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What is the Best Soil for a Bonsai?
What is the Best Soil for a Bonsai?. A bonsai plant is a tree planted in a pot and then pruned, shaped and trained into a desired shape, according to Bonsai Clubs International. The concept of the bonsai is a traditional Chinese art. In addition to giving bonsai plants a few hours of direct sunlight each day, you must create a soil for your bonsai...
A bonsai plant is a tree planted in a pot and then pruned, shaped and trained into a desired shape, according to Bonsai Clubs International. The concept of the bonsai is a traditional Chinese art. In addition to giving bonsai plants a few hours of direct sunlight each day, you must create a soil for your bonsai that will enable it to thrive. Developing the right type of soil, however, can be tricky.
pH
Like most plants, bonsai plants do well in slightly acidic soil. This means the pH level, or level of acidity and basicity, should fall between 5.5 and 6.5, with a pH level of 7.0 being neutral. Collect a sample of the soil you plan to use to grow your bonsai, and take this sample to your county extension office for testing. The test should indicate your soil’s pH level and whether you need to make any amendments to it.
Moisture
Bonsai plants thrive in well-drained soil. The bonsai’s soil should receive water about once a day when the bonsai is actively growing in the summer. In the winter season when it is dormant, it should receive water once every couple of weeks, according to the United States National Arboretum. A bonsai's soil should have good water retention for keeping the soil moist between waterings, but extra unnecessary water should be able to drain from the pot immediately.
Components
An inorganic particle-based soil is good for water drainage and also for allowing air to enter a bonsai plant's soil. Bonsai nurseries sell suitable bonsai soils, such as the granular clay-like mineral akadama, a synthetic product widely used in Japan. In addition, you can use bonsai soils that contain coarse sand, gravel, decomposed granite, vermiculite or perlite, according to the Indianapolis Bonsai Club. Inorganic materials such as perlite insulate the soil from hot or cold temperatures and stimulate root initiation.
Fertilizer
Fertilizer also will provide your bonsai plant with the nutrients it needs to grow. Your soil test results should tell you what type of fertilizer will work best. Fertilizers generally contain three chief nutrients -- nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. The fertilizer should also include manganese, calcium, copper and zinc. Make sure other minor elements such as molybdenum, magnesium and iron are in the product. A deficiency of iron, in particular, will cause the bonsai’s leaves to lose their greenness. Apply the fertilizer according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
