Stuck in minnesota new to bonsai am i stuck with expensive soil

[SHO_Gunner85]

I have been searching for soil for bonsai for the last 3 months with no luck. In Minnesota am I stuck with having to buy soil from places like bonsai jack and tinyroots soil?

 

[sorce]

I would hope that's a resounding "hell no".

Seeing as how it's....dirt.

Welcome to Crazy!

Cheapest way to get great soil is to ship pallets with friends.

We have MN friends!

I got my Kiln shelves from MN!

Sorce

 

[bonsaichile]

Or you can make your own

 

[SHO_Gunner85]

I am avoiding it as much as possible 50 dollars for 5 gallons of mostly wood chips from tiny roots is a little more than I would like to spend on soil. also what is a good mix of soil for Minnesota area. I know Illinois is close that's why I ask. Like I said complete beginner here haha.

 

[bonsaichile]

Go all inorganic and adjust your watering instead

 

[SHO_Gunner85]

I have gone to a ton of little places in my area and homedepot and fleet farm looking for stull like turface with no luck I just might not be looking in the right area but who knows.

 

[bonsaichile]

Use Napa 2280 instead of turface. Chicken granite to open it up. If you can find pumice (I find it a nurseries and garden stores), add it to the mix

 

[Captain.Bonsai]

Drystall is pumice that can be found at feed stores.

Turface can be found at landscape supply supply businesses who cater to landscape contractors.

Fir mulch or soil conditioner can be found at most nurseries in high quantities.

That’s where I’d look to get my feet wet in the substrate game.

 

[Dzhokar]

You might have better luck sourcing from nurseries or feed stores for raw materials.
Stuff like pumice, diatomaceous earth, lava rock, turface, haydite for inorganic. Pine bark, fir bark, for the organic.
There are a lot of threads on this site as to what would be a good mix. But in general you want at least 2 components sifted to 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch for best results.
Exactly what you choose depends on availability and your environment.
Napa auto parts 8822 is also a popular component. I believe that is DE but can be inconsistent quality depending on region.

 

[SHO_Gunner85]

how about pea gravel is that good or no

 

[Dzhokar]

I would think pea gravel would be a poor choice. It's heavy and smooth holding no water or fertilizer.

 

[GGB]

That guy up there meant to say Napa part 8822 I think. I’ve only started using it recently but it seems totally legit. I’m experimenting with it at 100% right now but next spring I might mix in one third pool filter sand. About the same price but it would make it dry out a hair faster in theory. We’ll see though my summers actually get raging hot and my backyard is full sun. But anyway Napa part #8822 is a cheap ass bulk ass way to start. Other than that I just use stupid expensive stuff and I’m over it

 

[BrianBay9]

If you're in the Minneapolis/St Paul area you should look into the Minnesota Bonsai Society. https://minnesotabonsaisociety.org/events-2/general-meeting/
They'll be able to give you guidance on local sourcing of soil components. I don't know if there are clubs in other parts of the state

 

[BonjourBonsai]

From the Turface website:

Find a Distributor | Turface Athletics

Profile Products works with many fine distributors to provide soil modification, erosion control and vegetative solutions throughout the world. Please call us at (800) 207-6457 to find the distributor best suited to meet the unique needs of your site.

www.turface.com

I use it plus fine pine much and perlite and shift to 1/8 size. I change proportions based on type of tree, eg a little more pine bark for maples and others that like it wetter. More Turface for junipers.

 

[SHO_Gunner85]

ok I found turface, lava rocks, cypress mulch and diatomaceous earth will be picking up on friday thank you for the help and i will update on friday

 

[Gsquared]

ok I found turface, lava rocks, cypress mulch and diatomaceous earth will be picking up on friday thank you for the help and i will update on friday

Make sure your diatomaceous earth is not the fine powder version used for pest control. There is a diatomite rock that is great (don’t remember the brand). It’s 1/8-1/4” in size.

 

[Captain.Bonsai]

Some people like diatomaceous earth. I don’t. Regardless, I would choose between turface and 8822. I believe they are redundant so you shouldn’t need both. If you’re on a budget, as your thread title implies, just choose the cheaper one.

 

[SHO_Gunner85]

I could spring for the premade soil but I dont want to because in the long run it would cost a small fortune. I want to look at other soil options that will save money in the long run. so that's why I was looking at both of them. But what are yalls opinion on which is better turface or napa 8822

 

[Dzhokar]

Make sure your diatomaceous earth is not the fine powder version used for pest control. There is a diatomite rock that is great (don’t remember the brand). It’s 1/8-1/4” in size.

Second this.
Cypress mulch is probably going to be shredded wood which won't sift to the proper particle size. Also decomposing wood is a bigger nitrogen hog than pine or fir bark will be.
I think if you find suitable DE then some mixture of DE and turface should work for you. DE will hold more accessible moisture than turface, so I don't think they are mutually redundant myself.
Also the different density and particle shape between the two products is a plus for aeration.
Turface that I've used tends to have a flat shape so if used alone it will lock together and potentially cause drainage issues.
DE on the other hand, in particular napa 8822, I know that people use this all by itself with success.

 

[SHO_Gunner85]

ok sounds good I have a mulch company that has unsifted pine bark mulch I found 50 pound bags of turface for 20 and have a napa about 2 miles away than I found some lava rock that I will check out. I am not worried about spending alittle more to figure out a good soil mix right now cause it will save money in the long run. So That i can put more money towards trees instead of soil haha.