Bonsai Soil And Additives
Andrew Green

Should I use a special Bonsai soil or just normal soil?

The increased popularity of growing Bonsai trees and plants has
brought with it many more specialist shops; the Internet being
virtually awash with Bonsai supplies. As a beginner, it is
usual for people to go out and buy everything they think they
could possibly want to ever grow a Bonsai. However, there is a
good chance you may not need it. You can buy Bonsai soil at
very reasonable prices now, and this soil is mixed to a perfect
combination of nutrients, soil and grit that will help your
Bonsai grow, but many practitioners of the ancient art of
Bonsai would probably consider this cheating.

As a beginner, it is important that you do what you can to make
your first Bonsai as successful as possible. Many people will
throw in the towel after just one failure, and when you
consider how long a Bonsai can take to reach maturity this
really isn't an overnight hobby. You must get into a regime of
regular watering, annual potting and plenty of care and
attention in order to be able to enjoy a beautiful Bonsai for
your troubles.

Is Bonsai soil expensive?

Bonsai soil shouldn't be costing you very much more than normal
potting compost or bags of nutrient rich soil that you use in
your garden. A good Bonsai soil, however, may contain a long
list of ingredients including clay, soil and even bark. Some of
these ingredients are loaded with the nutrients that your Bonsai
will thrive on, and paying that little extra can certainly
promote good healthy growth from your beloved project.

Whether you decide you want to use bags of Bonsai soil or make
your own soil there are certain things you need to make sure of
before planting your Bonsai in the soil. A good Bonsai soil
needs to have excellent drainage to make sure the water can
seep to the roots and out of the bottom of the soil and through
the holes in your pot. It is a good idea to have two different
soils, one coarser than the other. This way, the screened soil
acts as a sort of irrigation for your plants.

As well as this, you may want to consider buying nutrient
supplements that you can add when repotting or mix with the
soil that you use. However, if you are growing your Bonsai in a
suitable area this isn't always needed.


About The Author: Bonsia HQ, http://bonsaihq.com/ for lots of
information about looking after your bonsai.