slipmagt

I need to repot my Ficus Benjamina this comming spring. It is obviously too big for the pot I have it in. But I am having trouble finding soil. Ive read that it likes phosphorus. I live in an apartment, so I have no use for a 40lbs bag! Please help.

Michel

Hi,

Why not make Your own soil ?

Here's a simple but good soil recipe
for ficus,
composed with 3 equal volume parts:

1/3 Lava grit or crushed granite (3-5 mm granules)
1/3 Akadama
1/3 Oak (or beech) leaf mulch or decomposed bark

Sieve to remove dust and lumps
and per liter of this mix,

add 1 teaspoon of blood meal and
add 1 tablespoon of bone/hoof meal

That'll work greatly,
and for a period of about 1 year,
no additional fertilisations will be needed.

__________________
Greetz,

Michel

centaura

I believe that Wee Tree farm sold smaller bags of a bonsai soil mix that wasn't too bad, though not to my liking. I recently saw a smaller bag of a premixed bonsai soil at a local hydroponic store in my town that has bonsai supplies, but its name is escaping me. Which is too bad since it had a mix that I liked better than the old Wee Tree mix.

I personally mix my own, but I can understand why you wouldn't want to if you're living in an apartment situation.

-Centaura

bonsaifweek

I buy from Wee tree, they have a lot of good stuff there...but that recipe for soil as needed sounds great.

__________________
...So many bonsai...so little time.
My opinion is just that...my own

Michel

Hi,

Right You are;

I've used that recipe already many times
on my Figs as well as on my Bougy,
and all are doing quite OK;

Only extra is in the watering: twice a week
shower with soft water with a few drops
of HB-101 added.

__________________
Greetz,

Michel

Tom

50% lava - 50% pine bark....excellent, simple mix and does extremely well for trops.

If you have trouble locating soil components check out this page:

Bonsai Soil and Components

__________________
Cheers, Tom

The Behr Bonsai Scholarship

North Star Bonsai

artyanimal

Mixing your own will result in the unwanted leftovers (bags) to store since you will not find--ONLY--the amount you need of anything, period!
Online bonsai stores that mix it for you in smaller quantities & ship will likely cost you more but, this seems to be your best option. Try doing a "bonsai potting medium" search. This will probably do the trick.

cheers,

Arty

shaggybirdman

get turface. screen out the fines, and pot it up. it's as good as akadamia at 1/4 the price. use the fines in your yard if you have a wet, or swampy area. it holds twice it's weight in water. fantastic stuff. 50# is $15 locally at agway.