WOW, mud?! Your bonsais get enought sun there?

kebras wrote: WOW, mud?! Your bonsais get enought sun there?

Yes. But if you let clay go through 10 frost-thaw cycles it falls apart and eventually becomes mud.

kebras wrote:

leatherback wrote: Put 10 bonsaianer in a room and ask about substrate. You will get 15 answers. I for one will not plant trees in akadama. It is instant death in a wet climate with lots of night-time frosts in winter.

My ideas re. substrate: www.growingbonsai.net/characteristics-of-good-bonsai-substrate/

Instant death? First time I read this. I tought that was the ideal for wet climates once it allows drainage and air circulation to the roots. :huh:

In Japan with fairly dry winters and consistant freezing it might be good with akadama. In northern europe where we have wet winters and constant wet/thaw cycles it might not be as good. But we have people here that live in Japan and claims that the only reason to use akadama for them is that it is sheap and readily awailable. For sure it is not that here. I guess it depends on where in japan/where in northern Europe one are as well.

After the hardest winter in many years I think that the trees in fine grade pumise and bark mulch 50/50 seems to coped wit the winter best at my location in coastal Western Sweden. I keep most of my trees in unheated greenhouse most of the winter. Decidious longer than conifers.

Ah ok.
I avoid strong rains and excess of cold during the winter and protect a bit my bonsais, still getting the air they need and sun. But is strange, because at the same time, most of the videos I watch so far, including here on bonsai empire, suggest the use of akadama (#1), lava rocks, and pumice.
Maybe we need to repot more often bonsais with akadama soil.

kebras wrote: Maybe we need to repot more often bonsais with akadama soil.

Not a great idea. More repotting is more stress and reduces refinement of the canopy.

Easier would be to realize the huge coincidence it would be that the best substrate in the world for bonsai occurs exactly where people have developed the artform. The more realistic option is that it worked fine there, and was available. Similarly, we can look at what works here, and is available and stop being obsessed by soil dug in Japan.

leatherback wrote:

kebras wrote: Maybe we need to repot more often bonsais with akadama soil.

Not a great idea. More repotting is more stress and reduces refinement of the canopy.

Easier would be to realize the huge coincidence it would be that the best substrate in the world for bonsai occurs exactly where people have developed the artform. The more realistic option is that it worked fine there, and was available. Similarly, we can look at what works here, and is available and stop being obsessed by soil dug in Japan.

So, different areas, different circumstances. According to my local pleasant climate, what can be recommended?

This is an interesting thread. Thank you all for sharing your thoughts.