A guide for Making Bonsai soil. with pictures :)
Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 6:47 pm
There Is several different ways to make Bonsai soil. This Is just a example of ingredients that can be used. I took photos of this batch I made today to try and help beginners out with Bonsai soil and how easy it is to make your own.
Here is the ingredients I used today for this batch of Bonsai soil.
( CLICK THE PICTURES THEY GET BIGGER )
[url=https://img20.imageshack.us/my.php?image=soil1h.jpg][img]https://img20.imageshack.us/img20/883/soil1h.jpg[/img][/url]
This Cactus Mix is high organic and mostly neutral PH.
[url=https://img29.imageshack.us/my.php?image=soil2.jpg][img]https://img29.imageshack.us/img29/4015/soil2.jpg[/img][/url]
Basically small sized Lava rock. I use Lava rock pumice because it has a little weight to it, and is less likely to wash away when watering your Bonsai.
[url=https://img38.imageshack.us/my.php?image=soil3.jpg][img]https://img38.imageshack.us/img38/3724/soil3.jpg[/img][/url]
This is Fir tree Bark. High PH ( acidic ) Bark is good to use as a organic material in your soil. It soaks up moisture and holds it over a period of time. This helps keep your soil from drying out to quickly.
[url=https://img39.imageshack.us/my.php?image=soil4.jpg][img]https://img39.imageshack.us/img39/3996/soil4.jpg[/img][/url]
This is the first time I have tried Charcoal in my soil mix. I am not sure what it will do. I know it will help with drainage and wont hurt anything so I thought I would add some and see what happens.
[url=https://img40.imageshack.us/my.php?image=soil5.jpg][img]https://img40.imageshack.us/img40/1912/soil5.jpg[/img][/url]
This is larger sized Lava Rock. Used to improve drainage of the soil.
[url=https://img41.imageshack.us/my.php?image=soil6.jpg][img]https://img41.imageshack.us/img41/1507/soil6.jpg[/img][/url]
This is a picture of my soil sifting screen. The quarter and penny are there so you have a idea of the screen size.
Ok that was a list of what you need. You can use any kind of ingredients you think will work. Basically you just want a good draining soil when your done. Here is how I make my soil.
Sift all your ingredients over a screen. This gives you larger particle size that helps the soil drain.
[url=https://img529.imageshack.us/my.php?image=soil7.jpg][img]https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/8966/soil7.jpg[/img][/url]
The smaller particles fall through the screen. The bark and a few other ingredients you will have to pick particles that are to big out by hand.
[url=https://img8.imageshack.us/my.php?image=soil8.jpg][img]https://img8.imageshack.us/img8/3342/soil8.jpg[/img][/url]
What is left on the top of the screen is what I want to keep. I sift a couple of small hand held shovels full at a time. Then I dump what I want to keep in another container where I mix it by hand with the other ingredients.
[url=https://img14.imageshack.us/my.php?image=soil9.jpg][img]https://img14.imageshack.us/img14/6676/soil9.jpg[/img][/url]
This is what it looks like when it is done and all mixed together.
[url=https://img20.imageshack.us/my.php?image=soil10.jpg][img]https://img20.imageshack.us/img20/5933/soil10.jpg[/img][/url]
Directions for this mix.
I used a small hand held shovel for measuring ( it is in one of the previous pictures)
8 shovels of cactus mix
10 shovels of bark
1 bag lava pumice ( 4 quarts- or 4.4 liters )
3 shovels charcoal
3 shovels larger ( red ) lava rock
I will be using this mix for my larger sized trees out doors. For smaller trees I would leave out the larger (red) lava rock.
Don't forget the stuff that fell through the sifter screen, it can be used for some Tropical Bonsai or starter plants.
[url=https://img29.imageshack.us/my.php?image=soil11.jpg][img]https://img29.imageshack.us/img29/1161/soil11.jpg[/img][/url]
Hope this is helpful.
Any suggestions or comments?
Please share your ideas or recipes for bonsai soil. I always like trying new things.
Here is the ingredients I used today for this batch of Bonsai soil.
( CLICK THE PICTURES THEY GET BIGGER )
[url=https://img20.imageshack.us/my.php?image=soil1h.jpg][img]https://img20.imageshack.us/img20/883/soil1h.jpg[/img][/url]
This Cactus Mix is high organic and mostly neutral PH.
[url=https://img29.imageshack.us/my.php?image=soil2.jpg][img]https://img29.imageshack.us/img29/4015/soil2.jpg[/img][/url]
Basically small sized Lava rock. I use Lava rock pumice because it has a little weight to it, and is less likely to wash away when watering your Bonsai.
[url=https://img38.imageshack.us/my.php?image=soil3.jpg][img]https://img38.imageshack.us/img38/3724/soil3.jpg[/img][/url]
This is Fir tree Bark. High PH ( acidic ) Bark is good to use as a organic material in your soil. It soaks up moisture and holds it over a period of time. This helps keep your soil from drying out to quickly.
[url=https://img39.imageshack.us/my.php?image=soil4.jpg][img]https://img39.imageshack.us/img39/3996/soil4.jpg[/img][/url]
This is the first time I have tried Charcoal in my soil mix. I am not sure what it will do. I know it will help with drainage and wont hurt anything so I thought I would add some and see what happens.
[url=https://img40.imageshack.us/my.php?image=soil5.jpg][img]https://img40.imageshack.us/img40/1912/soil5.jpg[/img][/url]
This is larger sized Lava Rock. Used to improve drainage of the soil.
[url=https://img41.imageshack.us/my.php?image=soil6.jpg][img]https://img41.imageshack.us/img41/1507/soil6.jpg[/img][/url]
This is a picture of my soil sifting screen. The quarter and penny are there so you have a idea of the screen size.
Ok that was a list of what you need. You can use any kind of ingredients you think will work. Basically you just want a good draining soil when your done. Here is how I make my soil.
Sift all your ingredients over a screen. This gives you larger particle size that helps the soil drain.
[url=https://img529.imageshack.us/my.php?image=soil7.jpg][img]https://img529.imageshack.us/img529/8966/soil7.jpg[/img][/url]
The smaller particles fall through the screen. The bark and a few other ingredients you will have to pick particles that are to big out by hand.
[url=https://img8.imageshack.us/my.php?image=soil8.jpg][img]https://img8.imageshack.us/img8/3342/soil8.jpg[/img][/url]
What is left on the top of the screen is what I want to keep. I sift a couple of small hand held shovels full at a time. Then I dump what I want to keep in another container where I mix it by hand with the other ingredients.
[url=https://img14.imageshack.us/my.php?image=soil9.jpg][img]https://img14.imageshack.us/img14/6676/soil9.jpg[/img][/url]
This is what it looks like when it is done and all mixed together.
[url=https://img20.imageshack.us/my.php?image=soil10.jpg][img]https://img20.imageshack.us/img20/5933/soil10.jpg[/img][/url]
Directions for this mix.
I used a small hand held shovel for measuring ( it is in one of the previous pictures)
8 shovels of cactus mix
10 shovels of bark
1 bag lava pumice ( 4 quarts- or 4.4 liters )
3 shovels charcoal
3 shovels larger ( red ) lava rock
I will be using this mix for my larger sized trees out doors. For smaller trees I would leave out the larger (red) lava rock.
Don't forget the stuff that fell through the sifter screen, it can be used for some Tropical Bonsai or starter plants.
[url=https://img29.imageshack.us/my.php?image=soil11.jpg][img]https://img29.imageshack.us/img29/1161/soil11.jpg[/img][/url]
Hope this is helpful.
Any suggestions or comments?
Please share your ideas or recipes for bonsai soil. I always like trying new things.