If you have already attempted to grow a bonsai, you probably
will have realized that using the correct form of soil is crucial to
your success. Regular plant soil and bonsai soil couldn't be more
different. Regular soil works in the opposite way from bonsai soil
in that it is specifically meant to capture any moisture that is
poured onto it and hold it so that the plant can drink its fill.
Bonsai soil on the other hand is meant to be loose and quick
draining so that it doesn’t drown the plant and cause the roots to
rot away before the tree can become healthy and fully-grown
Home-Made Bonsai Soil
When you are first starting to grow bonsai, you may find it
easier to work with your own mix of bonsai soil. A professional can
help you get the mixture just right but the basic recipe for
homemade soil is one part loam, two parts sphagnum peat moss, and
two parts granite grit. You’ll definitely want to move away from
this at some point in the future but to this is a great way to get
your feet wet.
Pre-Made Bonsai Soil
Getting pre-made soil is actually as easy as going to your local
bonsai grower or garden center. There you will find all sorts of
different types of bonsai soil to use for your plant. There is no
‘best’ choice for bonsai soil, so you should not be afraid to
experiment and see what will work best for your plants. What works
great for one grower may not work at all for another.
When looking for bonsai soil, you must look for two things. The
first of the two to is whether it will retain water properly and
absorb nutrients from the air around it. Bonsai trees are very
sensitive towards moisture and need gases to in order to survive and
grow strong. The second most important quality that you should look
for in bonsai soil is that it will drain water quickly. If the soil
that you put your tree into retains too much moisture then the roots
will be prone to rotting and killing the tree before you even
realize it.
Premade soils to look out for are:
Akadama,
Fujiyama,
Kanuma,
Kiryu, Kyodama
Variables to Consider
There are so many types of soil specially for bonsai trees. There
is no one best choice so you must be careful when making your
selection
The first thing you should consider is what species of bonsai
tree you are growing. While all bonsai soil will do essentially the
same thing, some soil mixtures are different in their basic
components and how they work. Some will have more nutrients and some
will have less, so you should investigate the needs of your tree
before making a choice. For instance, you should never feed an
Azalea bonsai when blooming
Other factors to take note of is: What sort of climate your are
in. Is the purchase of organic soil important to you. How often you
should water the tree. If you have your plant outside, think about
how much rain fall you get. If you are unsure, get the help of an
expert, especially if you are new to bonsai tree growing. It can be
very confusing and you really should make sure you don't buy the
wrong type of bonsai soil.
