What do i use in my Bonsai soil mix?

[@grobonsai]

Sanicat pink, Tesco low dust cat litter, Euro Car Parts Absorbing Granules - all hold their structure

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Great to see the updates! Good to see you and Pete experimenting on the soil and that Pete sure knows how to end a video the right way!

[@n8tyler]

Scott, I've been watching your videos oldest to newest with great interest...So much good information and great trials/experiment's...I really liked this video as I have done this test to help develop my pre Bonsai soil/substrate..."Like" all your videos...Thanks for sharing...Sequim, WA...

[@BoojiePanda]

This is a great video! For those who are here specifically for the soil mix it starts about 6 minutes in.

[@dthompson7139]

My interest in bonsai began a year ago on my own. I soon learned how complex this can be but this video does help a bit! Thanks.

[@Darkfire1300]

Thanks for illustrating the problem with some of the "clays" that are on the market. Have you tried the Turface product Nigel Saunders uses? It absolutely does not dissolve into mush like the ones you showed. I was sceptical but wanted something cheaper than Akadama, which over time will also disintegrate. I purchased the Turface at a local tool and equipment store. I put about 1/2 cup into a plastic cup, filled it with water and let it sit for a week. Yes, a week. The only thing that happened is that I kept having to add water. It never did disintegrate. We are lucky here in Idaho. Within 2 hours from Boise we can get free volcanic grit from cinder cones, disintegrating granite from road cuts and there is a perlite manufacturing facility. Making up a soil is somewhat easier because various materials are locally available. The fired clay particles like Akadama was the only missing item. Turface solved that one. Thanks for all your videos I became a fan after watching you and Nigel cope with that mountain style cedar.

[@blahblahbleh__9046]

I use a simple mix of akadama, pumice or grit, and john innes no 2. Seems to work well so far. Very much enjoying looking after my trees so far. Hopefully be able to get some more

[@LetsDoBonsai]

Hope you do luke and continue to keep the bug of this wonderful hobby!! A simple mix is generally better.

[@blahblahbleh__9046]

@@LetsDoBonsai I'm very much enjoying it so far. Found chinese privets to be very beginner friendly, japanese maples not so much. Slowly learning though, and have some young trees that I'm looking forward to repotting and styling come next spring.

[@LetsDoBonsai]

@@blahblahbleh__9046 keep me posted

[@soniavirdee5335]

Hi Scott excellent video on the soil info.

[@karinmoonhawk3720]

Hi Scott, good seeing you again. Lovely green house and they are thriving indeed! Good testing of the absorbs too, will surely help and you ended up with a good mix for yourself there too. See ya in the next one! 💖👍😊💖

[@khanos73]

Your dog is sooooooo cute

[@jarheadbonsai]

Scott!!!love the greenhouse broski. Really cool variety of trees. Thanks for the soil information. 😎😎😎

[@jarheadbonsai]

@@LetsDoBonsai how is the pencil?

[@susanlynn5281]

Can you please give me your opinion of the product: “professional orchid soil” for my first Hoya pink princess that contains 40% pine bark, 30% Lava, and 30% turface. I live in the Midwest, USA. I know I keep humidity and temperature and light stable. It’s so dry outside. I’m concerned about nutritional needs with this mixture

[@LetsDoBonsai]

I wouldnt be the best to advise living in the UK but the mix sounds good and if you add fertiliser regularly i think you would be ok.

[@BonsaiJCan]

Hi Scott, good to see your doing well and your trees are looking fabulous👍 That was quite the test, looks like your trees will enjoy your new mix 👌

[@pervindaboo9393]

Hi Scott That was good enough bonsai soil explanation for me. We do get this kind of mix in our nursery. Now I can jump for it confidently Thanks Regards PERVIN

[@daver9643]

My soil is a combination of succulent cactus soil and regular potting soil should I soak it when watering even if it makes the soil soggy and allow the water to drain out the bottom? Another question I recently transplanted it into a new banzai container, I read that I should let it sit in the shade for a few days or weeks, is this true? Thanks

[@LetsDoBonsai]

Sounds like a good mix, with that mix I don’t think you need to soak the soil, standard watering should be fine as long as it is penetrating the top, after repotting most trees benefit from sitting in light shade for a few days then back out to sun depending on the plant/tree.

[@daver9643]

@@LetsDoBonsai thanks, I went out and I got some bonsai soil since it was readily available and what I did was a mixed in about two handfuls of cactus soil all combined in roughly a 12“ x 4“ bonsai plastic container. I removed as much dirt as I could from the root ball because it was a bit soggy but I don’t wanna disturb the roots too much so hopefully the roots don’t rot, and the bonsai soil sucks up that moisture. BTW, now that I’m using mostly bonsai soil I guess I can go back to watering every day. My question is if you don’t mind, should I water it while it sits in the shade?

[@LetsDoBonsai]

@@daver9643 as long as it is free draining soil you shouldnt be able to over water the tree, you will find that whist in the shade the soiul will stay wetter than when in full sun also depending on the wind also if there is less or more air flow, this will help cause more or less evaporation respectively.

[@BackGardenBonsai]

Oh man I did not expect that level of slop. lol. Good thing you tested it out first. That could have been disastrous. You need that 100% molar clay. It doesn’t break down at all

[@farmert9679]

Don't throw out the sifted material. It is good for seed starting. I use all mine for seed starting or for cuttings. Works very well when you mix it.

[@doogledrape1]

Hi, got a grow it Bonsai kit, have got seeds sprouting, a lot of them(not sure if they are Bonsai’s, quick google search and some people are suggesting they could be weeds, would you get other seeds other than bonsai in a Kit), when do I put them in their own pots? And what soil? Sorry wasn’t expecting to get actual results from the kit

[@zzhou1557]

Nice Westie!

[@siameselady52]

Miss your videos! Hope all is well.

[@mikeswain1945]

Now a bit more is known about cat litter and molar clay, it would be great if you could do a 2022 'follow up' video.

[@LetsDoBonsai]

You read my mind Mike - i will be doing an update to what i use now

[@mikeswain1945]

The sooner the better Scott. I'm out of most soil components now and itching to buy stuff to replace them ready for the new year.

[@alicer3423]

I use the Safe t Sorb (turface) that Nigel Sanders uses and have not had any problems. But maybe you can't get it in the UK.

[@stevetheis5352]

Sanicat Pink cat litter works for me. Granules can be a little large but sieved its fine

[@iamaduckquack]

Moler clay. Drains well, holds water and nutrition.

[@j.r.bertolet3644]

👍🏻

[@terryhogwood6178]

I’ve found sanicat pink cat litter very good, I have used it for the last 5 years and had great results. You can get it from pets at home in uk

[@terryhogwood6178]

Scott Winnard hi Scott , it’s made from 100% moler clay , you can get a large bag for £10 and there is no wastage

[@ashleybonner5423]

Is it specifically the "pink" label variety? I'm going to search for it as my add on to perlite. Nigel Saunders has advised me to use an organics free substrate for my sick rosemarys and I have a cypress that I want to put into better soil ASAP as well.

[@brucedeacon28]

👍👌🙂