When growing a miniature tree it is very important to choose one that allows the roots to be properly oxygenated, but also absorbs and filters the water fairly quickly. And it is that when they are kept in poor quality soil, not only will it not grow well, but it will also be very vulnerable to infection and attack by insects such as aphids or mealybugs.
For this reason, if you want your plant to be fine, we are going to tell you how to choose the best substrates for bonsai. Thus, you will surely not have to worry.
- 🌳 Special bonsai substrate for interior or exterior, Composed of Blonde Peat, Black Peat, Sand, Volcanic Gravel and NP Fertilizer
- 🌳 Mix designed for any type of Bonsai, Omono, chumono, komono, shohin, mame ,, chito, colcan, moyogui, hachi-uye
- 🌳 The special Bonsai substrate provides a growing medium that retains the exact proportion of water and nutrients for this type of plants, and at the same time, provides exact aeration and drainage.
- Ideal for providing a growing medium that retains the exact ratio of water and nutrients.
- Provides adequate aeration.
- Provides the drainage that suits you.
- Bonsai potting soil is naturally rich in bonsai-specific nutrients, ensuring complete nutrition for top-level results right from the start.
- With its high-quality aggregates, the Kalapanta bonsai substrate guarantees specific drainage of excess water and retains just the right amount without compromising root aeration.
- Balanced nutrition and the presence of natural aggregates are the basis of bonsai health, this soil offers the best conditions for the appearance of new healthy roots after transplanting.
- 🌳 Ciemhus substrate prepared specifically for your bonsai
- 🌿 Cultivation substrate. Mix substrate with 1 G/L of NPK 14-16-18 fertilizer
- 🌱 Ideal for both indoor and outdoor bonsai transplants. Thanks to its physical characteristics, in which we provide the necessary aeration and water retention, we will provide the ideal growing medium for your bonsai.
- Dry matter: 95%; Organic matter: 4%; Water retention: 250-300 ml/L
- PH: 6.5-7.0; Volume: 1L; Min/Max Granule Size: 2-6mm
- AKADAMA: Ideal for bonsai, it is a 100% Japanese clay with a high content of micropores, which gives it a great water and nutrient retention capacity. Its granular structure facilitates oxygenation, drainage and development of bonsai roots. It disintegrates slowly and allows the time between transplants to be extended.
Selection of substrates for bonsai
There are several types of substrates for bonsai. Knowing its characteristics is very important, since it is the only way to make the plant grow healthy. So, let's see what are the different types of land that we can use for our little tree:
akadama
Akadama is the quintessential bonsai substrate. It is a granular clay that comes from the volcanoes of Japan. It is very interesting, since absorbs moisture and compost or fertilizer quickly, but at the same time it allows the air to circulate normally between its grains.
In addition, it has the advantage that you know very well when it is dry and when it is wet, since when watering it acquires a much darker brown hue that contrasts with the creamy-brown when it is dry. The pH is between 6.5 and 6.9, so it is ideal for elms, olive trees, ficus, ... even for Japanese maples. It can be used alone or mixed with other substrates.
There are different types:
- Standard grain: the grain is between 1 and 6 millimeters thick.
- Shohin grain: the grain is between 1 and 4 millimeters thick.
- Coarse-grained: the grain is between 4 and 11 millimeters thick.
Which is the best for bonsai? Well, it depends. But it is true that it is not advisable to buy akadamas thicker than 6mm, because with that size it is difficult for the roots to root. For example, this can help your bonsai grow vigorously:
Cheek
The pomx is a volcanic igneous rock, formed when magma cools from a liquid to a solid. It has a low density, to the point that it floats on water, and in fact it is quite difficult to absorb it. But allows the roots to be well aerated, so it is highly recommended for bonsai grown in rainy or very rainy areas.
Of course, it is almost never used alone, precisely because of what has been discussed above. If you want to have a healthy plant, It must be mixed with another substrate that does retain water, such as akadama or kanuma.
There are several types depending on the size of the grain:
- 1 to 3mm: especially suitable for conifers and plants with delicate roots.
- 3 to 6mm: good for all types of plants.
- 6 to 14mm: too big for bonsai.
Buy it here:
kanuma
Kanuma is a clay, also granular, that comes from Japan. It has characteristics very similar to those of the akadama, but it is lighter and also its pH is lower (6.0).
It lacks nutrients, although on the other hand it must be said that retains water without problems and compost / fertilizer. For these reasons, it is an ideal substrate for acidic plants, such as azaleas, gardenias, etc., provided it is mixed with akadama.
There are different types depending on the size of the grain:
- Small grain: which can be 1 to 5 millimeters, or 2 to 5 millimeters.
- Medium grain: from 6 to 6,5 millimeters.
Either of the two can surprise you a lot, although we recommend the small grain one if you grow acidic plants in regions such as the Mediterranean, as this way you will achieve optimal growth.
Do not miss it:
Keto
Keto is a pasty mix made with akadama or clay powder, black peat, Canadian sphagnum (agar-agar), and water. Used for trees to grow on difficult surfaces, such as bonsai with a forest style on a slab, or windswept on rocks, as it remains attached to those areas.
You want it? Get it here:
kiryuzuna
Kiryuzuna is a zeolite that is collected in the Japanese mountains. It is a type of volcanic gravel with a paler brown color than that of akadama and whose pH is between 6.5 and 6.8.
It is one of the few bonsai substrates that have nutrients, but they are not enough for plantsSo the subscriber is important. In addition, it should not be used alone; it is better to mix it with akadama.
Still, you should know that it is composed of: silicon (16,84%), aluminum (14,52%), magnesium (0,10%), iron (0,83%), calcium (8,47%), titanium (0,10%), carbon (3,58%), manganese (0,01%), sodium (1,52%), potassium (0,11%), phosphorus (0,09%). It also has 53% oxygen.
Likewise, there are different presentations:
- Small grain: between 2 and 4 millimeters thick.
- Medium grain: between 2 and 6 millimeters thick.
- Coarse-grained: between 6 and 12 millimeters thick.
The most recommended for bonsai is this:
Peat
Peat is by far the most widely used type of growing medium. They are decomposing plant materials, and their characteristics are very interesting, since retains moisture, drains water well and quickly, and promotes rooting being porous.
There are of several types:
- Black peat: its pH is between 7.5 and 8, so it is used only in plants that grow well in those soils, such as olive trees, wild olive trees, almond trees, fruit trees in general, many conifers such as cypresses, as well as ornamental trees such as acacias, eucalyptus, robinias, etc. It is usually mixed with fertilizers, being sold as a universal substrate.
- Blond peat: its pH is between 3 and 4, so it is used for acidophilic plants, such as Japanese maples or azaleas for example.
You can buy mixed black peat here:
And peat moss here:
terrabonsai
It is a mixture of blond peat, volcanic gravel and akadama that they make in Mistral Bonsai. Both its capacity to hold water and fertilizers is good, and can be used for any tree species.
You want it? Buy it here:
Prepared substrates
With »prepared substrates» we refer to those of different brands that are ready for use. They consist of two or more types of substrates mixed in different proportions that retain moisture, provide good aeration to the roots, and ensure proper drainage.
They are usually sold in small bags, 5 liters, at really cheap prices.
For example, you have:
Battle
Healthy Compo
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flortis
How to make a good substrate for bonsai?
Now that you know the different types of substrates, it's time to move on to the practical part: making the perfect mix for the type of bonsai you have:
- conifers: If you have pine, spruce, cypress or similar, a good mix for them is the following: 60% akadama with 40% kiryuzuna.
- Fruit trees:
- Citrus: if it is an orange, mandarin, lemon tree, or similar, mix 60% akadama with 40% kanuma.
- Others: if on the contrary it is a fig tree, almond tree or another, you can use 70% akadama mixed with 40% pumice.
- Acid plants: azaleas, camelas, Japanese maples, etc., need acidic substrates, such as kanuma, which you can use alone, but which we recommend mixing with 70% akadama.
- Native plants: if you make a bonsai of a species from your area, you can use a substrate for bonsai of any brand.
Can cat litter be used for bonsai?
If you have or have had cats, you will know that the litter they use can be much cheaper than bonsai substrates. But the truth is that reality is not so. Sepiolite, a clay with a great capacity for absorbing liquids, can last a long time., even more than the akadama.
To be able to take advantage of it, you have to first sift it, so that from a 5kg bag you still have 1 or 1.5kg ... enough for a couple of bonsai, and then put it in a bucket with water for half an hour (if it is longer, the better) . In the event that it remains with its granular shape, perfect, but if it becomes pasty you will not be able to use it.
Where to buy bonsai substrates?
Are you going to buy substrates for your bonsai? If so, you can do it from here:
Amazon
A good place to buy substrates is on Amazon. Here you will find all the types that we have mentioned above, such as akadama, kanuma or kiryuzuna, and you will also be able to know the opinion of other buyers. You just have to choose one and pay for it. The rest is to wait for it to be delivered to your house in a day or two.
Leroy Merlin
At the Leroy Merlin they sell various types of substrates, and you can also get them for bonsai. The downside is that on their website they don't let other buyers write their opinions of the products they buy.
Did you get the bonsai substrate you needed?