Price range: £4.00 through £29.00
Ibaraki Akadama Bonsai Soil offers excellent drainage and water retention, promoting aerated, healthy roots. Its coarse, pH-neutral granules prevent root rot and enhance bonsai aesthetics. Usable alone or mixed with other substrates, it changes colour to indicate moisture, aiding easy watering management and soil durability.
Ibaraki Akadama Bonsai Soil 14L has excellent drainage properties but also holds large amounts of water. It is a course substrate yet a remarkably aesthetic one that can boost the overall aesthetic of any bonsai. This is a complementary media to Kurodama or regular potting soil. Akadama has been used in Japan for decades as the go-to substrate for bonsai cultivation. Its granulated form is ideal for drainage without waterlogging or the onset of root rot. Its overall effect is a more aerated root zone. As a pH-neutral mix with no organic matter, it’s worth noting this can retain both nutrients and water for the plants well.
With Akadama it is very easy to see when your tree is dry as the akadama goes white, once watered the akadama is a brown colour which indicates the soil is moist.
Though not mandatory it is advisable to pass the media through a sieve as this prevents clumping by removing any dust from the mix.
In general, it is the basic substrate used when the tree is already in a bonsai pot and is usually accompanied (in a smaller proportion) by another harder substrate that allows the mixture to degrade less and increase its durability.
This product can be used on its own or mixed in with other growing mediums and compost.
