I´ve been doing some research about soils, particularly Akadama, and I´ve come up with a doubt... What is the difference between Akadama Jirushi, Akadama Ibaraki and Akadama Tokoname?

I mean, the difference in prices between the first two (approximately the same price) and the third one is remarkable, so, there must be some other characteristics that justify this swing in prices.

Alain

i am not sure either, but it might be the fact that some are dried clays and fired clays.

jaimin

Thanks Jaimin... But they were all fired clay with a "cooking" temperature of 300ºC.

oh

Akadama is not fired clay it is dried clay. I think the the different names might just be different makers. There are three grades from soft to hard, but prices are about the same. I have not seen it with those names, but I think they are basically the same

m5eaygeoff wrote:

Akadama is not fired clay it is dried clay. I think the the different names might just be different makers. There are three grades from soft to hard, but prices are about the same. I have not seen it with those names, but I think they are basically the same

Wrong.

Yaki Akadama is fired akadama (at 1200 C).
Ibaraki is a region, not a maker.

Akadama (赤玉土 Akadamatsuchi?, red ball earth) is a naturally occurring, granular clay-like mineral that is used as soil for bonsai trees and other container-grown plants. It is surface mined, immediately sifted and bagged, and supplied in various grades: the deeper mined grade being somewhat harder and more useful in horticulture than the more shallow mined grades. Akadama may also act as one component of growing medium when combined with other elements such as sand, composted bark, peat, or crushed lava. Akadama’s colour darkens when moist which can help the grower determine when to water a tree:)[1]
This is from wikipedea

Thank you both, Geoff and Auk,

Now I´m in doubt again... You´ll see, they had a legend on its wrapping that read: 300ºC treated Akadama or something like that. I mean... I think it was fired or submitted to a termic procedure to hardened the grains and get rid of organic matter and pathogen organisms.

Alain

I am not sure about that. The bags I have are all in Japanese!! There was an article some years ago in Bonsai Europe showing how it was made, that said that it was air dried. Not a problem, as long as it works. I know we can get different grades and the price does vary. I have used it for the last 14 years, and I will not change to anything else. The price is a pain, but with the cost of some of my trees £13 for a bag of Akadama is not a lot. I bought some a few weeks ago on offer, I got 3 bags for £36 good price and will do me next year.
Geoff.

Right, the bags I saw here were also in Japanese, but with the 300ºC label.

Now, you are right...the price it is a pain. For instance, for the examples I posted yesterday:

Akadama Jirushi 14l: 12,95€ (10,33£) Acceptable
Akadama Ibaraki 14l: 13,15€ (10,49£) Acceptable
Akadama Tokoname 14l: 29,43€ (23,48£) Waaaay too expensive

To these prices, of course, I must add the shipping expenses which are not cheap either. And I´m planning to buy three 14l bags of Akada Ibaraki

Thanks Geoff