"soil"... so confused...

[Andrew Legg]

Yes anything should be OK, but the problem with 'Pebbles" is that there usually rounded and will not help the roots to split but rather have thm just grow around them
Plain gravel/ granite also does not absorb and hold moisture which is why I prefer Diatomite to Granite / Sand / Gravel.

Ken

Hey Ken,

I've heard contrasting "evidence" that particle shape does not determine root ramification, but that this is a function of chemicals (like auxins) in the root structure. That said I'm no expert. What I can say though is that irregular sized particulate should have more surface area and therefore should hold more water.

Cheers,

Andrew

[Damian Bee]

That's true re particle size.
The smaller it is the soggier it can become, less air movement too.

[Graeme]

The smaller a soil particle, the more particles therefore, the larger the surface area. The more surface area the more holding capacity. The larger the holding capacity the wetter it is. The more particles the less space between them. The less space the less air.
The sharper the articles the more surface area, but also the more space between the particles, therefore the more air contained within the medium. and

[Damian Bee]

Hmmm, but sharp particles can compact more readily than rounded ones
On and on it goes, the more you know, the more confusing it can be
Sorry Scooter, this is not helping

[MattA]

Sharp particles will help roots bifurcate, smooth particles wont....

[DustyRusty]

Sharp particles will help roots bifurcate, smooth particles wont....

It's this that Andrew is questioning. And to be honest it does sound like a bonsai myth to me. Someone once said to plant a few razor blades in your mix and see if the roots bifurcate or just grow around them. They will do the latter. i'm no scientist and consider myself a bonsai newbie but I'm very skeptical on this one.

[shibui]

Hmmm, but sharp particles can compact more readily than rounded ones

Where did this one come from Damian? Can you cite references or research?

And to be honest it does sound like a bonsai myth to me. Someone once said to plant a few razor blades in your mix and see if the roots bifurcate or just grow around them. They will do the latter. i'm no scientist and consider myself a bonsai newbie but I'm very skeptical on this one.

I'm NOT a bonsai newbie but I'm still skeptical about this one

[Damian Bee]

Hi Shibui, just having a giggle there.

The theory is mostly based on materials under some form of pressure and doesn't always apply to potting mix.
Sharp edges grip better and thus can lock up under pressure whereas rounded/smooth edges tend to roll off each other.

For example
Walk on a stockpile of crushed rock and you will in most cases make it to the top with some effort.
Walk on a stockpile of river pebble and you will in most cases be struggling to get to the top, (it will be on top of you).

There is more to it with regards to fine particles and graded mixtures of particles but we are going to end up somewhere in the midst of a road design/construction manual. Not particularly relevant to bonsai and to most, not all that interesting

[Scooter_M]

Lol who would have thought soil would be so complicated!

I did find a use for my super fine dusty "professoinal" mix tho, washed it down to a thick slab, and am now using it to grow moss

My azalea that started this whole thing is now budding (which i didnt think would happen to the spring, so yay) and they'll all still wait till spring to get into some real mix. Im moving house soon also, just so happens to be closer to garden world!

Cheers all

[Graeme]

And, one should never use soil in container growing.

One should always use a Potting Medium.

Because a Potting Medium doesn't contain soil, but instead is made up of both inert inorganic material and organic material.

But then at the end of the day one uses what works for you.

As an aside I was always taught that sharp material contained in Potting Medium aided in the 'splitting' of the tree's roots, but after I moved to Darwin and began using a really neat river stone in my mix I found the roots still split, just like they did in Sydney .

[Neli]

Lol who would have thought soil would be so complicated!

I did find a use for my super fine dusty "professoinal" mix tho, washed it down to a thick slab, and am now using it to grow moss

My azalea that started this whole thing is now budding (which i didnt think would happen to the spring, so yay) and they'll all still wait till spring to get into some real mix. Im moving house soon also, just so happens to be closer to garden world!

Cheers all

I think You better remove all flower buds if your tree is not strong. It will help it recover.

[Scooter_M]

I think You better remove all flower buds if your tree is not strong. It will help it recover.

Hey, I'm not sure if they are flower buds or just new leaves... Will take a photo tomorrow and get some opinions

[Neli]

This is the time the Azalea gets flower buds. It must be flower buds. Cut one large one , open it and you will see the petals inside. But trust me on this one...it must be flower buds.

[Scooter_M]

Hey here's a pic. . Too small to open. . A third now appearing!

20130615_084229_edit0.jpg

[Damian Bee]

That's just a leaf in there scooter you might get some flower buds later in the year.