Bonsai Soil And Additives

Bonsai Soil Mix - Photo: Wikimedia

Should I use a special Bonsai soil or just normal soil? 

The increased popularity of growing Bonsai trees and plants has brought with it many more specialist shops; the Internet being virtually awash with Bonsai supplies. As a beginner, it is usual for people to go out and buy everything they think they could possibly want to ever grow a Bonsai. However, there is a good chance you may not need it. You can buy Bonsai soil at very reasonable prices now, and this soil is mixed to a perfect combination of nutrients, soil and grit that will help your Bonsai grow, but many practitioners of the ancient art of Bonsai would probably consider this cheating. 

As a beginner, it is important that you do what you can to make your first Bonsai as successful as possible. Many people will throw in the towel after just one failure, and when you consider how long a Bonsai can take to reach maturity this really isn’t an overnight hobby. You must get into a regime of regular watering, annual potting and plenty of care and attention in order to be able to enjoy a beautiful Bonsai for your troubles. 

Is Bonsai soil expensive? 

Bonsai soil shouldn’t be costing you very much more than normal potting compost or bags of nutrient-rich soil that you use in your garden. A good Bonsai soil, however, may contain a long list of ingredients including clay, soil and even bark. Some of these ingredients are loaded with the nutrients that your Bonsai will thrive on, and paying that little extra can certainly promote good healthy growth from your beloved project. 

Whether you decide you want to use bags of Bonsai soil or make your own soil there are certain things you need to make sure of before planting your Bonsai in the soil. A good Bonsai soil needs to have excellent drainage to make sure the water can seep to the roots and out of the bottom of the soil and through the holes in your pot. It is a good idea to have two different soils, one coarser than the other. This way, the screened soil acts as a sort of irrigation for your plants. 

As well as this, you may want to consider buying nutrient supplements that you can add when repotting or mix with the soil that you use. However, if you are growing your Bonsai in a suitable area this isn’t always needed.

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Vital Tools to Care for Your BONSAI

A Dwarf Japanese Juniper (Juniperus procumbens 'Nana') bonsai on display at the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum at the United States National Arboretum. According to the tree's display placard, it has been in training since 1975. It was donated by Thomas Tecza. This is the "back" of the tree.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There are many bonsai tools that are used when designing and caring for your bonsai trees. These tools are vital to encourage the good health of your tree and should be used as frequently as needed to prune any dead or dying branches, care for the roots, and maintain the soil for your tree. For the novice, selecting which tools you need can be difficult.

There are many basic bonsai tools used to care for a tree, and these are typically sold as beginner sets. The four basic tools include a bonsai shear/scissor, a broom, a rake and tweezers. Typically, the highest quality tools for bonsai care are from Japan, where there are companies dedicated to the building of these tools.

When selecting your bonsai tools, there are a few things that you will want to keep in mind. First, the quality of the tools you purchase may affect how well your bonsai turns out. Low-quality tools run the risk of damaging your tree and leaving unpleasant looking scars on the bark of the tee. Low-quality bonsai tools tend to be duller, lacking the ability to cleanly shear when needed.

A clean cut is required when you're wanting to hide evidence that the tree has had branches removed unnaturally. When setting wires, good tweezers can make the difference between a good placement and your branch being scarred from bad placement of wires.

You can buy bonsai tools from all across the world, although the vast majority of high quality, recommended bonsai tools come from Japan. When you are purchasing your bonsai tools, you can purchase low-quality tools that are extremely inexpensive, or you can purchase high-end tools that are designed to last for years.

The primary difference in these tools is how well they do the job, and how long they last. With proper care, high-quality tools will never need to be replaced, as they will hold their edge for years. Low-quality tools tend to go dull quickly and run the risk of breaking while being used.

For advanced users, it is recommended that high-quality bonsai tools are exclusively used. For those who have worked with bonsai for many years, their toolset will be far more extensive, ranging from eight to twenty or more different tools for working with the various types of bonsai.

Bonsai tools can be purchased online, imported from Japan, or found at local garden and hardware stores.

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