I will be repotting a number of Japanese maple trees from their nursery pots into grow boxes at the end of the winter and am not sure what soil mix to use. It appears that the typical soil ingredients will break the bank for these projects - I'd rather not spend hundreds of dollars on bonsai soil, akadama etc. if not necessary at this point in their development. But if that is best, I would go that route. What are the more best/most pocket-friendly soil recipes for maples?
Soil Mix Recommendations
- Thread starter dbonsaiw
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hinmo24t
Masterpiece
a quality potting soil and 40% perlite mixed into it. or 30/30/30 soil/oildri clay pellets/perlite
What do you consider quality potting soil if you don't mind?
hinmo24t
Masterpiece
i used local mixed compost last season
MG cactus succulent mix but id add fertilizer to it, or id use other MG soil brand and trust it
ive heard good things about the brand Kellogg (striped bag)
fox farm
in future i have leaf compost under way 2 years now...a pumkin grew great in it last year. butternut squash
next season over there
broken down leafs are high quality
Tums
Shohin
This article https://www.evergreengardenworks.com/soils.htm from Brent Walston says half-half pine bark and perlite. Alternatively, I didn't have time to mix tons of soil this past year but I'm lucky enough to live near a greenhouse/nursery wholesaler so I was able to pick up some bark-based professional nursery potting mixes (Pro-mix BK55, Jolly Gardener C/25). Not sure if you live near either of their NY locations. https://griffins.com/contact
penumbra
Imperial Masterpiece
I use 50/50 pro-mix or similar growers mix with fine pine bark. That gives me 4 cubic feet for $16 - $17. I also sometimes add grit, like poultry grit or perlite. 4 cu ft perlite is $20 at Southern States and grit is about $6-$7 for 50 lbs. For some plants I add leaf mold or compost, free. The 50/50 mix is great for most things by itself but I blend my mix according to the plant.
The 20 odd maple I re-potted a few weeks back are in the 50/50, as are most of my azaleas.
The 20 odd maple I re-potted a few weeks back are in the 50/50, as are most of my azaleas.
penumbra
Imperial Masterpiece
BTW, I have basically been using the above mix for over 40 years with modifications when needed.
What does 50-50 mean? 50%-50% of what? Thanks!
penumbra
Imperial Masterpiece
Half pro mix and half pine bark.
Can you show me a picture of the pine bark you use and maybe the bag. I don't think I have that over here. Thank you!
penumbra
Imperial Masterpiece
Sorry man. I don't have a bag now. This is a picture of the pro mix and bark blend. This is good for anything up to a 2 gallon pot. A bigger pot needs a coarser mix. Pro mix has a little perlite and for some plants I add more. There are nurseries on the east coast that use pure pine bark and nothing else.
BTW, out where you are they use Fir bark which holds up much better than pine bark. We have to pay a real premium for fir bark on the east coast.
That's the best I can do right now. I had a minor surgery yesterday but it doesn't feel so minor at present.
BTW, out where you are they use Fir bark which holds up much better than pine bark. We have to pay a real premium for fir bark on the east coast.
That's the best I can do right now. I had a minor surgery yesterday but it doesn't feel so minor at present.
penumbra
Imperial Masterpiece
You knmow I am going to ask you to show me a plant in my pot next spring. 
And that will happen!You knmow I am going to ask you to show me a plant in my pot next spring.
Hope you feel better soon.
jal777
Yamadori
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Sorry to bump up an old thread but has anyone tried this product:
www.pthorticulture.com
Here's a video:
It's 55% pine bark.
I have a bunch of nursery maples in their original pots that are getting a little big that I'd like to repot. I don't think they're going to become bonsais... probably garden and/or mother trees.
Anyway, I have tried and looked everywhere around here (NJ) to find pine bark fines to make my own soil mix but have had no luck.
PRO-MIX® BKH
PRO-MIX® BKH is a growing medium that blends processed pine bark, Sphagnum peat moss and perlite. For long-terme greenhouse crops and perennials grown outdoors.
Here's a video:
It's 55% pine bark.
I have a bunch of nursery maples in their original pots that are getting a little big that I'd like to repot. I don't think they're going to become bonsais... probably garden and/or mother trees.
Anyway, I have tried and looked everywhere around here (NJ) to find pine bark fines to make my own soil mix but have had no luck.
Tums
Shohin
I like that stuff a lot but I still mix it with 50% or even 66% perlite for prebonsai.
jal777
Yamadori
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Have you had any success at all in finding just pine bark?
Of course you can find bark nuggets at home depot and the like but I have had zero success at finding the fines locally in quantity. Other than maybe running the mulch through a chipper 5 times, I'm out of ideas.
Tums
Shohin
Try and find an Agway. Their store-brand pine bark mulch in the blue bag works well. A few garden centers near me carry this brand https://mulchmfg.com/products/royal-gardens-pine-mulch which is ok, but I don't like it as much as the Agway brand. Sometimes I'll use fine-grade orchid bark if I can buy a large (cubic foot+) box without getting gouged for shipping, but the mulch is definitely much cheaper (like, $5 per cubic ft vs $20 per cubic ft).
jal777
Yamadori
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I use Orchiata New Zealand orchid bark for my orchids... it's an incredible product but way way way to expensive to use as a potting soil.
I'll give Agway a shot... there's one not far.
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