Dear people!

Since I've yet to encounter complete information on all kinds of bonsai soils, I've decided to make a datasheet with as much information about soils as possible. It's a bit of a mess for now, but if you would like to contribute; please send me an email!

For now, you can place comments wherever you deem necessary or wherever there is whitespace or data that is incorrect in your opinion. If you would like full access, send me a message.

You can find the excel sheet here:
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mrhf8HCf...zBnxS4hho/edit#gid=0

Thanks in advance!
Apoz

Hi,

I do not use google docs. So not sure what you are trying to do.

Have you seen this?
www.growingbonsai.net/characteristics-of-good-bonsai-substrate/

Apoz wrote: I've decided to make a datasheet with as much information about soils as possible.

Apoz;

Seems interesting and includes various types of substracts.
But...
As you have said, it's mostly blank, so one way of making it more complete is researching good info such as the link Leatherback just posted.
Keep up the good work!

You are right! Honestly, the sheet was a day old at the moment I posted the message on the forum, but there are already 3 people enthusiastically interested in helping me progress further with the data collection, and a lot of changes are being made at the moment.
A lot of the data I initially used was based on claims on certain guides about soil substrates and mixtures often by experts, but the problem with those is that these experts have been working with the same favorite materials for a long time and lack the fresh look on material properties. But now I actually found some decent data from people that have done proper research and including the article above I have found a few more really relevant pieces of research with relatively representative data, which will be an eye-opener for many people here for sure. (just take a look at the water retention, this really surprised me in some cases!) I'll be comparing each and every data I find, and this way it improves the accuracy of the entire sheet ultimately

I'm also thinking of setting up an easy questionnaire to get an image of peoples experiences rather than raw data, which might give more easily understandable insights on the matters.

All input is valued, don't be scared to leave a comment either on the sheet or on this post!

Sincerely,
Bo

Apoz wrote: All input is valued, don't be scared to leave a comment either on the sheet or on this post!
Bo

I can contribute a little.
Two of the substrates Brazilian bonsaists have been using are crushed high fired clay from bricks, and cat's litter (not all, only some very specific brands) as seen in:
www.bonsai4me.com/Basics/Basicscatlitter.htm
I have been testing both, with successful results.
Attached a picture of the crushed brick, 2 to 5mm sifted.

So, the crushed brick is high water and fert retentive and has good aeration .

The kitte's litter is white, and excellent water retention. I don't like the color, but it works.

There is another very interesting substrate here called Qualitá-Brazilian Akadama.
It looks like Akadama, is acidic - PH 5.7 - and in fact is closer to Kanuma regarding its results. Azaleas love it!
I've been using it in a mix with some limestone to grow tropicals, and they look happy.

Based on the texture and mineral coloration, that looks like a crushed granite. Perhaps weathered (sometimes called decomposed) and washed clean of dust. Is it heavy? Do you have any other details?

Well, it is not as heavy as regular crushed granite.
People that extracts it don't give much info...

Nice thread this one related to soils. Soils, soilmixes and whether they are appropriated or not, better than others or not, seem to be the eternal discussion in Bonsai world. So, possibly, reading the following link of a great (in my opinion) Bonsai grower or Master, I even dare to say, might help the vision of us all in this regard:

adamaskwhy.com/2018/01/30/akadama-the-ideal-bonsai-soil/

Hope you all enjoy and learn from this links as I previously most certainly did while reading it.

Alain