Does anyone know whether you can buy Akadama in New Zealand? Or if it is banned in some countries?

I have recently found out about Bonsai and have done lots of research on it and am looking to start some of my own, but I can not seem to find anywhere that stocks this soil!

If you know anything about this, I would love to know

Hello, welcome to the Empire...

I don't know anything about the bonsai scene/market in your country...

What I do know, is that akadama can be considered a luxury, and it's not needed to start on the hobby, if that's what you wish.

Hi, thanks for the reply, no worries that you have no clue, though it might be a hard question to answer especially if you dont live here!

Would you give me some other options that can be used instead of akadama?

Well, here in Brazil I never ever saw akadama with my own eyes, there is a few people who sell it on the internet, but very very pricey, as result, fewer people use it, and for a few plants...

What most people generally do around here, is a mix of simple potting soil, plus rough sand or small grain gravel (translate the granulometry is kind of difficult xD), on a proportion that varies with the species and climate, can be 50/50 for most plants IMO, but for conifers likes less organics, tropicals likes more organics, that is a simple mix to start and it is supposed to drain well, however, I've seen people mixing many other stuff, like coco coir (have used it myself), vermiculite, perlite, pumice and others, but that can come with time and practice, even because soil really depends on you micro-climate...

What works best for me, maybe doesn't for a neighboor.

Plus, most people here recommend to use general potting soil in the early stages of a tree, when you are just training them to be a Bonsai in the future, when it's finally ready to become a Bonsai, then you could think about fancy soils, and by the time, you should have much more horticultural knowledge to deal with it.

Don't think I'm restraining you from going for akadama, if you feel like, go ahead, I'm just trying to tell you that it's not required to start your own trees...

Akadama is used in Japan because it is cheap and local produced. I dont see any reason to ship that stuff all over the world.

I live in Sweden and use pumice and lava rock from Iceland mixed with swedish mini clayballs and bark mulch.

Look around you for local soil options and mix until you have a mix of your liking.

www.u-buy.co.nz/catalog/product/view/id/...l-from-bonsaioutlet/

Alternatives are plenty. One is pumice: www.daltons.co.nz/products/daltons-fine-pumice

There is almost certainly a bonsai group somewhere in New Zealand. They would know a lot more about what is available there than anybody here.