Cheap and Easy Bonsai Soil Mix

Welcome to Bill's Bonsai YouTube Channel - This video: Cheap and Easy Bonsai Soil Mix

Believe it or not, I asked ChatGPT what I should use for my bonsai soil mix. At first, it recommended all the expensive stuff like Akadama, Pumice and Lava Rock. I told it that those materials weren't readily available to me and were too expensive anyway.

It then recommended that I use composted bark as my main organic component, plus some other components such perlite, horticultural grit and molar clay - which in the video is the pink kitty litter.

I purchased the composted bark, kitty litter and horticultural grit from Amazon as I already had perlite and vermiculite. I used the scoop to measure out the bonsai soil mixture, but to be honest I normally eyeball the mixture.

For example, if I wanted a lot of moisture retention (which most of the time I prefer as it's a pain in the posterior watering the trees every day) I'll make sure there is more compost in the mix. If I want less compost and more of an inorganic mix I simply use less compost or more molar clay and grit.

Everyone has their own ideas of what a good bonsai soil should consist of and for now, this is what I'm using.

Thanks for watching.
Bill