by John Callaway

This is a reprint from the July 2006 issue of the Greater Louisville Bonsai Society newsletter.

There are nearly as many bonsai soil recipes as there are bonsai trees in the world.  It seems that just about everyone has their own mix.  The important thing is to find a recipe that works for you and your trees.  Your soil mix should provide enough water retention to sustain the tree between watering, yet be loose enough to allow for adequate drainage.  You must also consider your fertilizing routine when planning a soil mix.

Soil mixes with organic components tend to retain more moisture, as well as retain more fertilizers.  This means that if you are fertilizing often then you will need to be careful that you do not overload the soil with fertilizer.  Too much fertilizer may burn the fine feeder roots.

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