Soil question (Beginner)

[lolofied]

Recently received a plum tree that has a developing nebari, it came with just the roots that had been pruned and no soil.
I only recently started bonsai-ing, should the plant be placed directly into a bonsai soil mix and/or pot, or into a more general mix to develop the roots?

[shibui]

A good bonsai mix is ok either for a tree in a bonsai pot or in a grow pot. Not much difference between a Good general potting mix and bonsai mix so you could use either in a larger grow pot.

[thoglette]

"Use the search, Luke" and look at the existing threads. Eg viewtopic.php?f=7&t=16976

And "good potting mix" yon man means "nothing actually labelled as general purpose potting mix". Some Orchid or Cactus mixes can be used - but are still better cut 50/50 with some non-organic stuff. I like VitaPet Purrfit Litter Clay which is available at Big W.

[shibui]

And "good potting mix" yon man means "nothing actually labelled as general purpose potting mix"

Au contrare Thoglette. there seems little relation to price, label and quality in my experience. We have had some excellent, cheap bagged mixes and some very poor expensive ones. Biggest problem is consistency - you buy a good mix but next time you get the same packet the mix is entirely different.

Some Orchid or Cactus mixes can be used

Note use of 'some'. At our last club meeting members brought different mixes. 2 different brands of Cacti mix were entirely different - 1 mostly very fine sand the other had more bark particles.
I still maintain that in larger, deeper pots you can grow plants in almost anything. For shallower bonsai pots you need to be a bit more particular (especially about particle size )

[thoglette]

Biggest problem is consistency - you buy a good mix but next time you get the same packet the mix is entirely different.

And how is a beginner to know one from the other?

[shibui]

And how is a beginner to know one from the other?

Obviously a beginner will not know good mix from bad. When even specialist mixes labelled 'bonsai' or 'cacti' vary so much from one brand to the next, experience is the only way.

Fortunately experience is available, even to beginners, at most clubs.
It is also fortunate that most trees will survive even in less than satisfactory mix - won't thrive maybe but they will survive in most cases - which gives even beginners time to gain some of that valuable experience

[Laurie J]

I'm very new too, and I've found my Bonsai club to be absolutely amazing. They've taught me all about soils, structures and wiring so far. They're always happy for me to ask silly questions, and I regularly email them to ask even more The best advise I can give you is to join your local club and go and meet them!

[dandybonsai]

Bag also settle over time so Large lighter stuff tends to work there way to top the fine's and heavy stuff to the bottom.

Opening a bag and mixing all the mix will have a more even balance,i use my wheelbarrow for large bags,smaller bags a handytub can also be used but not as portable as a wheelbarrow.(you can add your own stuff should you want something else to add)

I have purchased a larger handytub that is quite large and sits nicely in the wheelbarrow,finish mixing pull tub out,take to table or storage.

I also use the plastic bought shopping bags as a potting bag sometime's to add a handful of something else to my mix,the left over mix can be easly can be hung up for use next time. (if your like my household we have 2 cars with excess bags a good use for the older bags that are either worn or to dirty to be used collecting the groceries)

[thoglette]

I like VitaPet Purrfit Litter Clay which is available at Big W.

Not any more - anyone know who else stocks this?

[kcpoole]

Pity you do not state where in Oz you are from. It makes a huge difference as to what to use as a mix and what is availiable to you

I recommned that anyone head off to the nearest Bonsai Nursery, and purchase whatever they use.
Avoid "commenrcial" potting mix from any source for the reasons stated above, unless you are stuck, and then sift it to remove the fines and rubbish.

Do some research into soil mixes and experiment on low value trees before using them on quality trees regardless of the source
Do Use an open free draining mix in all trees

Ken

[Phoenix238]

I bought a couple of bags of "Grow Better" Bonsai Mix a couple of months ago to try, and upon opening the bag I thought it looked really good. Am currently using on a couple of trees including my only tree in an actual pot, seems pretty good so far. The rest of my trees in nursery pots are in any general potting mix that doesn't have water crystals added.

I bought 2 bags of the "Osmocote Professional Bonsai Mix" a couple of years ago, they're still in my gardening box. I'll occasionally use them for planting seeds in, but it was that horribly fine I wouldn't put it near anything else. Stay clear

Regarding consistent mixes, I used to add "Aquatic Plant Mix" to my mixes as the first bag I bought had perfect size particles. I stopped buying it after I got a bag that was next to useless as the pieces were mostly bigger than my thumb

Just my

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[thoglette]

I like VitaPet Purrfit Litter Clay which is available at Big W.

Not any more - anyone know who else stocks this?

I have had correspondence with Vita Pet and they have completely restructured their range. The NZ Zeolite appears to have gone

[Steve B]

I have been trying out all the pet store places in my local area for the Purrfit kitty litter after I struck out at BigW. This news puts it in perspective. Suspect that means the closest source of Zeolite (of any nationality) is going to be Nesci's Nursery. Has anybody in Sydney found an alternative source of Zeolite recently?


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[dan.fisher92]

Get some VitaPet Purrfit Litter Clay from Big W or similar (it's actually Zeolite and pre-sifted to remove fines);
Some one mentioned in a previous thread--

You can also get zeolite in the form/name of zeochlor from bunnings-in the pool isle-big bag for $15.

A quick Google search leads me to believe bunnings still stock it however under a different name


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[Steve B]

I have had some mixed results with Zeochlor from greenshed. First lot I got was quite good granual size around 4 or 5mm. The last lot was all fines - not much above 2mm....


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