So, discussion of pH in bonsai pots is much ado about not much
and I would not lose ANY sleep worrying over it.


Particulary if you use a full-spectrum (micronutrients included)
fertilizer with chelated iron.

The pH of soil influences the solubility of ions (which is to say,
nutrients). At neutral pH, calcium and magnesium are very soluble,
and iron, aluminum, manganese and other heavy metals aren't. This is
ideal for most plants. The reason ericaceous plants can grow in
acidic soil is that they have developed mechanisms to withstand heavy
metal toxicity, and require little magnesium.

In a bonsai pot, pH isn't important; every week you are pouring
solubilized nutrients onto the soil. Chelated iron is soluble at
much higher pH than iron ions, so even that is available. This is
why we can grow bonsai in soil-less media like turface or akadama,
and why bonsai don't necessarily need mycorrhizal fungi. They are at
a all-you-can-eat buffet of nutrients.

--
Nina Shishkoff

Frederick, MD

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