My Homemade Soil

[Russ]

The past few weeks i have been trying to find solid information on everything soil so that i could attempt to put together a quality mix. If you have every tried to research this im sure that you have found that every person has a different ideal and that making head or tail of it is not easy at all, especially as a newbie. Below i have posted my ingredients and what i plan to do with them, as well as a few links that provided me with a little direction. PLEASE PLEASE give me some feedback and/or advice as this is really why i am here

First of all the following PDF posted by the Indianapolis Bonsai Club was directional, however you have to disregard the fact that it was written with local supplies etc in mind. It is quite thorough at about 20 pages in length.
http://www.indybonsai.org/files/Bonsai% ... evised.PDF

I found this page crawling around Google.
http://www.bonsailearningcenter.com/Tip ... e/soil.htm

I cant forget to mention all the posts in this forum as well as others. There is alot of knowledge floating about these parts

The direction that i have chosen to take has been mainly influenced by the cost vs effectiveness of the supplies. The following is what i have used, and where it was purchased.

- Organic Garden Mix (Australian Native Landscapes)
- River Sand (Australian Native Landscapes)
- Zeolite 1-3 (Ray Nesci Bonsai, Dural NSW)

The Organic Garden Mix i already had at home. I had previously purchased a cubic meter of this when i extended and raised my garden bed, and had about 100l left over. (I have classed this as a freebie) I sieved about 20l (two buckets) through the medium sieve just to get rid of all the large pieces of bark and rubbish and ended up with about 13l (one and a third 70c buckets from bunnings!). The river sand i bought in 20kg bags from ANL (about $5.50 each). First of all I let it dry right out and then proceeded to sieve it through the smallest sieve to remove the sand and leave me with the pebbles/rocks. I then put these through the medium sieve to give me 2 different grades (small and medium). They aren't washed in the photos but i washed them before adding to the mix. The Zeolite from Ray's i didn't do anything to, as this stuff is game on straight out of the bag!

My reasoning for the river sand rocks was their sharpness and the zeolite for its retaining properties. The Organic Mix was meant to be the source of nutrients.

zeolite.jpg

small_river.jpg

large_river.jpg

organic_mix.jpg

I mixed all of the above up at 25% each and came up with this.

finished.jpg

At the moment i have only made up a small sample batch to test. When i put it in a pot and watered it all of the organic material sort of disappeared and i was seemingly only left with rocks. I am contemplating doubling the Organic Mix, or adding another part cow manure to thicken up the organic side of the mix. I will put a little osmocote in the final product when it is right. My babies are mainly figs and i know they appreciate rough gritty soils, but this may be extreme. This mix will be pretty much only for them. The PH tested at about 6.5. It is early days yet but i think i have taken the term 'free draining soil' to the next level! I may need to slow it down yet.

FEEDBACK/ADVICE PLEASE
Rip me to shreds if you feel it necessary, i will only come out more educated

Thanks
Russ

[aaron_tas]

i reckon you have it pretty much sorted russ

i am using about 10-20% organic, but its easier for me to keep the pots a bit cooler down here.
if i was in more heat, i'd use more peat

[kcpoole]

Hi Russ

I have a post here re my inert growing medium I have been using this year.
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=40

I must say that during this heatwave we have been having here, ( At home I have not had a day under 30 deg since before christmas), My mix has done really well

I have 1/2 my trees in this, and they are Performing the same or better than a commercial organic Bonsai mix. (Ray Nescis')
I have some Shohin or Mame sized trees in this mix and they have been sitting in a shallow tray filled with 3 mm Gravel. They are located on my benches with the rest of my trees in dappled shade ( under Eucalypts), and they have been watered with the rest of my trees only once per day.

No signs of heat stress or lack of water with them.

Ken

[Russ]

Thanks Ken

Your post was actually one of the first that i read. It is a little daunting i guess for me to have such an inactive soil, as i dont have alot of experience in this regard and am afraid that my plants may come out the worst due to my 'soil experiments'

Being a relative beginner, the mix that you use, and the mix that i have described above go against everything i have ever known to be 'soil' as such. I am still trying to get my head around the fact that 'Soil's aint Soils' This is why i have included 25% organic material, and was/am even contemplating increasing it even more.

How often do you feed using your mix? Do you use osmocote or similar mixed in, or a liquid feed program? How do your figs respond to the medium?
AAhhh so many questions!

Cheers
Russ

[Bretts]

Russ your doing great mate. I am kinda proud of your knowledge on soils because 4 years ago when I started I had a hell of a time taking in all the information on the international forums and translating that into products that are available here in Aus. Jay and KC have done a great job in publicising what products are available in Australia to make a high quality bonsai soil in Australia.
Through my discussions over the last 4 years I have found that mixing, potting mix and grit was the norm in Australia. It was seen as professional to sieve. (just my interpretation,the facts may be far from this ) let alone looking at other mediums. While reading this information I had befriended a very experienced bonsai grower who used a far from free draining soil mix and covered the inside of the pot with black plastic and poked one hole in it I understand the theory that any mix works but. He does live out on the farm werew water is gold
Since then Ray Nesci has started selling zeolite and most are able to get good ingredients all over the country. Maybe we are just getting better conected?
Any way to see a first year come up with such a sensible mix is very impressive. it is interesting that you use the 1-3mm zeolite without sifting. It depends on the size of the pot and other things but I find the average best size for soil particles is 2-5mm. That is for potting mix zeolite and grit or any ingredient. The thinking here is that particles of all te same size makes more spaces in the soil.
Diced spagnum moss is a very useful ingredient to use on the surface of the soil. I find it helps in soil water retention without sacrificing air retention. In spring I have taken to adding more spagnum moss to any pots that start drying out. This makes the one watering a day even out for most trees until we get to the 30 deg days.
Were we talking about a fig? You re potting this time of year? LOL probably one of the figs I already gave advice on pruning and re-potting. Great work

[kcpoole]

Thanks Ken

Your post was actually one of the first that i read. It is a little daunting i guess for me to have such an inactive soil, as i dont have alot of experience in this regard and am afraid that my plants may come out the worst due to my 'soil experiments'

Being a relative beginner, the mix that you use, and the mix that i have described above go against everything i have ever known to be 'soil' as such. I am still trying to get my head around the fact that 'Soil's aint Soils' This is why i have included 25% organic material, and was/am even contemplating increasing it even more.

How often do you feed using your mix? Do you use osmocote or similar mixed in, or a liquid feed program? How do your figs respond to the medium?
AAhhh so many questions!

Cheers
Russ

Hey Russ
Most people who see me pot up in it shake their heads as well

I have experienced No adverse effects for my trees in this hot weather and in facct I think is can be performing better.

Feeding I still do Charlie carp fortnightly in summer and Seasol the other weeks ( When I remember), And sprinkle so Dynamic lifter on the tops as well. ( This is same as what i did with Rays Mix.
You could use osmocote in the mix or ontop if you wish

I put one of each type of tress in it ( Pro bonsai only) last year and am sufficiently happy that I will do so to ALL my tress as they come up forrepotting. I will not now go back to using Organics

Ken

[63pmp]

The only change I would make is to sieve the organic potting mix. My potting mixes are 80% sieved and washed river sand and 20% sieved potting mix (preferably pine bark based) for pines/ conifers, and 60/40 for maples, hornbeams, beech and those that like it a little more moist.

I find the pine bark lasts longer before turning to mush. Some potting mixes I will throw away 60% of the bag, but I found osmocote multipurpose mix to be quite good, for the time being. At one stage I could get composted pine bark from the local landscaping place which was great, but they went broke and left town and now I'm left buying bagged stuff.

Paul

[cutejai]

Hi All,

Sorry to hijack this post, I'm just another beginner learning the art of bonsai and very interested in this mix (from Russ), however I'm having difficulty finding coarse river sand, I could get some 2-8mm from ANL, i think it's called riverina sand, but they are $4 for 5KG bag, Could anyone please let me know when can I find it cheaper and under what product name? and also wondering if I could use 1 more part of zeolite instead of river sand? or may be replace river sand with Diatomite if that is a cheaper alternative?

really appreciate for any reply.

Regards

[kcpoole]

Hi All,

Sorry to hijack this post, I'm just another beginner learning the art of bonsai and very interested in this mix (from Russ), however I'm having difficulty finding coarse river sand, I could get some 2-8mm from ANL, i think it's called riverina sand, but they are $4 for 5KG bag, Could anyone please let me know when can I find it cheaper and under what product name? and also wondering if I could use 1 more part of zeolite instead of river sand? or may be replace river sand with Diatomite if that is a cheaper alternative?

really appreciate for any reply.

Regards

Hi Cutie
I have used before some "Coarse Nepean river Sand", I purchased from Mitre in Dural. About a 20 kilo bag ( about a cement bag in size), Verry Gritty and course and most particles about 2-4 mm in size.
Do not use it now tho as I found it too heavy for my liking.

Ken

[cutejai]

Thanks Ken,
Dural is abit far, will monitor the other post on where to get Diatomite or scoria since the advantage will outweigh sand? please correct me if this assumption is not right.
thought coarse river sand is an abandon resource and should be readily available anywhere but apparently not. since I have to go through the trouble of getting it, might as well substitute it with diatomite or scoria.

Regards

[Pup]

10 growers ten recipes. If it works then use it. I have changed my mix twice in 25 years.
Yet I am still told it is not the best!!. I have trees that are happily growing in it for that long. o
If it helps what I saw of your mix it will work fine.
Now the important, the most important part of Bonsai growing is the watering. Learn that properly and you can grow your trees in crushed bricks!!.
Who would want to though.

Pup

[Joel]

10 growers ten recipes. If it works then use it. I have changed my mix twice in 25 years.
Yet I am still told it is not the best!!. I have trees that are happily growing in it for that long. o
If it helps what I saw of your mix it will work fine.
Now the important, the most important part of Bonsai growing is the watering. Learn that properly and you can grow your trees in crushed bricks!!.
Who would want to though.

Pup

Terracota chips make a great soil. Same colour as akadama too te he he. I've never used it, but would if i could get it in an appropriate size, if only to prove your point. I have grown in just sand, just zeolite, just charcoal, just diatomite and just scoria, with all trees looking very healthy. But, as has been said, YOU NEED TO WATER ACCORDINGLY!

JayC

[AnneK]

The trouble with all recipes is the available ingredients differ from area to area and supplier to supplier, by name and content.
I have recently been disillusioned with what I thought was good river sand, previously rejecting something by the same name that looked like fine white sand straight off a clean beach! Recently I was shown Nepean River Sand that looks just like yours, with very little actual sand in it. So it is good that you have put up your pictures.

The traditional mix as specified by the School of Bonsai over the years has been: 1/3rd Composted pine sawdust, 1/3rd composted pine chips, 1/3rd coarse river sand. In the last two years many have started adding 15% zeolite, (Ray Nesci), the other ingredients should be available from Australian Native Landscapes, but I doubt their veracity and availability in smaller quantities, You practically need a hard hat to get in the gate, so I'm not at all sure if they welcome smaller customers. We may find out as a result of this!

Recently, I have renewed my search for the right soil and at this moment I am waiting to get my hands on Diatomite. Currently on order at Ray's so I believe. This subject has been discussed on forums before, so I should let the Sopwith Pilot take over!

Certainly your mix, looks pretty good, the test will be growth and water holding capacity, keep up the liquid feed too.

AnneK

[Joel]

The trouble with all recipes is the available ingredients differ from area to area and supplier to supplier, by name and content.
I have recently been disillusioned with what I thought was good river sand, previously rejecting something by the same name that looked like fine white sand straight off a clean beach! Recently I was shown Nepean River Sand that looks just like yours, with very little actual sand in it. So it is good that you have put up your pictures.

The traditional mix as specified by the School of Bonsai over the years has been: 1/3rd Composted pine sawdust, 1/3rd composted pine chips, 1/3rd coarse river sand. In the last two years many have started adding 15% zeolite, (Ray Nesci), the other ingredients should be available from Australian Native Landscapes, but I doubt their veracity and availability in smaller quantities, You practically need a hard hat to get in the gate, so I'm not at all sure if they welcome smaller customers. We may find out as a result of this!

Recently, I have renewed my search for the right soil and at this moment I am waiting to get my hands on Diatomite. Currently on order at Ray's so I believe. This subject has been discussed on forums before, so I should let the Sopwith Pilot take over!

Certainly your mix, looks pretty good, the test will be growth and water holding capacity, keep up the liquid feed too.

AnneK

Hi AnneK,

How was the mix I gave to you last year? Any results yet?

JayC