Fluffy wrote:I seem to find alot of people seem to use a 60-40 mix of a few things, that is what I found a few times.
Sorry? This ratio tells nothing of which is the organic or inorganic [the 60 or the 40? Some species are a bit picky about this due to the water retention properties of the organic components.] You will run across any number of ratios for soil as everyone has what works for them {as I mention in the soil sticky this is due to the number of variables in any set of circumstances. No one else has an environment just like you.}
Again, It is about how the soil functions as a whole - The components mix is just how you get something that works for your particular set. I myself have a fair portion of my trees in 100% inorganic but some are70/30 IO/O
There is a broad range of what is survivable but to get the best growth from your mix often takes some observation and tweaking.
Some of the soil pics you guys have posted show what appear to be bark and small stones, but on closer inpestion look like the japanese soil sometimes used.
That
is essentially what the Japanese soil is [Some has no bark at all & It's fired clay though - Not small stones]... Both descriptions in the quote above [On either side of the comma] describe the same thing
This is
exactly what I referred when I said:
ynot wrote:
Rather than listing the specific ingredients, [Which may or may not be available to all parties & there are many different things that will function in similar ways.] It is more important to understand the importance of the particle size and how the ratio of inorganic to organic components affect how your soil functions wrt moisture retention, Aeration, Drainage, And the structure of the root growth.
The similarity you note above is intentional. The soil you see in the pictures
functions the same as the Japanese soil even if the ingredients are not precisely the same....The specific materials make no difference because they get the job done in the same manner.
This is why I am constantly telling people to learn to understand the aspects of bonsai soil that are beneficial to the tree and how to achieve that [Yes I will say it again: Functionality] as opposed to simply buying the bag with the right name on it and saying this must be good because it says 'bonsai soil' on it. We see terrible soil with a pretty label all the time.
Here is a better picture of one of my leaves and it is not the tree I thought it was.
Not the spikey like parts that come from the serated edges, diffinatly not and chinese elm, the leave are shiny and the vein of the leaf it curved and they are very shiny, hopefully this might one of you guys to possibly know what type it is.
I am honestly still at a loss for a species for you... Great picture though!
I am greateful for you help.
Your welcome.
ynot