help with Bonsai Soil

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

I recently purchased a Bonsai tree at home depot and I am trying to figure out what soil should i use for my Bonsai tree. Its a Fukien Tea Bonsai. I am not very sure if its correct. Also, I purchased a juniper Bonsai tree in amazon and it would arrive this week.

I have a big bag of soil gritty mix for my succulents at http://www.bonsaijack.com/succulent_soil_111_gritty_mix.html

I am just wondering if I can use this mix for my Bonsai trees. Are the ingredients the same?

I am m using this mix gritty for my Bonsai tree since yesterday.

The ingredients of this bag of mix are:

Turface, Pine Bark fines and crushed granite

Any help, it would be great.

1: Fukien tea Bonsai tree? not sure. with the gritty mix succulents

2) Juniper Bonsai tree. it would arrive this week.

Featured Answer

bernardyjh

10 years ago

Hey Danny, you might want to take your question to the Bonsai Forums instead. http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/bonsai

This forum is reserved for C&S discussions.

As to answering your question on the soil, I looked through the product specs, it's pretty much the right ingredients at the ideal sizes. But you should still screen the soil for fines, you don't want powdery particles in your soil.

IMO the bark fines can go smaller.

Ingredients: 33% 1/4 Bonsai Block(calcined clay), 33% 1/4 Pine Bark Fines and 33% Turface

Particle Size: ¼ Inch average (excluding Turface particles)
Minimum Size: 1/8th (excluding Turface particles)
Maximum Size: 3/8ths

Fukien Tea is a tropica Bonsai, so long as you keep it indoors with sufficient light and water you will do fine.

http://www.bonsaiboy.com/catalog/fukiencare.html

Where a Juniper is a deciduous plant, you will need to keep it dormant through the winter or the plant will eventually die.

See:

http://www.bonsaiboy.com/catalog/junipercare.html

A Juniper Bonsai is a living miniature tree and not a house plant; therefore, your bonsai must be maintained in a cool/cold environment during the winter season. As a guide, around Thanksgiving Day it is time to prepare your Bonsai for its winter dormancy period which should last approximately three (3) months.

Happy Growing!

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Comments (6)

Dan Ale Zh
Original Author
10 years ago
bernardyjh(Zone 7)

Hi Benard. and Thanks for the helpful information again.

I could not find the forum for Bonsai. I was trying to search it.

Is it ok to fertilize my Bonsai trees with this gritty mix? Should I wash away the fertilize with water after?

Juniper Bonsai. So the leaves will fall out during the dorment period like other tress on the street in the winter?

Also, Could i use this gritty mix for my lithops?

Danny
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bernardyjh
10 years ago
You're welcomed! - see my link, I've already provided it. Thought the bonsai forum isn't as active, but you should post it there anyway.

Do not worry so much about fertilizing first, be more concern about how to settle your plant's roots into its new home. Once you know your plant is in a growing phase then you start fertilizing.

It is supposed to - but judging from it, we are pretty late into the winter season, almost approaching Spring. You just grow it normally for now, then prepare it to dormant during the next winter season. Read on how to winter bonsais, there are tonnes of information. To answer your question, yes, the plant's roots must be kept in a stable cold temp under 40 degree F, but not freezing. The leaves will die, and the plant will look like a stump, but it's only temporary while the plant rest. Come Spring, when you warm the plant up, it will produce shoots and kickstart it's growing season once more.

You can use the GM for lithops, I would suggest adding perlite and pumice into the mix if you can get access to it. If you ever plan to repot lithops, you might want to consider a LONG deep narrow pot. They will thank you for it.
Dan Ale Zh
Original Author
10 years ago
Does this fertilize work for my Bonsai tree?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005VRKL2O?keywords=bonsai%20fertilizer&qid=1456241532&ref_=sr_1_3&sr=8-3
Dan Ale Zh
Original Author
10 years ago
bernardyjh(Zone 7)

you are the best :)
bernardyjh
10 years ago
This thread might help you.. (you've been forwarned, it's a long one!)

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/fertilizering-containerized-plants-iv-dsvw-vd~1389454

If you want to cut to the chase, Al (the master of bonsai) recommends regular doses of Foilage Pro with his GM. Especially for his Bonsai. So far I've used it on all my succulents in low doses, and they are doing pretty well.