Care of Bonsai Trees – What Type Of Soil Should I Use?
bonsai trees
A hotly debated topic among bonsai followers is about soil. While watering is vital to the care of bonsai trees, so too is the type of soil as the soil is involved in delivering nutrients to the tree.
With the care of bonsai trees, we are trying to keep the tree small and the root system shallow, so we need to use a different composition of soil than that of an ordinary house plant.
We want our house plants to grow larger and to do this, they require their root systems to become deeply established so that they can retain as much water as possible for growth. Potting soil is heavy and can stay damp for a long time. If we were to use this ‘heavy’, water retaining, soil for our small trees with their shallow roots, rot will start to set in.
There are so many types of soil specially for bonsai trees. Bonsai generally need a loose fast-draining soil – but again it depends on your type of tree, its pot and where it is sited.
With bonsai soil, you must look for two things. The first is whether it will retain water properly and absorb nutrients from the air around it. Bonsai trees are very sensitive towards moisture and need gases in order to survive.
The second most important quality that you should look for in bonsai soil is that it will drain water quickly. If the soil retains too much moisture then the roots will be subject to rot which will kill your tree very quickly.
While all bonsai soil will do essentially the same thing, some soil mixtures differ in their composition which will have an effect on the way that they work. Some will have more nutrients and some will have less. Again it is important to know what type of tree you have to you can ensure it’s potted in the right soil for your specific plant so you should investigate the needs of your individual bonsai before making a choice.
Generally speaking, experts on the care of bonsai trees recommend a mix of around 30 percent sandy grit and 70 percent humus for deciduous trees and vice verse for evergreen needle plants.
There are many premixed soil solutions that you can purchase that will cater to the needs of your tree.
To make sure that I was getting relevant information for my particular plant, I took a visit the nursery where my plant had come from to ask for some help on the proper care of bonsai trees. I was told that due to the shallow root system of a bonsai, it is important that the tree receives adequate amounts of air circulation via free drainage, while at the same time retains enough moisture and nutrients necessary for growth and good health.
They told me that the secret in the care of bonsai trees is in providing the right amount of water, air, nutrients and light. Bonsai comes in several varieties and each has different requirements in terms of these vital ingredients.
So for the present time, I decided that I am staying with the pre-mix solution from my local nursery. After all, the tree has remained alive and well in their care – up to the time I got it. They seem to be a decent quality and its saves me from having to work out the percentages and materials required to mix my own.
When I have learnt more about more about the care of bonsai trees, I intend to take a more “hands on” approach and mix my own.
But for the present – the pre-mix will be fine for my bonsai tree.
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