How to Grow Bonsai Trees : What Type of Soil is Necessary for Bonsai Trees

Learn about the special soil you need for growing bonsai trees, in this free video.

Expert: Mike Hansen
Bio: Mike Hansen, owner of Midwest Bonsai, has been growing, caring, selling, and instructing others in bonsai care for years. Mike is an expert bonsai master.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• bonsai
• tree
• care
• plant
• garden
• seed
• juniper
• supply
• soil
• japanese
• grow
• tips

[Johnny42819]

seriously, like little children fighting.and over what?

[nocomplygumbo]

@Flowreach, and werenutz:

Stop embarrassing yourselves.

[yuukhrish096]

does we need to put moss on top of the pot????

[bonsaiforu]

I am from China and my family has grown bonsai for over 50 years. I can't agree with the soil choice given in this video. Using this type soil will require additional watering and fertilizing during everyday care. We still believe traditional potting soil is the best medium for bosai, just add some lava sand or even just normal sand to improve the drainage will be enough.

[mookiesmiles]

If you don't have anything nice to say don't say it at all. If you do like the videos don't watch em.... easy as that

[pandabear102409]

What soil was that you used?

[l0oAzizo0l]

so what's the best  type of soil?

[zanychimp]

@SanRafaelSwell the drainage is fairly good in this compost. I have moss in there too, and I use the moss to tell me when to water it.

[SanRafaelSwell]

@zanychimp

Technically the sand and gravel that I use (sifted to size) isn't granite, it is quartz monzonite. It is readily available for free where I live. It has an okay porosity but it is very tough and holds up really well. I actually reuse it, sifting it out of the "waste soil" produced from repotting. Horticultural grit is sold at most good garden centers and isn't all that expensive most of the time.

[SanRafaelSwell]

@zanychimp

If the compost isn't both "well done", sterilized and sifted, it could cause root rot. Bonsai soil requires good to excellent drainage. When you water the tree, the water should flow through the pot rather quickly (with in 5 seconds for a larger pot, even sooner in a small pot). Add some sort of "stony" material that is good at retaining moisture without breaking down quickly. Decomposed granite is by far my favorite choice. (cont.)

[zanychimp]

I'm growing my li'l oakie in compost. Seems like it's doing well, but could this hurt it?

[SanRafaelSwell]

@eriklares90

To continue, I will change this recipe up a bit depending on the species. For junipers I add a little home made charcoal and for pines I use about .25 parts "plant matter" or even less.