As you grow older you become wiser. My maths professor told me when he first obtained his doctorate. He was finding faults in other people's work. Until he made a mistake in critiquing another professor's work. Which became an embarrassment for him. He learnt his lesson and now goes with the flow. If the fault is big now he might drop a private memo asking if his college is sure. The reply is a thank you.
I've been doing bonsai for 4 years or so (I consider myself a beginner+), and I have a hard time spending money to get my plants, because I'm still worried they will die. So buying acadama is definitely not something i feel i could justify because of how expensive it is. I've started using your soil mix, and if the plants do well, then I'll be forever grateful to you. So, thank you!
Mr. Chang, I really enjoy your UA-cam bonsai teaching videos. Your deeply experienced information is very valuable and I appreciate your low-key approach. Your pruning and shaping style is fairly severe, but I see the value if it. Others who are also very experienced are less severe, but BOTH are right and respectable. I learn from you and those others as well and try to use the technique that seems to fit my trees as appropriate for each tree and my intentions for those specimens. Many Thanks for your teaching on the beautiful art of bonsai!
You are an intellectual...thinks about things. In engineering, we use limiting case to figure out what is the right answer. A short answeer is plants only need water to survive...a limiting case is hydroponic. Therefore soil is important, water and air is more so! Therefore, alway keep your bonsai moist...You can NEVER over water, because an etreme example ois trees in nature. do not die because.it rained a month! 🙂
Everything Milton says is reasonable and can work--an alternative to the expensive materials recommended in club meetings and bonsai conferences. Two materials I use are Turface, inexpensive clay particles sometimes used in golf course management, and quality bagged compost rather than peat moss or coir. Here in North Texas is a company that makes compost from food waste materials, no sludge or tree bark. I prefer a mix that has some fertility on its own. I also pay attention to particle size, according to bonsai size. For that reason, I will splurge buying pumice online, because it is available in different particle sizes. My objection to perlite is that it is too lightweight to contribute toward anchoring roots. Excellent video, Milton.
I have to laugh sometimes at the highbrow bonsai trditionalists. In every club there are people who think more highly of themselves than they should. Try a rose show...oh brother! Love this channel: practical, with at least 50 years of success, and even more humility.❤
Very informative. Thanks as always Milton for sharing your knowledge and “wisdom“. Never let the trolls get you down. You can never make them happy. Your time and energy is appreciated by most of us. 🙏🏻
I literally don’t go to the local clubs anymore because I’ve been chastised for not using Akadama. I was told once, just keep playing with your trees in your back yard you’ll never go to a show. I’ve now stop using clay all together. I’m not having any issues with just lava rock, 1/4 inch pine bark expanded shale, and granite, and some sandy loam.
Only found your channel a week ago, but already learned so much. Had an Ash Bonsia for just over a year now and it's looking a bit sad. Probably because I've not been watering it enough over the winter, I keep it in doors, it's quite small only about 10cm tall..... Just found those books on ebay amd bought the second 2. But the first one you showed and volume 2 of it are very expensive (over £150).
As you rightly say, you need to consider your watering regimen as part of your soil mix decision. This means that you have to also consider your local climate and micro-climate. Your soil mix obviously works fine in California but in a wet, cool climate like UK (where I am) as soon as you use shallow pots you would end up in winter with a cold, soggy mess and trees suffering root rot. Even pure Acadama gets too wet in winter unless your trees are under cover. Growing in deep nursery pots is a completely different game as the gravitational drag drains the water more quickly.
That is correct! Please share your tips on watering and soil mix so those who are in similar climate as you can learn from your experience. We are all here to help each other become better at bonsai! :)
Another great video. !! You are 100% correct. I have never used akadama on any of my trees. As you said watering and soil should always be considered together. Also alot of it depends on location, type of tree and how much time do you have to water every day. Alot of folks who work cannot be available to water multiple times per day if they live in a hot summer area. I appreciate your time in doing these videos. I find them informative and enjoy them very much. Have a wonderful day 🌷🌷 Look forward to next week.
Very instructive video on the subject of soil mix for bonsai Milton, as you say it is not just the soil it is the location of the trees, will depend on the mix you need to use. A comment I will make is how to assess wether a tree need less or more water, just looking at the top soil which looks dry doesn’t necessarily mean the soil below is dry, and vice versus the soil on the surface looks wet doesn’t again mean the soil below surface is wet this applies especially with deeper pots like cascade or semi cascade pots. In my early days I made those mistakes and wondered why I would lose trees. Finally if you use the right substrate it should be very difficult to over water, I think you mentioned this in previous videos on the subject of soils, but it is very easy to kill a tree by under watering. I prefer to water each of my 80 or so trees individually it can take me well over an hour to do the job, but I am not just watering my trees I am assessing them for pests or needs further work,making sure the tree is in the right condition.
Great Video. Wisdom you behold. yes you have to adjust soil to the Area of the world you live in. The climate and soil all have to be in balance for every tree type you have. The actual watering needs to be managed day by day as you progress thru the year ahead. Trying to avoid soil drying out on one hand and root rot on the other hand. For dryer hot climates you can get away with a richer wetter mix. This will help prevent drying out during the heat of the summer, unless you want to water 3 times a day in the heat. For wetter colder climates you can get away with using a drier mix. You need this drier mix to prevent root rot.
Probably the best summary on the topic on UA-cam. Of all the bonsai topics on the Internet, bonsai soil is one of the most common and opinionated of all. There are so many experts or masters having so many recipes or spins on best formula and all getting great results. Thus there is no one soil mix for all trees, regions or climate. I refer you and your viewers to "Modern Bonsai Practice" by Morton. He uses what limited scientific horticultural research to explain and dispell some old time bonsai morays. "Bonsai Heresy" by Hagedorn is an additional science based eye-opening resource. Thank you for your candor in covering this very touchy topic.
@@bonsaiheirloomAlthough it looks like it is in its winter dormancy, I checked it with the scratch test and it is still green. But, have no buds, or leaves..
I met a guy in Monterrey, Mexico with a bonsai nursery, and he uses the same mix as you. He said he needs a soil that retains water because of the climate he’s in.
Have you tried baby chicken grit? It’s tiny granite (comes in 3 sizes). I got some to experiment with recently after spotting it in a local feed store. I do add some biologicals to my soil mix, because I’m still working and can’t be home all day to water. I was castigated in a recent bonsai class for not using all non-organic material in my soil mix. Thankfully, I’m reasonably thick skinned: my undergraduate degree is in Agriculture, and I’ve owned a commercial nursery, LOL!!
Sounds good to me...agin..mainting is to keep roots constantly moist. Watch uour fine granite. I recall CA junipper in the mohave desert grow in "deposted granite" which is really gummy and heavby... My question is why spend time experimenting unless for good reasons. Keep trying but as an experiment. OK?
Your Q&A, superb. I like the easy explanations that you give. The books are very nice. I like to always reference mine also. Different views always help us to do better. Keep up the great Q&A sessions.
Question: How many trees in the wild grow in Acadama? Trees, plants, thrive in many soil types as long as they have water and nutrientsSome trees receive a minimum amount of soil, water and nutrients but not only survive but thrive. Everyone is trying to sell something and putting the word "Bonsai" on it increases the price but not always its value. Availability is another deciding factor so experimentation is essential.
Through the years I have found the smaller paper-cover books recommended by Milton in large used/recycled bookstores. As people die or downsize, collections of bonsai books often wind up in such stores and are not expensive to buy. I have never seen John Naka's books in these stores, but maybe in California you could find them.
As a total novice in the field I tried acadama in and on top of the soil mix. Living in a windy area it flies away in all directions. So I will never have it on top anymore.
In short, you can use topsoil from your garden if vegetable grows well in it. :) Here is a definition from the Web: "Sandy loam is a type of soil that contains sand, silt, and clay. It's also known as basic topsoil. Sandy loam is made up of 30% or more very coarse, coarse, and medium sand, and less than 25% very coarse and coarse sand, less than 30% fine sand, and less than 30% very fine sand. It also contains less than 7% clay and less than 50% silt, and between 43 and 50% sand."
Akadama has a big problem: it looses its structure if the trees are exposed to frost! I only use it here in Germany in my soil mixes for my indoors or trees protected in winter.
It has its applications, used properly it is ONE of the best. Japan uses almost nothing but Akadama. And we all know japans bonsai quality. You think bonsai and you also think Japan to be honest (I do anyway) it started in China and popularised in Japan (hundreds of years ago)
I think so too...Japanese tend to follow trandition...although they revere renegate as well...therefore Jpaanes bonsai are well developed. If you look at some of the Chinese bonsai, they are less manicured..but more artistic from being creative. They also tend to be big. I am trying to adopt from anywhere to make it "americanized". America is a country of immigrantes...we adopt best practices from all over the world. dddd I love German because the cultures is do things right...and straight forward. If course, I should never generalize.
Soil mix depends on where you live in the world. A mix that is good for one person is not good for another person because they dont live in the same environment. The world is a big place and has many different environments. It might be wet where you live and you need a well draining soil, or it might be dry where you live and you need moisture retention. So soil mixes will be different for every Bonsai artist.
I think in one of the previous episodes you talked about watering. Did I understand correctly that when the surface layer of soil dries out, you said that the tree can live for several more days without water? I'm wondering if my pine tree dries out in the evening, can I water it in the morning? Will this harm the tree?
...if the bottom is still moist...Don't forget bonsai pots are VERY shallow. What you said is probably OK...since evaporation rate at night is low, so the difference of the amount of moisture is minimal. Why not water it multiple time? you can never over water../.and trees/plant love water!
@@MiltonChang-ee6rq For some reason, UA-cam is deleting my post. I wrote that I have 2 trees after a long delivery, their roots have rotted, or I think so, because... There is an unpleasant smell when watering and one of the needles has brown tips. I have placed the pots at an angle and try to water very sparingly and I see the situation getting better, but it still bothers me a lot.
So funny. Your trees are bad because you use the wrong soil. It doesn't matter how much success you have. I know because I have the internet. Very good video once again. I am just starting on my bonsai journey but you always seem to point me towards true north.
Akadama also breaks down quickly and will hold more moisture than you expected, which can lead to root rot. I moved away from it because lava rock and pumice is just as good if not better.
Jesus is the way the truth and the life. No one gets to the father (God) except through him. It’s dangerous saying there is no absolute truth when Jesus IS the absolute truth.
w Hmmm! NO religion is perfect! Witness religion being the heart of conflict and killing (Because "I am right.. you are wrong)" Be spiritual...to mean being ethical, and do what yu believe is the right...Even you are not perfectly correct, you won't be too far wrong. Sorry to pontificate! We all have to do our thing for a better world...bonsai world!
As you grow older you become wiser. My maths professor told me when he first obtained his doctorate. He was finding faults in other people's work. Until he made a mistake in critiquing another professor's work. Which became an embarrassment for him. He learnt his lesson and now goes with the flow. If the fault is big now he might drop a private memo asking if his college is sure.
The reply is a thank you.
I've been doing bonsai for 4 years or so (I consider myself a beginner+), and I have a hard time spending money to get my plants, because I'm still worried they will die. So buying acadama is definitely not something i feel i could justify because of how expensive it is. I've started using your soil mix, and if the plants do well, then I'll be forever grateful to you. So, thank you!
🙂
Mr. Chang, I really enjoy your UA-cam bonsai teaching videos. Your deeply experienced information is very valuable and I appreciate your low-key approach. Your pruning and shaping style is fairly severe, but I see the value if it. Others who are also very experienced are less severe, but BOTH are right and respectable. I learn from you and those others as well and try to use the technique that seems to fit my trees as appropriate for each tree and my intentions for those specimens. Many Thanks for your teaching on the beautiful art of bonsai!
Thank you for the kind words and the support!
Plants grow everywhere even between buildings,cement, gravel etc. That’s the magic of nature.
Right...and we stress out about the soil mix. 🙂
You are an intellectual...thinks about things.
In engineering, we use limiting case to figure out what is the right answer.
A short answeer is plants only need water to survive...a limiting case is hydroponic. Therefore
soil is important, water and air is more so!
Therefore, alway keep your bonsai moist...You can NEVER over water, because an etreme example ois trees in nature. do not die because.it rained a month! 🙂
Everything Milton says is reasonable and can work--an alternative to the expensive materials recommended in club meetings and bonsai conferences. Two materials I use are Turface, inexpensive clay particles sometimes used in golf course management, and quality bagged compost rather than peat moss or coir. Here in North Texas is a company that makes compost from food waste materials, no sludge or tree bark. I prefer a mix that has some fertility on its own. I also pay attention to particle size, according to bonsai size. For that reason, I will splurge buying pumice online, because it is available in different particle sizes. My objection to perlite is that it is too lightweight to contribute toward anchoring roots. Excellent video, Milton.
I need o experiment withTurface...That maerial is scientifically bleneded and has proven to work beautifully. I must experiment.
I have to laugh sometimes at the highbrow bonsai trditionalists. In every club there are people who think more highly of themselves than they should. Try a rose show...oh brother!
Love this channel: practical, with at least 50 years of success, and even more humility.❤
On pont explanation Sir.. watering habits+ soil mix.
I grow all of my Bonsai in Ericaceous potting soil purchased from Homebase in big plastic sacks. It works for me and it is readily available.
Thanks for sharing!
Very interesting, Milton!
Excellent info on soil! Thank you very much!
Thanks Manny.
Very informative. Thanks as always Milton for sharing your knowledge and “wisdom“. Never let the trolls get you down. You can never make them happy. Your time and energy is appreciated by most of us. 🙏🏻
Thank you Rodney!
And I still hope you will wire me about my caricature. 🙂
I literally don’t go to the local clubs anymore because I’ve been chastised for not using Akadama. I was told once, just keep playing with your trees in your back yard you’ll never go to a show. I’ve now stop using clay all together. I’m not having any issues with just lava rock, 1/4 inch pine bark expanded shale, and granite, and some sandy loam.
Youmust have watered them well to keep the moist...constantly!
Only found your channel a week ago, but already learned so much. Had an Ash Bonsia for just over a year now and it's looking a bit sad. Probably because I've not been watering it enough over the winter, I keep it in doors, it's quite small only about 10cm tall..... Just found those books on ebay amd bought the second 2. But the first one you showed and volume 2 of it are very expensive (over £150).
Yes... very few are availble.
As you rightly say, you need to consider your watering regimen as part of your soil mix decision. This means that you have to also consider your local climate and micro-climate. Your soil mix obviously works fine in California but in a wet, cool climate like UK (where I am) as soon as you use shallow pots you would end up in winter with a cold, soggy mess and trees suffering root rot. Even pure Acadama gets too wet in winter unless your trees are under cover. Growing in deep nursery pots is a completely different game as the gravitational drag drains the water more quickly.
That is correct! Please share your tips on watering and soil mix so those who are in similar climate as you can learn from your experience. We are all here to help each other become better at bonsai! :)
Another great video. !! You are 100% correct. I have never used akadama on any of my trees. As you said watering and soil should always be considered together. Also alot of it depends on location, type of tree and how much time do you have to water every day. Alot of folks who work cannot be available to water multiple times per day if they live in a hot summer area. I appreciate your time in doing these videos. I find them informative and enjoy them very much. Have a wonderful day 🌷🌷 Look forward to next week.
No big deal...all common sense thinking through issue...put what we know to work 🙂
This was my FAVORITE UA-cam.
Thanks!
Thabk you for your expertise!
Very informative video definitely something every Bonsai grower should hear. Thank you Milton.
Thank you!
Very instructive video on the subject of soil mix for bonsai Milton, as you say it is not just the soil it is the location of the trees, will depend on the mix you need to use. A comment I will make is how to assess wether a tree need less or more water, just looking at the top soil which looks dry doesn’t necessarily mean the soil below is dry, and vice versus the soil on the surface looks wet doesn’t again mean the soil below surface is wet this applies especially with deeper pots like cascade or semi cascade pots. In my early days I made those mistakes and wondered why I would lose trees. Finally if you use the right substrate it should be very difficult to over water, I think you mentioned this in previous videos on the subject of soils, but it is very easy to kill a tree by under watering. I prefer to water each of my 80 or so trees individually it can take me well over an hour to do the job, but I am not just watering my trees I am assessing them for pests or needs further work,making sure the tree is in the right condition.
Good point!
Great Video. Wisdom you behold.
yes you have to adjust soil to the Area of the world you live in.
The climate and soil all have to be in balance for every tree type you have.
The actual watering needs to be managed day by day as you progress thru the year ahead.
Trying to avoid soil drying out on one hand and root rot on the other hand.
For dryer hot climates you can get away with a richer wetter mix. This will help prevent drying out during the heat of the summer, unless you want to water 3 times a day in the heat.
For wetter colder climates you can get away with using a drier mix. You need this drier mix to prevent root rot.
I agree!
Pine/Fir bark with grit like perlite/vermiculite, similar to what the nurseries use in their black plastic pots
Never ends!
Great advice ! Presented with super knowledge thank you!
Thanks Beth!
Probably the best summary on the topic on UA-cam. Of all the bonsai topics on the Internet, bonsai soil is one of the most common and opinionated of all. There are so many experts or masters having so many recipes or spins on best formula and all getting great results. Thus there is no one soil mix for all trees, regions or climate. I refer you and your viewers to "Modern Bonsai Practice" by Morton. He uses what limited scientific horticultural research to explain and dispell some old time bonsai morays. "Bonsai Heresy" by Hagedorn is an additional science based eye-opening resource.
Thank you for your candor in covering this very touchy topic.
I just placed an order on 'amazon. Love feedback. Thank you...will mention some of the points I learn on my video.
Appreciate your feedbackl!
Thank you for taking time
You are welcome Rod.
Enjoyed your video. I am just starting out and having a bit of a problem with my Chinese Elm.
Thanks! What problem are you having with your elm?
@@bonsaiheirloomAlthough it looks like it is in its winter dormancy, I checked it with the scratch test and it is still green. But, have no buds, or leaves..
I met a guy in Monterrey, Mexico with a bonsai nursery, and he uses the same mix as you. He said he needs a soil that retains water because of the climate he’s in.
I have a tree in a soil mix of mostly coco coir and a very clay like soil. Stays wet for a while but isn't drowning. It seems to love it
that is my point. Right?
Have you tried baby chicken grit? It’s tiny granite (comes in 3 sizes). I got some to experiment with recently after spotting it in a local feed store. I do add some biologicals to my soil mix, because I’m still working and can’t be home all day to water. I was castigated in a recent bonsai class for not using all non-organic material in my soil mix. Thankfully, I’m reasonably thick skinned: my undergraduate degree is in Agriculture, and I’ve owned a commercial nursery, LOL!!
Sounds good to me...agin..mainting is to keep roots constantly moist.
Watch uour fine granite. I recall CA junipper in the mohave desert grow in "deposted granite" which is really gummy and heavby...
My question is why spend time experimenting unless for good reasons.
Keep trying but as an experiment. OK?
Your Q&A, superb. I like the easy explanations that you give. The books are very nice. I like to always reference mine also. Different views always help us to do better. Keep up the great Q&A sessions.
Thanks!
Question: How many trees in the wild grow in Acadama? Trees, plants, thrive in many soil types as long as they have water and nutrientsSome trees receive a minimum amount of soil, water and nutrients but not only survive but thrive. Everyone is trying to sell something and putting the word "Bonsai" on it increases the price but not always its value. Availability is another deciding factor so experimentation is essential.
None…because academia is man-made. Your comment about promotion is right on! Thanks!
Foi provavelmente o melhor video sobre solo que eu vi até agora. E já vi muitos. Muito obrigado 🙏🏻
Thank you Rafael! That is a big complliment. :-)
Love the video very informative and well explained like it
Thanks!
Through the years I have found the smaller paper-cover books recommended by Milton in large used/recycled bookstores. As people die or downsize, collections of bonsai books often wind up in such stores and are not expensive to buy. I have never seen John Naka's books in these stores, but maybe in California you could find them.
It shows up on Ebay sometimes...keep looking. People rarely sell this bookl...treasure! Could be expenseive.
@@MiltonChang-ee6rq I have the maroon volume with gold lettering. That should be enough for me. Thanks!
It was a good lecture👍
?thank you!
THANKS !!!
As a total novice in the field I tried acadama in and on top of the soil mix. Living in a windy area it flies away in all directions. So I will never have it on top anymore.
It's all about trial and error! That's how I learned a lot about my bonsai.
Great inf.
Hope you apply the ideas.
Also, clay normally contains lots of trace minerals. I always use a bit of clay in my mix.
You've got it right!
Your trees grow, therefore your soil mix is good!
What is sandy loam? We have looked locally and cannot find anything called that. Is there another name or substitute for it?
In short, you can use topsoil from your garden if vegetable grows well in it. :)
Here is a definition from the Web: "Sandy loam is a type of soil that contains sand, silt, and clay. It's also known as basic topsoil. Sandy loam is made up of 30% or more very coarse, coarse, and medium sand, and less than 25% very coarse and coarse sand, less than 30% fine sand, and less than 30% very fine sand. It also contains less than 7% clay and less than 50% silt, and between 43 and 50% sand."
Akadama has a big problem: it looses its structure if the trees are exposed to frost! I only use it here in Germany in my soil mixes for my indoors or trees protected in winter.
Good marketing...made everyone believe it is THE stuff for bonsai.
I suppose it could crack due to freeze.
It has its applications, used properly it is ONE of the best. Japan uses almost nothing but Akadama. And we all know japans bonsai quality. You think bonsai and you also think Japan to be honest (I do anyway) it started in China and popularised in Japan (hundreds of years ago)
I think so too...Japanese tend to follow trandition...although they revere renegate as well...therefore Jpaanes bonsai are well developed. If you look at some of the Chinese bonsai, they are less manicured..but more artistic from being creative. They also tend to be big.
I am trying to adopt from anywhere to make it "americanized". America is a country of immigrantes...we adopt best practices from all over the world.
dddd
I love German because the cultures is do things right...and straight forward. If course, I should never generalize.
Soil mix depends on where you live in the world. A mix that is good for one person is not good for another person because they dont live in the same environment. The world is a big place and has many different environments. It might be wet where you live and you need a well draining soil, or it might be dry where you live and you need moisture retention. So soil mixes will be different for every Bonsai artist.
Does Amazon selll a quality "sandy loam" type of soil for your mix? I've never had a positive search result for "sandy loam".
I have not seen it...top soil from your garden supply house is good enough.
Glad to hear akadama is not recommended--I can't afford it! 😄
It is good...used properly...I think should be reported quite frequently
I think in one of the previous episodes you talked about watering. Did I understand correctly that when the surface layer of soil dries out, you said that the tree can live for several more days without water? I'm wondering if my pine tree dries out in the evening, can I water it in the morning? Will this harm the tree?
...if the bottom is still moist...Don't forget bonsai pots are VERY shallow.
What you said is probably OK...since evaporation rate at night is low, so the difference of the amount of moisture is minimal.
Why not water it multiple time? you can never over water../.and trees/plant love water!
@@MiltonChang-ee6rq For some reason, UA-cam is deleting my post. I wrote that I have 2 trees after a long delivery, their roots have rotted, or I think so, because... There is an unpleasant smell when watering and one of the needles has brown tips. I have placed the pots at an angle and try to water very sparingly and I see the situation getting better, but it still bothers me a lot.
So funny. Your trees are bad because you use the wrong soil. It doesn't matter how much success you have. I know because I have the internet.
Very good video once again. I am just starting on my bonsai journey but you always seem to point me towards true north.
Akadama also breaks down quickly and will hold more moisture than you expected, which can lead to root rot. I moved away from it because lava rock and pumice is just as good if not better.
All good...if used approproiately!
Not sure there is anything to break down though. Just fired clay. Not unlike lava rock in nature.
👍👌🙂
Hi Bruce!
🥰🥰
Thanks!
Jesus is the way the truth and the life. No one gets to the father (God) except through him. It’s dangerous saying there is no absolute truth when Jesus IS the absolute truth.
w Hmmm! NO religion is perfect!
Witness religion being the heart of conflict and killing (Because "I am right.. you are wrong)"
Be spiritual...to mean being ethical, and do what yu believe is the right...Even you are not perfectly correct, you won't be too far wrong.
Sorry to pontificate!
We all have to do our thing for a better world...bonsai world!
Hate to tell you this but there is no god.
I'm sorry Sunny but you are silly. 😋