Morning to All,
Colin,

I have for years based my bonsai soils on,

[1] Inorganic and [2] Organic.

Inorganic -
[a] Able to hold water within it self.
- example - crushed sifted red brick

[b] Able to hold water around itself.
example - crushed sifted quartz gravel.

[Neither of the above inorganic will decay or be
chemically eroded easily.Also easiest to obtain down
here in the West Indies/Caribbean].

Organic - can be - sifted compost or sifted manure.
Now testing the addition of some coco peat.
_________________________________
Able to retain moisture,but freely draining.

The above can be substituted for, with local ingredients.
You will have to talk to others around your area.
Sensitivity, to local climatic conditions is important,
and gain the experience from just growing trees long
before you begin to really train them.
Khaimraj
[ West Indies/Caribbean,
Sempre Spring Zone.]


-----Original Message-----
From: Colin Horn
To:
Date: 23 April 2003 20:07
Subject: [IBC] soil


I am still trying to simplify the what seems to be complicated concept of
soil. Would it be true if I were to say that in every soil mixture, there
needs to be some kind of grit, for good drainage, mixed with some sort of
organic OR inorganic soil for water retention? Thanks alot, I am still
trying to clear up my understanding of the right way to mix soil. - Colin
Horn Orinda, CA

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