Tiziano:

I have had many individuals bring me trees with root zone problems related to the "fines" in lava stone-based soil mixes. The "fines" seem to create drainage problems.

For this reason, I am not an advocate of the reddish lava stone mixes that I have seen.

I have not used or seen possolana, but I understand that it is chestnut to gray in color, porous, and fast draining. This sounds like it might be a good component for soil mixes.

Cordially,

Michael Persiano
members.aol.com/iasnob



-----Original Message-----
From: Tiziano
To:
Sent: Tue, 27 Sep 2005 22:42:35 +0200
Subject: [IBC] Non organic Yamadori soil


Michael Persiano wrote:

River sand, and Virginia pine bark should be
fine. Equal parts of each should work well. If
you are going to use this mix with fertilizer
cakes, be certain to lightly rake the surface of
the root pad once every 2-3 weeks to ensure water
penetration.

I would suggest that you not use lava stone or perlite for bonsai culture.


Hi Michael
may I ask why not to use lava stone ? what do
you mean by lava stone, the light floating
pumice or the pouzzolane that is more coarse and
heavy ?
thanks

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Michael:

Should I use pine bark? Because I don't want any organic in the soil... so
if you tell me to use barks there certainly a good raison.

Thank you,

Michel




Michael Persiano wrote:

River sand, and Virginia pine bark should be
fine. Equal parts of each should work well. If
you are going to use this mix with fertilizer
cakes, be certain to lightly rake the surface of
the root pad once every 2-3 weeks to ensure water
penetration.

I would suggest that you not use lava stone or perlite for bonsai culture.


Hi Michael
may I ask why not to use lava stone ? what do
you mean by lava stone, the light floating
pumice or the pouzzolane that is more coarse and
heavy ?
thanks

************************************************** **************************
****
++++Sponsored, in part, by Bob Pastorio++++
************************************************** **************************
****
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

************************************************** **************************
****
++++Sponsored, in part, by Bob Pastorio++++
************************************************** **************************
****
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Bob Pastorio++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

On Sep 27, 2005, at 3:13 PM, Michael Persiano wrote:

I have had many individuals bring me trees with root zone problems
related to the "fines" in lava stone-based soil mixes. The "fines"
seem to create drainage problems.

For this reason, I am not an advocate of the reddish lava stone mixes
that I have seen.

Red (or, less commonly, brown, or black) lava is a common ingredient in
bonsai soils used in Northern California. I agree that the fines will
cause problems, but once they are screened out or washed away, the
stone doesn't break down further. (

I use a hose & nozzle to spray my 5/16 lava over a screen, one shovel
full at a time.
Jim

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+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

Michael,

I'm not sure what sort of lava-stone based mixes you have seen, but I and
most others around here use the red lava rock as our primary soil
ingredient. Once it has been screened, as one must do with most soil mix
ingredients, it has no more fines than anything else. The remaining fines
are a function of the size of screen one uses.

I find red lava rock to be a quite satisfactory soil component, whether used
straight, or in combination with other ingredients.

Regards,
Roger Snipes
Spokane, WA. USA. Zone 5-ish

----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Persiano"

I have had many individuals bring me trees with root zone problems related
to the "fines" in lava stone-based soil mixes. The "fines" seem to create
drainage problems.

For this reason, I am not an advocate of the reddish lava stone mixes that
I have seen.

************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Bob Pastorio++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++

Michael Persiano wrote:
Hi Michael

Tiziano:

I have had many individuals bring me trees with root zone problems

related to the "fines" in lava stone-based soil
mixes.

The "fines" seem to create drainage problems.
rught in fact for yamadory some people of teh
Vesuvio region use *dirty lava* that is mived
with dust and so on and use in well drained
containers
otherwise has to be sifted exactly as Akadama


For this reason, I am not an advocate of the reddish lava

stone mixes that I have seen.
well in Italy and france as have some problems
with aka prices and imports , I personally
realize that aka even best quality. because of
our climate needs to be watered more often than
usual and has a tendency to brittle and become
dusty

I have not used or seen possolana, but I understand that

it is chestnut to gray in color, porous, and fast
draining. right
I use 4-5 mm grade and feel very happy as I
can rececle it after having washed and sterilized
http://www.agricola2000.it/
small pic on the right

This sounds like it might be a good component
for soil mixes.
well I appreciate a lot as coarse good
retenmtion /release and aeration of the soils and
in mix with sequoia bark is fine
best regards
Tiziano




THEO
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Maestro
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