"Peter K." wrote:

Is there anything wrong with using a good quality potting mix, maybe even
one specifically made for trees and shrubs, for newly collected specimens?
i'll be digging a few big guys this spring and i'm not sure if i can afford
to buy enough supplies to make the necessary amounts of bonsai soil. The
plants are getting ripped out if i don't dig them up so waiting longer isn't
an option. thanks everybody.

--
Peter Kulibert zone 4a/5b


Peter:
If you can find a Turface distributor (or some retailers too) you can get Turface
for about $11 a bag, which is 50 lbs. For my big guys I have in wooden boxes I
use the cedar mulch you can find at any Home Desperate or Lowe's. The red stuff is
ugly but you can find it without any color added. I use this and cut it with
Turface and grit, about 50/50. No problems so far after three years. Remember
that if you have something on the big side (I'm talking 5" or more trunks, trees
that will eventually be 2-3 ft tall) they're going to be in those boxes for several
years--you won't be repotting every year. The cedar mulch will provide plenty of
organic material.

Craig Cowing
NY
Zone 5b/6a Sunset 37

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