Ace Hardware in Van Nuys/Sherman Oaks sells pretty affordable pumice. It's a mixture of fines and larger stones so you'd have to sift out the size you need.
OC Farm Supply is where I got my pumice. If you are a member of the Orange County Bonsai Society you get a 10% discount. (Hint: they don't ask you for a membership card)
That's not a bad price, I am spoiled I normally buy mine at a place called Whittier Fertilizer which is 5 minutes away from my house and they sell it for $5 bucks for a bag that's roughly 20-30 pounds.
I plant most my trees in 100% pumice, occasionally I will use 50/50 pumice and lava rock. Its a lot cheaper than akadama and the trees seem to do great. no drawbacks that I have noticed. I do want to experiment this re-pot season and try a couple of my maples with 50/50 pumice akadama and also pumice, akadama, lava equal parts to see if there's a difference.
When I lived in the OC I grew all my conifers in 100% pumice - or 90% pumice 10% pine bark fines. Only my deciduous would get an akadama/pumice blend. Show trees/potted trees would get akadama/pumice/lava.
Thank you for your secret source I will try them tomorrow, have you bought 3/16" pumice from them recently?ill throw out my not so secret source, OF wolfinbagers https://www.ofwolfinbargerinc.com/ i use them and i believe chino bonsai club uses them exclusively, been in business for 90+ years, 1 scoop a half yard is only $46
Well I tried them this morning and they haven't had any in 2 months and they are not sure when they will get more, any other suggestions?ill throw out my not so secret source, OF wolfinbagers https://www.ofwolfinbargerinc.com/ i use them and i believe chino bonsai club uses them exclusively, been in business for 90+ years, 1 scoop a half yard is only $46
Yea its starting to feel that way unless you want to pay $35 for a small 14 pound bag from online retailers. I would get 30 pound bags for $5 bucks all day long from Whittier Fertilizer for many years with out any problems. They haven't had the small 3/16" since June 2023. They do have larger pumice but other than using it for a small layer of drainage at the bottom of your pots its too large. oh well gotta keep searching.
Im not an expert but I would say for a pine you're better off using 100% pumice. I think the Akadama holds too much moisture for a pine. Im eager to see what the more experienced Bonsai Nut's say.This is what happened to akadama in my ill fated Scots pine. Climate and heat were the worst culprits but the aka didn't help a damn bit.
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Black DIRT with dead roots.
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Tree removed
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Most lf the kaka CHISELED out.
I use APL (Akadama, pumice, lava) in 1:1:1 for pines. This works well in my climate .I would think that pure pumice in a shallow bonsai pot would dry out way too quickly. For deciduous I use more akadama; like 2:1:1.
Your climate in Petaluma is somewhat milder than the furnace of the central valley. Even in same zone.
