Your Questions About [gardening]

John Your Questions About [gardening]

John asks…

where can I but Bonsai soil besides the internet? For instance and local brand name stores such as Home Depot?

if i get any websites i guess thats ok too. i prefer actually going to get the soil myself. and also a website to purchase the seeds to grow them. mine died :[

farmer21 Your Questions About [gardening]

gardencentres answers:

Bonsai will grow in any good soil there is as far as I know no special “Bonsai soil”

The trick is not to consider it a houseplant, make sure you have moss covering it and keep that moss healthy. Feed about once a month.

Keep it outside, nor sure where you live but if you live where it gets freezing just winter it over in a cold frame

Mary Your Questions About [gardening]

Mary asks…

What Kind of Bonsai Soil should I use For a Bald Cypress Bonsai?

Pleas only answer this if you have had experience with this and it works.

farmer21 Your Questions About [gardening]

gardencentres answers:

Try the following:
1. NATURE’S HELPER–it’s a brand of soil conditioner you can buy at lowes or home depot.
2. LEVELING SAND–a really coarse sand used for setting walk way stones. You can find it at lowes 3. CHICKEN GRIT–make sure that you get the crushed granite and not the groung oyster shells!!
4. PEA GRAVEL for the chicken grit if you have too (you can buy that at lowes)

*the ratio of the mix is 3 parts NATURE’S HELPER, 1 part LEVELING SAND, 1 part chicken grit. 3:1:1 thats my mix for deciduouse trees. *for conifers try a 1:1:1 ratio or the ingredients above. A general rule of thumb is that deciduouse trees need more organic material in the soil. Thats it pretty straight forward if you ask me. And cheap too!! Thats a bonus.

Good Luck

Maria Your Questions About [gardening]

Maria asks…

What is the ingredients for a top Bonsai soil and formula for fast growing?

farmer21 Your Questions About [gardening]

gardencentres answers:

The basic mix is a combination of organic and inorganic material that is fast draining, and coarse enough to allow good air circulation for good root development.
The ratio of inorganic/organic depends on what type of tree you are growing. On one end of the scale, tropicals need the most organic material while on the other side most conifers do best with more inorganic. Deciduous trees fall somewhere in between.

The ingredients I use in my mixes include –
Inorganic – Turface, builders sand, vermiculite
Organic – Pine bark, peatmoss

All of my mixes are an even mix of these ingredients. I usually vary the amount of Turface and pine bark to adjust for the individual plant type.

George Your Questions About [gardening]

George asks…

What are the important aspects to look for in bonsai soil?

farmer21 Your Questions About [gardening]

gardencentres answers:

Bonsai soil should be well draining.

There are many bonsai soil recipes as well as ready mixed bonsai soil available in many stores and online retailers. I use an inorganic mix that allows me to control the moisture level in the pot and control the amount of fertilizer that may be present in the soil at any given time. This is essential for controlling the growth of established bonsai.

Here’s an article that you may want to read on the subject:
http://www.matsubonsai.com/blog/post/2008/03/Inorganic-Soil-Mixes.aspx

Susan Your Questions About [gardening]

Susan asks…

What type of soil does a bonsai need?

I have cactus soil but am not sure that it is best for bonsai. I water may plant by immersing it in a bowl of water and let it sit for 15 minutes or so. What can I use to feed my bonsai? It looks like bulbs with grass growing out of it. Two of the three bulbs were eaten by a former roommates cat I would like to replant it in a larger pot and feed it to help it recover.

farmer21 Your Questions About [gardening]

gardencentres answers:

A fast draining soil is always good. Go to http://www.BonsaiCareBasics.com and to the SOIL section for all the different types of soils you can use; choose the soil that would be best for your particular bonsai.

In regards to feeding, it really depends on your specific species of bonsai, but on the same site there is a fertilizing page that can give you a general sense of what you can add. In general though, time release organic fertilizer is always good.

Hope this helps!

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