Page 41 - Ebook cây cảnh Art of Bonsai
P. 41
Basic equipment 41
Soils and other
growing media
There is no single perfect bonsai soil. The mixture to use
is governed by many factors including your local climate,
the tree’s age and stage of development, the species, and
its care regime. Each component serves a different purpose:
experiment to find out which combination works best.
Sieve soil to establish its particle
size. Coarse grades provide good
drainage in the base of the pot.
Keto Akadama
A rich, heavy clay collected from Baked Japanese clay soil with a
submerged reed beds used for microporous structure that retains
creating rock planting and moss water and nutrients, and assists
balls. It is not a soil component in root development. It can break
itself, but roots will grow into it. down after constant freezing.
Kanuma
An acidic, soft, highly water- and Pumice
nutrient-retentive soil used almost Light and microporous, pumice
exclusively with Satsuki azaleas. is ideal for improving aeration:
Easily crushed, so be careful when it does not break down and the
working soil around the root ball. structure enables pockets of
air to form.
Kiryu
A Japanese river sand. Good for Potting Mix
conifers, it promotes mycorrhizal Garden center potting mix can be
growth and retains water. It is used to make a highly retentive
often very dusty, so it is advisable soil, especially useful for young
to wash it before use. trees to develop lots of roots.
However it should not be used
long term because it can create
Volcanic lava an anaerobic soil within the pot.
Microporous and light, lava is
perfect for improving the aeration
of the soil because its structure
does not break down and remains
solid for many years.
