Plant group

Bonsai: soil and plant guides

Trees and herbs grown small in shallow pots, where the mix has to drain fast and still hold water. Living Soil has guides for 15 plants in this group, built from published references.

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Mixes for bonsai

Classic bonsai mix

A long standing, grower tested bonsai soil that drains fast yet still holds water in a shallow pot. It comes with tips for adjusting it for pines and for flowering trees.

Bonsai mix for deciduous and indoor trees

A grower favorite for indoor bonsai and trees that drop their leaves. It holds water and air, drains freely and lets roots grow through, which a shallow pot needs.

Bonsai mix for conifers

A grower's mix for conifer bonsai, which want freer drainage than other trees. It drains fast and still holds enough water for a shallow pot.

Bonsai mix from the garden center

A grower's bonsai mix made from what any garden center sells, for when specialist bonsai materials are hard to find. It costs less and suits young trees in training pots.

Herbal bonsai mix

A grower's mix for fast growing herbs kept as bonsai. It comes with tips to make it drain better for Mediterranean herbs or hold more water for tropicals.

Good to know

The mistake to avoid: Getting the watering wrong, in either direction. Most bonsai that die have dried out, and a pot shallow enough for classic bonsai can need water every day. The opposite is common too: many beginners over water, which drives the air out of the soil, drowns the roots and favors root rotting fungi.

Questions

What soil do bonsai need?

Trees and herbs grown small in shallow pots, where the mix has to drain fast and still hold water. Living Soil has 5 mixes for this group, each from a published reference, and guides for 15 plants.

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