Mixing own soil

[Jrmcmich]

Not trying to start a soil war so just looking at potentially mixing soil. Was originally thinking of 1/3 pumice 1/3 lava 1/3 Akadama. Was wondering about replacing Akadama with something else though. Most trees are deciduous and last year used tiny roots deciduous mix. Just looking to save money making own.

Heard Akadama breaks down more and seems finding high fired harder to find and ohio winters freeze thaw cycle.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Replace akadama with pumice or pine bark fines and you should be good.
If you replace it with pumice, that means you use 2/3 pumice and 1/3 lava rock.

 

[Jrmcmich]

Replace akadama with pumice or pine bark fines and you should be good.
If you replace it with pumice, that means you use 2/3 pumice and 1/3 lava rock.

thanks was wondering about just using extra pumice.

 

[just.wing.it]

I like fir bark chips, lava and pumice in equal parts.

 

[pandacular]

Heard Akadama breaks down more and seems finding high fired harder to find and ohio winters freeze thaw cycle.

breaking down is not a bug of akadama; it’s the main feature

pine or fir bark is a fine alternative, as the others say

 

[Dav4]

I still use turface along with other components with some of my deciduous trees. They grow/survive just fine, and even develop pretty good root systems, but not quite as good as thoiose with akadama.

 

[bonsaipotter]

There is no replacement of akadama. It is unique in its characteristics. But there is replacement which involves giving up the unique characteristics. Bonsai will grow in crushed bricks, but not like in akadama.

 

[Jrmcmich]

I ended up buying each of 3 components to mix soil. Will only use this for couple trees and plan to do perlite/coir or pumice/coir for most others in development. Only thing I don’t care for is how light containers get and wind knocking off. Will have to tie pots down better this year