How to make your own bonsai soil for Portulacaria afra by Little Jade Bonsai

In this video, I'll show you how to make your own bonsai soil. This mix I make is specifically for my portulacaria afra bonsai trees. I've had a lot of success with it over the years and it's pretty much all I use. It drains fast and is great for small to medium size trees. This video explains how to make and mix your own soil. All you need is a soil sifter, the two main ingredients (turface and a bag of landscapers mix) and a couple of buckets. Enjoy!

[@orensish]

I love your videos-- no BS, straight to the point, and really clear for those who are new to portulacaria afra

[@LittleJadeBonsai]

I appreciate that! Thank you!

[@ayes1669]

Nice, it’s very good to see a channel dedicated to dwarf jade bonsai only 😀👍

[@LittleJadeBonsai]

Thank you! The little jades are my favorite species!

[@alexverdigris9939]

This is a great soil mix for any succulent. In Europe there's a product similar to turface called moler clay; it is mined in Denmark, I believe.

[@hagakuretv]

Thank youuu!!! I've asked for this video yay yaaaay

[@DavesBonsai]

Hey Gilbert. Good looking soil there. Congrats on keeping things so simple and sharing with us all a soil that works for you. There seem to be a lot of people who stay clear of the "soil debate," but it's nice to simply see what works for a bonsai enthusiasts. I've yet to put any pine bark in my mix. I know a lot of people use Turface, so that's definitely a little familiar to me. Keep up the great work!

[@LittleJadeBonsai]

Thank you! Yes you definitely have to use what works best for you. Thanks Dave!

[@ellietobe]

I don’t have that many plants although my collection is growing. I buy Bonsai Jack’s gritty mix for cactus and succulents and mix it with a more organic succulent mix so that I have the ratio of mineral to organic material that seems to work. I find that I have to water more frequently having the higher mineral material content but my succulents seem to be thriving so if they are happy I am happy. Where I am located we cannot get a lot of the ingredients that people with decent garden centers are able to get. Have to order a lot online which can get expensive, unfortunately.

[@cntfinkvaname0]

Have to say, thanks for your help. Lots of your videos are really informative. It's a niche area Jade Bonsai, and I'm sure that youve helped many, many people out there get started. Myself included. 1 year in!

[@Floydsdad101]

Another really informative video , I will try and find some similar products over here in the UK.

[@_Misso_]

Great vid Gilbert, love ya work mate! 😁🤙

[@bobbybuentello240]

Again thank you for your knowledge !!! These are all great tips for someone like me who is just starting with this hobby. I’m enjoying every minute of it, thanks to you.

[@LittleJadeBonsai]

I really appreciate that and it motivates me to make more videos. Thank you!

[@dkstott29]

Great video and advice.I just finished sifting perlite and my soil and was amazed at the amount of fines that were there.

[@notbonsai671]

I really like your use of organic material that is readily available. I live in Texas, so I feel my plants could benefit from some extra moisture retention. All my plants moved here from seattle washington with me. Needed a much faster draining soil in that climate.

[@Minmin-o3z]

Thanks you sir,for sharing your knowledge👍🙂🇵🇭

[@LittleJadeBonsai]

I appreciate that. :-)

[@tomnguyen6895]

Loved all of your videos! Thanks for the great education.

[@ariabonsai6300]

very nice and complete

[@124ziggy]

Gilbert, Your My Idol!

[@stevevaughn2040]

Good stuff.... I use a lot of Turface. I also like chicken and chick grit. Chick being a bit smaller. I also get decomposed granite and sift it into three sizes but a pain, chick grit is usually granite. I also toss in chicken calcium, I think it is crushed shells

[@Calicuoituan]

Very good job 👍

[@javipipes5124]

Awesome, thanks for the info! I'd been looking for a good mix.

[@craftsplantsandsucculentsw1076]

Fully like 👍 thank you for sharing 💕

[@iPheek]

Nice!!! I was looking for a video like this earlier this year haha I use expanded shale and orchiata pine bark. Also have access to Napa 8822 and chicken grit, but I add those two to my cactus succs. Works here in San Antonio!

[@KareebaAvery]

Love the collection. Those pots don’t blow over? I’m in Houston,Tx and was hoping to find a mix that would protect from root rot in the rainy times but not dry out so fast , that I’m watering twice a. Day or even everyday. I think this mix may work. Again great info.

[@nariepittman4632]

Great video

[@BonsaiJade]

Thank’s friend!!

[@pusarameshkumar9798]

Very useful video, sir

[@VIJAYPAL-RJ-13]

Helpful

[@carloscruz6536]

Thanks for the tips 👍

[@wadmadhushan4434]

Good job

[@Rexach1]

Thanks for your time will be back

[@normalmrniceguy2746]

Great video. Can you make a video showing how you water your trees?

[@HembpatelHempatel]

Very nice vdio ,sir we can repoat jede plant bonsai in winter give your suggestion please

[@SuperManning11]

This video was so helpful! Thank you! I live in Palm Springs where it is very hot and dry. Should I use a bit more organic material to try to hold more of the moisture in the soil for a little longer, or is that not necessarily how it works? Great videos, I really appreciate your way of doing things.

[@orensish]

Well I'm going to buy some turface ASAP before my portulacaria die!

[@imvarda]

Mind sharing how often you feed/fertilize them? I've picked an older one off the street that someone was throwing away and its been growing fine, gonna prune & bonsai it now...wonder if I should use fertilizer?

[@jakeywakey30]

I think it would be probably best if you used slow release fertilizer.

[@marselysian007]

thanks you I'll try pumice and pine bark😊 can't find turface in the Philippines 😄

[@Tybold63]

Looks to be a great mix. I am still looking for something similar to turface in Sweden as it is recommended by many.. Tried some certain typ of cat litter that doesnt make clumbs? and that is so-so :(. Thanks for sharing. :)

[@bananayes9475]

EEEY, är du svensk? Försöker också komma på vart man kan köpa sånt där turd, har inte hunnit leta ännu men har inte sett den på plantagen eller något sådant.

[@bananayes9475]

Hittade denna åtminstonde om det är lite till hjälp. www.bonsaisallskapet.se/bonsaiskolan/jord/

[@Tybold63]

​@@bananayes9475 javisst är jag svensk - min favorit Youtubare Nigel Saunders "the Bonsai Zone" använder "Turface (Safety Sorb)" och perlite som bas och det verkar ju funka hur bra som helst. Antar att man kan använda akadama och annat fint men det är ganska dyrt så det är av ekonomiska skäl jag letar efter alternativ.

[@sergy5337]

Very useful indeed! BTW, you mentioned showing roots in repotting video. I looked through your channel videos and didn't find such, would appreciate the link please. Also, when talking about potting soils it's fair to expect some comments on watering too. How do you water your portuacarias? Of course, watering depends on lost of variables other than soil, such as plant type, microclimate, pot size and shape, and so on ... But we can find a common ground if we refer to dryness of soil between watering. So, do you allow soil to fully dry, top-dry between watering, or else? Thanks!

[@DavidMFChapman]

I’ve been using unscented non-clumping clay cat litter :)

[@chrisrose323]

Thanks alot ^^

[@ZymbalistiK]

I was looking for this turface in my area but all I found is Turface Athletics All Sport. I looked at the Data sheet for MVP and All Sport and both have the same materials, ph range, bulk density, porosity, etc. do you think it will work as well?

[@LittleJadeBonsai]

Yes that should work just fine!

[@ziurcs]

Another great video -- I bought some Surface yesterday. Have you ever used osmocote or what do you fertilize with? You said you water daily in the morning or evening? Thank you for your videos.

[@KillerBearsaw]

Very Helpful. Just got a dwarf jade and the soil it came in is very mushy but the pads are still healthy. Was considering using my regular mix of sphag moss and drainage materials (perlite/akedama) but really like the idea to use turface! Will have to see if it's available nearby! Just curious, do you sell plants online?

[@9Cee_Loss6]

Is this soil mix specific for portulacaria or can it be use for any other Bonsai Trees?

[@okthen8445]

I can’t find landscapers mix in my area but use cactus mix + coconut chunks for my desert roses. Based on your blend Do you think the cactus mix would be suitable replacement for landscapers mix. I also have pumice on hand can that replace the turface as I can’t get that locally either

[@pattyorozco1111]

Really good video! I have a question. If I don't have access to turface in my area or if it's too expensive. What can I use instead? 🤔

[@ranjanty]

I'm just getting into Bonsai. Can I make my own pine bark mulch from all the pine trees on my property?

[@lindsay7722]

Great video! Does all purpose potting mix work in place of the landscaping mix? Also will this soil work for other tree types like Ficus or Hawaiian Umbrella trees that are indoors?

[@jared15ish]

Did the all purpose work for you?

[@chieflouie2821]

Sorry for a newbie question. When do you move them to a shorter pot? Do you have a potting video?

[@dannyodell5148]

I got Safe T Sorb, very similar to Turface, and I was wondering, how much usable material do you come away with using a 1/8th sifter on Turface? Safe T Sorb loses a lot but for $7 I guess you can't get any cheaper.

[@LittleJadeBonsai]

I actually don’t sift the turface really much anymore. Mostly the larger and smaller pine bark pieces. But I end up using most of it anyway in the garden.

[@dannyodell5148]

@@LittleJadeBonsai seems with the finer stuff you would have a lot of draining issues possibly? It’s almost like a chalky mix from what I can tell

[@brendaparker2466]

No rinsing of turface? It’s not dusty like pumice?

[@clifflrice]

Hi you mentioned south Texas. I am in the Houston area and was wondering what's your location ?

[@LittleJadeBonsai]

Oh nice! I lived in Houston for two years. I’m located in Corpus Christi.

[@imbradtaylor]

An answer to my earlier question!

[@joslinnick]

Will the Miracle-Gro Succulent cactus mix work for P. Afra if we don't have the materials to make this mixture?

[@AnalogueCultureZA]

What fertilizer do u use

[@lovegardeningplants]

Did you ever do the video showing the roots there a link thank you 12:09

[@bensotmohamed9985]

I mixed pine bark and mudstone and only is this so and is it good for the white sea climate I want an answer please

[@Kikprix]

Hi, the turface mvp it’s unavailable in italy. I found the Seramis. Is the same in your opinion? Can you search for me the Seramis if you don’t know it? Thanks

[@rskurka1]

I have access to decomposed granite, have you ever tried it in any soil mixes?

[@mikerosesimone476]

Do all your pots have holes in them for drainage?

[@chi-chilisoo6344]

What's a substitute for pine bark? Thanks.

[@bensotmohamed9985]

I am in Algeria Can I use compost, pine bark and cow dung Why do you advise me

[@Ashley-ti6mp]

what u mixed with lava or expanded shell?

[@user-nc8se9in8o]

Do you sell trees or soil mix?

[@mythoecoliving2917]

Can I add ACTIVATED BAMBOO CHARCOAL into my bonsai soil mix?

[@Victo_512]

Can I use cactus mix for my Bonzai?

[@nightcoder5k]

Where do you get the landscapers MIX?

[@AlexHernandez-wm7oz]

Where did get your t shirt?

[@Mannavegr]

I live in sweden and I have tried to find what turface is in swedish but I cant find it, is it similair to pomice? Love your videos!

[@LittleJadeBonsai]

It's the same thing as calcined clay.Try searching for that.

[@Mannavegr]

@@LittleJadeBonsai thanks alot man much appreciated

[@LittleJadeBonsai]

@@Mannavegr anytime!

[@bensotmohamed9985]

What kind of hole is that?

[@JesusChrist4ever]

I need does two basic incrediants lol that’s all I have to 20$ lol

[@andyxb09]

You didn’t pull a tree up and show us the roots like you said your were gonna.

[@okthen8445]

He didn’t say he was going to do it in this video. He mentioned the next time he repots something that’s in this soil he will take that time to show us the roots. Pay attention.

[@georginahumphrey7601]

Please SPEAK UP!!!!!!

[@edrauen3982]

Where do you get landscapers mix?