Bonsai Soil - My Cheap & Easy Method

[@G2nelson]

I will always like and share every bonsai video on Bonsai soil. Love seeing how everyone does it

[@BonsaiBoise]

Thank you I appreciate it!

[@user-mq8mr4vg9v]

I'm so glad you mentioned that you can get the floor absorb at auto parts stores. All this time I've been thinking you need to be near a baseball supply warehouse or something. Thanks!!

[@BonsaiBoise]

You bet!

[@NoDecaf7]

I've consumed so much bonsai soil content over the past week, I'll probably stick with something closer to your method. Cheap, easy, and I already have most of this stuff on hand. Good to know about #5 mesh screen, really appreciate knowing the size to go for!

[@BonsaiBoise]

I bought #6 the first time and it was too big. All the soil went right through. I built this elaborate tumbler thing and it was all for nothing. Lol. Then got the #5 and it was perfect!

[@dohzy]

Thanks for sharing this! I'm not sure I would have found such a good way to get rid of the dust. The floor spill stuff also looks interesting. Similar products are sold in the UK.

[@BonsaiBoise]

Thanks!

[@reedrobb]

I just bought a $30 kit on Amazon to sift soil. It’s a metal ring with 3 replaceable screens. It’s only about 12” wide a 3” tall. I’m a bit disappointed how little soil it holds and how much I have to shake. The screens aren’t really the right sizes. So, after watching your video, I might try a 3 or 5 gallon bucket. Get the cheap lid and jig saw a large hole in it so it’s just basically a ring. Insert a screen between bucket and ring. Cut the bottom out of the bucket and flip it over. Fill with lots of soil and sift as you did. Maybe my solution. Thanks!

[@BonsaiBoise]

I like your idea with the bucket! I actually need a good winter time option since I can't really do the big heavy rinse with the hose. I could in the sink but some rocks and grit end up falling through and I already broke one garbage disposal that way. Lol

[@marbacc]

Thanks so much for this. I was looking for a good and not expensive soil substrate.

[@BonsaiBoise]

@@marbacc glad I could help!

[@abidingdude222]

Love the eyeball method. I love the informal aspect we westerners are bringing to the art 😊🎉

[@BonsaiBoise]

Thank you, I appreciate that!

[@CypressVintage]

Straight and to the point. Well done and can't wait to try. Thanks.

[@BonsaiBoise]

Thank you!

[@tomjwoodify]

This is what I use also. Thanks for keeping it simple!

[@BonsaiBoise]

Thanks!

[@brewerfoodie9223]

Awesome information! Thank you

[@BonsaiBoise]

Thanks!

[@reillyrussell829]

Mike thanks for the great video! To think I spent and hour and a half last weekend making a batch half this size haha. Thanks for the bin idea I will be sure to use it before the end of the summer. My favourite is to use volcanic anti slip rocks for the winter, it’s a super cheap alternative to pumice I use the brand “lavagrip” $30 a bag but works really good for drainage as I use a bit less safetysorb because I find it clumps in our humid damp climate up here in Canada

[@BonsaiBoise]

Thanks for sharing! Where do you get the Lavagrip? I'm always on the lookout for a good source of volcanic rock. I occasionally get an 18 lb bag from Amazon for about $40. Pretty spendy

[@reillyrussell829]

@@BonsaiBoise Lavagrip I think is canadian made, but maybe at a local hardware store you can find some. I pay $30 CAD for 16.67Kg or about 35 lbs

[@user-cz8ym9zu9e]

Great

[@user-yl3vf4ho7i]

I use soil similar to this as a grow mix.... very good for material to send roots out through. You will have to flip once you start refining more, it doesn't make the really fine roots you are looking for in later development. Was out in Star area recently, whew had a good time

[@BonsaiBoise]

Do you use academa for the finer root growth? And yeah star is a cool town!

[@user-yl3vf4ho7i]

@@BonsaiBoise finer particles that are heavier(sub pumice for perlite) make less gaps in the soil for thicker roots to punch through then grow bigger, so the tree will naturally want to make finer roots ... I also think introducing lava at this stage helps cut/scruff roots to help make them denser patches. This root development slows the tree down. I use akadama when I'm trying to refine, sometimes straight sometimes aoki blend types, but I also use mix of lava, pumice and smaller particle orchid bark a lot too(in hot area) depending on the tree.

[@BostonBonsaiIdiot]

I use almost the exact same recipe, except I've never added pine bark. I also never sift (too lazy) and now i'm having lots of problems. This is a great idea, thanks for sharing.

[@BonsaiBoise]

Thanks! I found that pine bark helps prevent the safety absorb from getting that weird clumpy effect that it gets sometimes.

[@mikec3820]

im going to make one of these sifters for my hydroton(leca) cleaning. i have a big hydro grow. and cleaning the media after each harvest stinks lol. the hydro store guy suggested it to me too. bonus if it works for my bonsai mix too. thanks mike!

[@BonsaiBoise]

I first tried making this elaborate tumbler/sifter thing and it was a total fail. So I threw this together just to see if the concept worked and whatdya know. It's always the simplist things in the end.

[@zenobibonsai]

9:34 "Cats will think its a litter box" hahahaha aint that the truth! Great video Mike and very helpful! I use a fine gravel on some of my trees but as you said rinsing it before hand really helps get rid of all that dust.. I have tried Perlite in the past but here in the UK, where we got a lot of rain, all the prelite ends up on the surface, due to boyancy, which is why I chose to opt for a fine gravel.

[@BonsaiBoise]

True story, I was cat sitting for my daughter once and wouldn't you know it, I caught him red handed! Bad kitty

[@zenobibonsai]

@@BonsaiBoise hahahahahaha I feel you I really do... I have 2 😁.. My garden looks like a Vietnam war zone due to all the pieces of bambo in the ground to stop the cats sitting and crapping on everything.

[@abydosianchulac2]

I don't work with as large volumes as you do at the moment, but I've been doing something similar with a 2-tub system. I fill with water an intact tub of similar size/volume as the sifting tub, then repeatedly dunk the substrate in the sieve to loosen up the smaller particles and wash away the dust. I've no idea if mine is better or worst than yours, I started it after I started dunking my trees' roots in water to pre-loosen substrate during repotting, but I look forward to experimenting with it.

[@BonsaiBoise]

Interesting! Do you have any videos? I love picking up new tricks and methods.

[@fckyafeelingz4064]

Touché monsieur. Merci beaucoup!

[@BonsaiBoise]

je t'en prie!

[@Tybold63]

I have yet to find some similar stuff like turface/safeTsorb here in Sweden as it same Nigel Saunders recommend too. Oh well some day. Think the washing might be a good idea but you should really wear a mask at all times for that perlite dust.

[@BonsaiBoise]

Have you tried on Amazon? Or maybe try some cat litter? I've used cat litter but I don't like it quite as much.

[@mikec3820]

crushed leca would be a great addition to this mix. find at most every pro grow store and its just as cheap as turface is. maybe a few bucks more per lb depending on your area

[@BonsaiBoise]

I'll look next time I'm in Zamzows and see what they have. I'm always open to new ideas!

[@BonsaiCornwall]

Hi mate, just subscribed. I’ll be making a video on bonsai soil one day soon that includes some of these ingredients 😊 Very inspiring, thank you 💚

[@BonsaiBoise]

Thank you! I just subscribed to you too, can't wait to watch!

[@patriciahartnett4776]

I do the water method with my gravel topping as well.

[@BonsaiBoise]

It's soooo much easier!

[@puchokillit2036]

It was ME!! I'm the "someone" that suggested it! You're welcome Mike!

[@BonsaiBoise]

Boy do I owe you a huge thank you then! I looked through a ton of old comments trying to find it but couldn't. You saved me a TON of time and effort!

[@Bonsaicrazy]

I would have put it on the block and rinsed it. Cool vid mate 👍👍

[@BonsaiBoise]

Thank you!

[@mrmc2465]

The safety absorbent, just wondering if you need a specific type?

[@BonsaiBoise]

@@mrmc2465 I would try to get the kind without any chemicals. The kind I Use is just called "floor dry" by E.P. Minerals.

[@debcampbell4076]

Good morning, love your videos plan simple to the point and well done. I like your soil mix however I can't find pine bark that's fine ground. All we have around here ( Michigan ) is very course grind material. Do you have any suggestion where I might find some. Thank you keep up the good work.

[@BonsaiBoise]

Hmm, you might have better luck at a nursery. Or wrost case scenario, Amazon has it but it's slightly more than it would be at a nursery I think.

[@curious9801]

Ooo you mentioned a mask!👍

[@PAUMsVids]

Have you tried peat moss rather than the safety absorb? I've just planted a few trees in perlite, peat moss, and top soil per bonsai heirloom, and I'm sure it'll be fine, but if you've tired it I'm interested in your thoughts

[@BonsaiBoise]

I have and it went pretty badly for a out 90% of the trees I used it on. I mixed up a whole batch that way and got really terrible results. But keep in mind that climate and watering schedule can effect it. But where I am at, I would not recommend it.

[@briangarner4801]

Great video. That's a new mix for me. As the perlite is very light does this not gradually float to the top of the compost over time? When I started in bonsai over 30 years ago we used John Iness no. 2 or garden compost and perlite with grit here in the UK. The perlite ended up on the top of the compost, almost like a top dressing after awhile.

[@BonsaiBoise]

thanks! Funny enough, it used to happen back when I was used compost on the mix, but not so much anymore. A little bit maybe, but not much. I also think the pre rinsing and mixing up helps even it out too.

[@alishareid7160]

Could/ would kitty litter work instead of safety absorb??

[@BonsaiBoise]

I know a lot of people use kitty litter. I think it's basically the same actual ingredients so I would say yes. I've used it once or twice and it work out ok.

[@frankarrastia8630]

Very informative thanks Q?4U would this mixture work for all Species of tree's?

[@BonsaiBoise]

I can't say for sure but I can say that it's worked with every species I've ever worked with. I've used it on house plants as well and it seems to work great for them too.

[@TheBonsaiGarden]

I always say that if you ask ten bonsai enthusiasts about bonsai soil, you will get eleven answers. 😂

[@BonsaiBoise]

Absolutely true! It's almost like asking someone what kind of food to eat, or what kind of clothes to wear. There are so many variables that it's hard to say. (Location, climate, water schedule, tree species, etc). But I haven't received any hate mail on my recipe yet so that's a good sign 😅 Love your videos by the way! Always a pleasure seeing your garden.

[@ranjanty]

How come people don't use real soil and mix pearlite or coco-choir for drainage? Just wondering. Does the stuff you use have any nutrients? Yes I'm brand new to bonsai and just don't understand.

[@BonsaiBoise]

Not many nutrients in this mix. And I used to think the same thing. About 2 years ago I started using a much heavier mix of organics in my soil and used it on several trees. About 1/4 of them died, and the rest really suffered. It just retains way too much moisture, and it's too dense for the roots to breathe. Granted, house plants do it all the time, but they grow much slower. Once I repotted all the heavy soil trees into bonsai soil again, they recovered and took off.

[@DS-px7px]

can I use Cat sand I bought from Costco as Safety absorb ?

[@BonsaiBoise]

You can, and I know some people do. I tried once and didn't like it because the kind I got was too small. But I think it's basically the same stuff as safety absorb.

[@jkleczewski]

I wish perlite wasn't white... It always looks funny to me, but I use your recipe almost to a tee.

[@BonsaiBoise]

On the rare occasion I score some volcanic rock, I find it contrasts well with the perlite.

[@mrobles1983]

Can I used safe t absorb for succulents?

[@BonsaiBoise]

To be honest, I have a terrible track record with succulents so I'm probably not the right one to ask. But my hunch is that it's not a good idea. Safety absorb holds moisture which is not what succulents typically like.

[@mrobles1983]

​@@BonsaiBoisethanks for the advise

[@aaronle2398]

Do I have to mixed with some extra soils?

[@BonsaiBoise]

Nope, at least I never do. You can though, and some might choose to depending on the climate, type of tree, and watering cycle.

[@aaronle2398]

@@BonsaiBoise Thank you

[@puchokillit2036]

I hope you started rinsing your soil!

[@BonsaiBoise]

Thanks to you I do!

[@curious9801]

I hope you wear a mask!!😳