Bonsai Seeds: Careful Don’t Plant Them In This Soil

Posted by Zee On January - 1 - 2008

Bonsai seeds need proper type of bonsai soil- if you are a serious gardener, you will need to remember this. Most people consider bonsai plants to be absolutely different from other normal plants. But fact is, apart from its size every aspect of a bonsai plant is similar to that of an ordinary plant. And that is why, like in case of any other normal plant, soil is a very important concern in bonsai plants as well. You will need to ensure while planting bonsai plants that it is being done so in proper type of soil.

First factor that you will need to consider is that as bonsais are potted plants, these seeds have to draw nutrition and other essentials from same soil for a long time until that soil is replaced. This makes it essential that the chosen soil should be able to cater to and fulfill all needs of that bonsai plant over a long period of time. For this, the chosen soil should have several characteristics.

 

To begin with, we know that water is an essential requirement of any plant and same is applicable in case of bonsai plants as well.

So this bonsai soil should have an exceptional water retaining capacity. Watering is usually frequent in case of bonsai seeds; hence it is essential that soil should be able to retain large amounts of water which it can then supply to the plant as and when it requires water. After water retaining capacity has been taken care of; aeration of the soil is the next aspect that needs to be looked at. It is always good for the plant if there are enough gaps in between individual particles of the soil in which a bonsai plant has been planted. If there are gaps between individual particles, then these gaps act as air pockets.

These air pockets are important in more ways than one. To begin with they allow air to circulate within the soil. This ensures that roots of bonsai plant are not starved of fresh air and that they get enough oxygen to carry on their own metabolism. Besides this, gaps in soil or air pockets serve another purpose too. They also aid in proper drainage of soil. Drainage of soil is very important in case of bonsai plants. Reason is that these plants require extensive watering. Now, there frequently arise such situations that there is more water in the soil than is needed by the plant. In such a case if drainage is not good, then water will get accumulated leading to accumulation of salts near roots of bonsai plants, which is not at all good for plants.

Keeping the above factors in mind, bonsai enthusiasts should scout around for suitable soil for their bonsai plants. They can either opt for organic or inorganic soil mixes. But you should make their choices after carefully studying specific needs of their plant. Otherwise their dreams of bonsai gardening may too be short in length like bonsai plants themselves. So remember, bonsai seeds without bonsai soil are a sure shot recipe for failure.

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