#Bonsai #BonsaiSoil #Trees #Soil
#Sediment #TinyTrunkThursday

Bonsai soil typically consists of pumice, scoria (vesicular lava) and imported or local clay.

1st Photo - Crushed shale screened to approximately 2mm sized grains for use as a bonsai soil. Coarser fraction (left to be used for bottom aeration layer) and center mixed with other components to form suitable soil mix.

2nd - Candidate Oregon “Mystery” clay purchased from a “friend” who won’t tell me where he gets it…for use in testing its properties.

3rd - Mixture of black basalt scoria lava, white pumice and black charcoal to be used in bonsai soil mix.

4 - Closeup of imported Japanese Akadama clay. Akadama means “red ball earth” and is the primary soil used for bonsai world round.

My goal is to find suitable soils found locally that support all horticultural needs of tiny trees in pots:

A composition with appropriate CEC, moisture retention, soil structure retention and mineral supply to support potted trees.

#TinyTrunkThursday #Bonsai

A tiny preying mantis overlooks a new bud on a Lodgepole Pine (Pinus Contorta) bonsai in training.

Beneficial insects such ans this mantis are increased when organic fertilizers and natural pest controls are used.