Soils

Good soil will be able to allow for adequate drainage, will be as close to neutral pH as possible (6.5-7.5 pH), and will provide the tree with a means to retain nutrients and moisture. However, these factors may vary, depending on the type of tree. For example flowering trees will prefer more water retention, while pines and junipers will prefer more drainage.

If you are a beginner, do not worry so much about soil at this point. We understand that the amount of information you must process is overwhelming, so buying a premixed bonsai medium will be just fine for the time being. This will allow you to focus on other aspect of caring for bonsai. You will however need to come back to this later because an ideal soil mixture will ensure better growth for your tree and is one of the most important steps to maintaining a healthy bonsai for a long period of time. 

It is difficult to say exactly what is the perfect bonsai soil recipe. There are
many variables to consider and each tree has slightly different preferences and
needs. With experience you will be able to figure out a good formula that works
for you. 

 To start off though, here are our recommendations and some general recipes to try out. If you feel uncomfortable playing the role of chemist and making your own, the option on your right is a good substitute for our "General Recipe" soil.

Recipes

NOTE: Everything is by volume and not by weight.


General Recipe:

1/3 Fir Bark

1/3 Porous Clay (akadama, arcillite, or baked fuller's earth)

1/3 Stone Grit or Large-grained Sand


Easy Alternative Recipe:

2/3 Porous Clay

1/3 Potting Soil


Azalea Recipe:

1/1 Kanuma

Or

2/4 Kanuma

1/4 Pumice

1/4 Fir Bark


Deciduous Recipe:

5/12 Akadama

2/12 Pumice

2/12 Fir Bark

1/12 Stone Grit or Large-grained Sand

1/12 Fine Lava Rock

1/12 Clay Soil Conditioner (aka Turface)


Conifer Recipe:

6/12 Akadama

2/12 Pumice

1/12 Fir Bark

1/12 Stone Grit or Large-grained Sand

1/12 Fine Lava Rock

1/12 Clay Soil Conditioner (aka Turface)



Here is a list of our personal favorites. The ingredients are available at most garden stores at a reasonable price and we have not experienced any complications as a result of using these mixes.


Our Personal Favorite Recipe:

3/10 Seramis Clay Granules

4/10 Vermiculite

3/10 Grit


Extra Water Retention Recipe:

1/5 Seramis Clay Granules

3/5 Vermiculite

1/5 Grit


Fast Draining Soil Recipe:

2/10 Seramis Clay Granules

3/10 Vermiculite

5/10 Grit

Types of Ingredients

Fir Bark

Akadama

Arcillite

Kanuma

Pumice

Lave Rock

Vermiculite

Seramis