Any advice would be welcome, I have been watching a few Japanese Bonsai videos and before putting first layer of drainage soil in, some have been putting charcoal in the bottom of the pot.
Is charcoal worth putting in and if so what are the benefits and what type to use?

That really depends of the quality of the water you are using.

By the way. Different layers in a pot dont really make sence.

Hi Topfrog, I live in Liverpool, UK and my water is soft (no limescale). If you look at some of the videos they do, do layers large gravel/Kanuma on the bottom drainage, then (I think) a mix of Akadama/pumice/lava (middle layer) and then a fine top dressing of Akadama, that's why I ask about charcoal in the drainage layer and its benefits to the trees.

It is tRopfrog if you dont mind.

If you can drink your tap water it should be safe to water your trees with it. No need for charcoal.

If you Think that there are any inpurities in the tap water that are not good for your tree charcoal can be a good idea. If I had that problem, I would consider filtering the water over charcoal before watering the trees rather than putting the coal in the pot.

Yes, there are People that layer the substrate. That dont make any sence to me.

If you are watering from the top, charcoal only at the bottom of the pot does nothing for purifying the water in the root zone.

However, in theory, it may absorb some of the nutrients in the runoff from fertilization.

tROPFROG sorry miss read your name.

Tropfrog wrote:
Yes, there are People that layer the substrate. That dont make any sence to me.

On the big trees I sometimes don't premix but just pour in a little measure of akadama, then one of pumice, then one of lava and then use the chopstick to push it all around and between roots. It winds up mixed up pretty well. Smaller trees I do pre mix. What doesn't mix up that way probably mixes a little with watering, particularly after heavy rains.

That makes sence, didnt Think of the benefit for the owner. Was just thinking of the benefit for the tree, which is Most likelky none.

Bunsen33 wrote: If you are watering from the top, charcoal only at the bottom of the pot does nothing for purifying the water in the root zone.

However, in theory, it may absorb some of the nutrients in the runoff from fertilization.

I will try this, thank you for the info.