I live in UK and want to focus on Cherry Bonsai trees such as Prunus serrulata, what Soil do you recommend for these trees? Somebody said to me 60% akadama with 40% Spagnum moss but not too sure? Cherry trees grow well where I live because of our rain lol

The best soil is allways a hot topic. People grow bonsai successfully in various different mixes.

The best soil for you is to a larger extent dependent on your climate and care than tree species. So the best option is to meet People that grows bonsai successfully in your area and copy their soil and care routine.

If you have a very rainy climate 40% organics in the soil sounds much to me.

I am getting out of akadama. While it is pretty dry for the summer here, the rest of the year is rain, rain, rain, and the akadama turns into mud. I want to repot the tree when the tree wants it, not when the soil wants it.

Your climate might break it down faster.

Ivan Mann wrote: I am getting out of akadama. While it is pretty dry for the summer here, the rest of the year is rain, rain, rain, and the akadama turns into mud. I want to repot the tree when the tree wants it, not when the soil wants it.

Your climate might break it down faster.

Well that's it, it seems to get alot rainier in the winter these days in the UK but very dry and hot in summer so I don't really want to go 100% akadama if its just going to mush or the roots are just going to dry out in the summer. What do you recommend?

In the past, I used equal parts pumice, Alabama, and lava rock, and then toss in some organics like peat moss for acid lovers or coffee grounds for others. Some people around here grind up pine bark or pine cones. The point of the organics is to hold some water in the summers when it is hotter than 95F/35C for weeks at a time. (That's the low at night. Daytime is 105/40.). I still have two bags of akadama, so I won't need to do anything for a while.

Probably I will increase organics to replace akadama. I will talk around with others here see what works for them.

Ivan Mann wrote: In the past, I used equal parts pumice, Alabama, and lava rock, and then toss in some organics like peat moss for acid lovers or coffee grounds for others. Some people around here grind up pine bark or pine cones. The point of the organics is to hold some water in the summers when it is hotter than 95F/35C for weeks at a time. (That's the low at night. Daytime is 105/40.). I still have two bags of akadama, so I won't need to do anything for a while.

Probably I will increase organics to replace akadama. I will talk around with others here see what works for them.

Alabama ?

Obvious autocorrect not knowing akadama get.

I really should read the entire thing before I submit. Autocorrect knows how to spell akadama so why it did that is a mystery. Coincidentally, yes, this is Alabama.

Weather here is completely unpredictable. We have had twice our normal rainfall to this point already. I could go on.

Ivan Mann wrote: In the past, I used equal parts pumice, Alabama, and lava rock, and then toss in some organics like peat moss for acid lovers or coffee grounds for others. Some people around here grind up pine bark or pine cones. The point of the organics is to hold some water in the summers when it is hotter than 95F/35C for weeks at a time. (That's the low at night. Daytime is 105/40.). I still have two bags of akadama, so I won't need to do anything for a while.

Probably I will increase organics to replace akadama. I will talk around with others here see what works for them.

Is this was you use for cherrys?