Hey guys,
I am turning my front water fountain into a big bonsai pot. I already drilled a hole at the bottom of the fountain to drain excess water. Fountain size is appox 5 ft x 10 ft x 1 ft deep. I am located in Southern California (zone 8b). I am thinking about getting 2 x 15 gallons Cotoneasters this weekend. Can anyone recommend me some good soil with appox price and where to buy them at? I am new to bonsai but I have been doing a lot of reading lately... Thank you guys.
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Gnome
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 5122
- Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2006 12:17 am
- Location: Western PA USDA Zone 6A
gfd2726,
Traditionally group plantings always use odd numbers of trees. with a pot that size you are going to need a lot more than two plants. Ready made bonsai soil is not "dirt cheap" This is not usually a big deal if you are buying a few gallons at a time, but 50 cubic feet might become expensive. If I were you I would look into getting the proper components in bulk and making your own. Read the sticky thread about soils at the top of the forum. Locating these components can sometime take a little work.
Something else to consider is that such a large volume of soil is gong to take a while to dry out, this is not desirable. A better scenario is one in which the soil dries on a daily basis, this requires daily watering, which in turn means that fresh oxygen is introduced at each watering. Constantly wet soil can lead to problems with root rot. The only way that such a large container would be appropriate would be for a very large tree or a large group planting. Also I think you are gong to need more than one drainage hole and bonsai pots have feet in order to facilitate drainage something that your container may lack.
This group planting is 6 Meters long
[img]https://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y291/novusordo1/Inspiring%20Bonsai/foret2.jpg[/img]
Look at the size of these trees and this pot is nowhere as big as yours.
[img]https://www.bonsai-fachforum.de/files/hainbuchenwald.jpg[/img]
Norm
Traditionally group plantings always use odd numbers of trees. with a pot that size you are going to need a lot more than two plants. Ready made bonsai soil is not "dirt cheap" This is not usually a big deal if you are buying a few gallons at a time, but 50 cubic feet might become expensive. If I were you I would look into getting the proper components in bulk and making your own. Read the sticky thread about soils at the top of the forum. Locating these components can sometime take a little work.
Something else to consider is that such a large volume of soil is gong to take a while to dry out, this is not desirable. A better scenario is one in which the soil dries on a daily basis, this requires daily watering, which in turn means that fresh oxygen is introduced at each watering. Constantly wet soil can lead to problems with root rot. The only way that such a large container would be appropriate would be for a very large tree or a large group planting. Also I think you are gong to need more than one drainage hole and bonsai pots have feet in order to facilitate drainage something that your container may lack.
This group planting is 6 Meters long
[img]https://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y291/novusordo1/Inspiring%20Bonsai/foret2.jpg[/img]
Look at the size of these trees and this pot is nowhere as big as yours.
[img]https://www.bonsai-fachforum.de/files/hainbuchenwald.jpg[/img]
Norm
-
Gnome
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 5122
- Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2006 12:17 am
- Location: Western PA USDA Zone 6A
gfd2726,
Buy your plants if you wish but please slow down and do some research. That is a very large container even for 5 good sized plants. Please read [url=https://www.evergreengardenworks.com/overpot.htm]this[/url] also. You should also follow the link to the rest of Brent's articles, a lot of good information there.
Norm
You're welcome.Thank you for your advice.
Correct, think texture, drainage and aeration.I need fast drainage soil right?
No, I have never seen actual bonsai soil at any of those stores. You can find components there though. Please read the sticky thread about [url=https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3422]bonsai soil[/url] it is unlike what you seem to have in mind, in fact "soil" is a misnomer as there is no actual soil in most bonsai media.Am I able to purchase good soil at walmart, target, home depot or lowes?
Buy your plants if you wish but please slow down and do some research. That is a very large container even for 5 good sized plants. Please read [url=https://www.evergreengardenworks.com/overpot.htm]this[/url] also. You should also follow the link to the rest of Brent's articles, a lot of good information there.
Norm