the bottom of the Japanese Black Pine page.

[@xwarmouthx]

I recently started using cat litter in my mix and I think it works great. After it's sifted it is the perfect size and color for a free draining mix. "Special Kitty" brand cat litter in the red bag from Walmart is the one I use and have seen many other users use. I also use Black Gold brand Pumice from Orchard Supply Hardware if anyone has one near them. There is also Dry Stall that can be found at feed stores that is a good pumice material as well. Thought this might help.

[@TheJonMullins]

Thank you do much for putting this video up! I've always been intrigued by bonsai and truly appreciate them as living art that takes years of dedication to do right.. Just a couple of days ago I made my 1st bonsai from a juniper I bought at home depot.. It was a spur of the moment thing so I really hadn't done much research.. I've watched your videos most of the day today and with your shared knowledge I'm confident in perusing bonsai as a hobby.

[@elmtreeroad]

Jonathan Mullins how did you make out?

[@jeevithemals]

Simple, lucid and detailed. You do not hold anything back. Thank you

[@TheJonMullins]

This video in particular was very helpful to me due to the fact I have my tree in plain top soil which I learned today will not work in the long run.. And needed to know specifically how to make it.. And what fertilizers to use. I live in Atlanta Georgia where like were you live it gets very hot and dry so I think this mixture will work well. Thanks for all your videos! Please keep them coming!

[@TheLordofLeaves]

I just saw your video and read the article on your website. Interessting is the fact that you point out that all of these bonsai "experts" are preaching the 100% inorganic soil use. Here in Europe, it's always adviced to use a soil mix in a 80-20 ratio of inorgarnic and organic particles of soil mix. Personally, I use a mix of 60% calcined clay particles, 20% pumice and 20% of orchid soil that is made of tree bark and rough peat. I totally agree your article about bonsai soil. Keep up the works!

[@algernonwolfwhistle6351]

This was a very well explained presentation. Clear, concise and understandable. Thank you.

[@UnderTheFallsCorals]

When I first started getting involved in bonsai this channel was a big help with a lot of knowledge being shared. I appreciate your videos. I wonder why this channel just fell off. Did you change platforms?

[@theladyshoes]

What's the ratio on each ingredient in the soil mix? And thanks for another great video. You have amazing skill with the bonsai.

[@Songy23]

Love your videos. Your so full of knowledge, it's just non stop. Amazing. Thank you so much for sharing!

[@Clunkers68]

You mentioned what you use for the bonsai soil mix, but how much of each do you use in your mix? One scoop of each, 1:2 ratio of something, what exactly are the proper portions that you use? Thank you in advance for your response.

[@dicky4005]

That's what I would like to know

[@chasnsx]

@YukonCorneleone You can sieve it and still get the benefits. As to why I use it, the answer is simple: In the climate I live in, we routinely get hundred degree weather in the summer. Last summer we had one day where the temp reached 113 F. So I keep some fines in the soil for water retention, because it is necessary. I have a bougainvillea I got from a friend with sieved soil, and it routinely wilts because his soil does not hold enough water.

[@jamesaust3272]

Interesting choice... I use 2 parts Turface (auto absorber), 2 parts Perlite, and 1 part compost/potting soil. Sift all that through a 1/5" screen before hand and you have some really attractive soil.

[@ReallyWemja]

How important is the fungus and how do I get it? I babysitted a bonsai for a few months and wanted to grow one myself. I have some horse chestnut trees available to start the bonsai process. I know I wont need the fungus right away but I wanted to lean as much as possible in advance.

[@Stretch5701]

If I missed it, I apologize, but what ratio's on ingredients did you use. Is it all 1:1?

[@roman2374]

Do you throw away the soil when repotting or can you put it back into the mix?

[@mykapetronella7785]

I'm repotting a 25 year old ficus tree this week going to be pruning and trimming a lot of it off and repotting it can I use the soil or will it be too dramatic change in environment?

[@alphahelices]

At which nursery do you buy your DG? I'm in Socal as well, and when I ask around, I get told to make my own. I'd rather pay a premium and get it already appropriately sized.

[@graycam]

@TheJonMullins - Yes, I agree with Chas. Aquarium substrate is good but expensive. I use 'Turface' also called 'MVP' which is the same crushed clay that's used on baseball stadiums. I'm in Canada - runs for about $40 for a 50 lb bag. In the USA (if that's where you're from) it's about 2/3 that cost.

[@jmarotta3]

Hi I enjoy you bonsai videos. Can permatill be used as a replacement for pumice?

[@michaelsalcido3736]

What can be used in place of "pumice"? My town does not have a bonsai supply store.

[@christiansanchez1486]

I would think this soil would muddy up when you water I use a Japanese Clay, Ground lava rock and pumice it's pricey but it is well worth it holds water and extremely well balanced soil you'll be spending about $40-58 USD depending where you buy but this is a hobby of dedication and devotion you have to treat your trees like they are your babies and liquid Fertilizer is best since it's absorbed into the roots as soon as it makes contact I'd say if you go solid fertilizer go with the spike not the little pellets unless it's a meme styled tree just educating I mean no disrespect Bonsai is a hobby of constant responsibly but it's very rewarding in the long run.

[@Sounga74]

instead of pumice could i use lava rock along with the decomposed grantie or just lava rock by its self. or just stick to chasnsx bonsai soil recipie

[@Ellofez]

Hi Charles, thanks for the info but I have a question. Now I live in Dallas Texas and it gets very hot in the summer months and my trees dry out quickly . So should I mix some potting mix to your soil mix in the this video ?

[@snowmoon83]

hi what size the decomposed granite and pumice should be?? thanks

[@TheJonMullins]

Hey Charles. I can't find decomposed gravel, and I know you said you could use certain kitty litters or spill cleaning stuff instead. But I was curious, I have a bag of fluorite premium substrate for my planted fish aquarium. It's specially fracted stable porous clay gravel. Do you think it could be used instead?

[@macku15]

what is the ratio you used for your soil mix?!

[@luigonz1]

Charles, I was simply wondering what affect will the grain "All Purpose" fertilizer will have on the mycorrhizal fungi culture. I have heard regular commercial fertilizers kill naturally occurring fungi.

[@Agureghian]

do you use a sieve?

[@Kaijiro____93]

Isn't a bad idea to add old fungus into new repotting mix?

[@mrRadko]

I' m using construction material coled Cheramsite for substrat and chemical fertilizers. I'm wandering shuld i use organic fertilizer or both for trees whit michoriza ? Thanks.

[@coldtinna]

Is there anywhere to buy 511 or gritty mix for citrus potted?

[@22bluesmiles]

Do you really need all hose just for the bonsai soil mix?

[@සංජයසඳරුවන්-බ8භ]

hi .im from sri lanka can we use compost soil for creating the bonsai soil??

[@dongayanamarasinghe4559]

If you use just compost you will get longer internodes and larger leaves. Which will throw-out the tree from a shape of Bonsai. I would go to local wood working center and get some wood particles, river sand (stuff you can get from construction sites after sieve off the fine sand for concrete) and turface ( this is harden clay. If you can’t get this in Sri Lanka, just get a clay brick and break it into small parts (ගඩොල්). I think Turface is used in cricket fields as well. So you can also talk to someone local). I hope this help. Keep on Bonsai.

[@graycam]

@TheJonMullins @TheJonMullins - Yes, I agree with Chas. Aquarium substrate is good but expensive. I use 'Turface' also called 'MVP' which is the same crushed clay that's used on baseball diamonds. In Canada - where I'm from, it runs about $40 for 50 lbs. In the USA it's about 30% cheaper than that.

[@coldtinna]

Cam Gray -can to much mycorizza in Root area cause a lot of roots being distorted? I added mycorizza to soil & it seem to have eaten my citrus roots?

[@kestane123chesmo]

can we use leca only

[@SJLamb-te3dt]

thank you so much for making this video it has been so helpful!

[@inatobonsai8963]

can we use river sand sir?

[@elainecoffey9000]

Hi Charles. Thank you so much for your informative videos. I'd love to know where you get those beautiful huge pots. I haven't found any sources for big bonsai pots in my area (eastern PA) or even in closeby surrounding states, but I will keep looking. I am sure they are fairly expensive, so I was trying to avoid shipping costs, but no luck so far in finding a local source. Again, I love your teaching style and have learned a lot in these last few months...

[@PogoFogo]

Is Decomposed granite a stone that is Decomposing ?

[@us-hamza]

Hello! I don't understand English, could you percentage of what you make soil for bonsai, so I can read through a translator.

[@sune8398]

+Аманулла Ахметзянов 30% Decomposed Granite; 30% agricultural pumice; 10% coarse sand, and 30% organic matter

[@us-hamza]

+Sune Clemmensen Спасибо!

[@RuanvanNiekerk1996]

if i can find pumice can i use water storeig cristals or what? Thx :)

[@dagmarmedina6566]

thank you! where is your website?

[@bonsaibuds2369]

Hi there great vid. Thanks. I was wondering about the use of Coir in a bonsai mix. Thanks for any input on this matter..

[@thisisgame]

This was just the video I needed, Thank you!

[@tacoslayer100]

i cant find pumice anywhere, what would u recommend to replace pumice with. thank you for your comment.

[@StandswithafistPiper]

As a Dental Technician we use pumice to polish dentures - you could get some from any dental lab supplier?

[@chasnsx]

@pandabear102409 My way makes getting the tree out of the pot during repotting easier if the tree's roots have grown through the drainage screen, and it is also easier to disentangle the drainage screens from the roots and reuse them. I also reuse bonsai wire on trees in the yard that are not going to be seen or photographed. Bauxite mining or melting aluminum for recycling leaves a huge carbon footprint.

[@Sounga74]

Could i use pea gravle instead of decomposed gravel

[@jasincolegrove6651]

chicken grit would be a better alternative i think

[@polosteed12]

Your my bonsai mentor!!

[@chasnsx]

@TheJonMullins You can use aquarium substrate -- most folks don't because it is far more expensive than the other ingredients I mentioned.

[@chasnsx]

@luigonz1 I've been doing this since 1990, and I've never had a problem losing the fungus culture from fertilizer -- but I use a lot less fertilizer than the "hard core" bonsai guys who use 100% inorganic soil and load the top of the soil with little plastic cages of fertilizer. I just get better results, and flourishing fungus cultures, by putting organic matter in the soil and going light on the fertilizer.

[@anyhiphop]

thank you .I'm form thailand

[@ooblar7]

Does your soil smell at all?

[@panosglosters]

VERY NICE MY FRIEND THENKS

[@juanmelgar152]

Dude you are awesome!! Bonsai Sensei

[@chasnsx]

@theladyshoes 30% potting soil, 20% decomposed granite, 20% sand, 20% pumice.

[@pk-ss7ms]

chasnsx the other 10%?

[@TheJonMullins]

Cool. Thanks guys!

[@RaidenTheAlmighty]

You might want to try crushed up clay brick.

[@rumvodkaf1]

This guy is how I imagine people in witness protection would be like for some reason.

[@chasnsx]

@oasisbrother 1) Decomposed granite 2) Pumice 3) construction sand 4) potting soil

[@kiurinails]

thank so much !!!! the video help me for takecare my bonsai jupiter n,n*

[@robs87vette]

I also found decomposed granite at Home Depot for like $3.50

[@IberianCraftsman]

Human hair is a good source of nutriens for plants, it takes a while to decompose but it lasts

[@JGunit]

Not trying to be an ass, but that is 90%. 10% love?

[@robs87vette]

I ordered 5 gals of pumice from Amazon.com $35 n change, free shipping