Japanese potting media & methods

[DirtyCoconuts]

Jeff.
Couple thoughts

I sort a lot of my materials to get the sizes I want. Leca is no exception. Do not buy the Giant lol. Get the normal hydroton and buy a bit of 1/2” hardware cloth (mesh), I made a frame for mine but you can also just slowly pour the leca across the screen over a catch (I use mud (mortar) tubs

Then you have small and other sized.

I also have been researching the cym mesium to see how I can copy them and perlite(#4) and vermiculite (coarse) seem to be pretty comparable and maybe better ???

I use a bit of peat, lava rock (big) and then perlite and vermiculite in my cym mix and I have been pretty pleased

I do NOT follow the Asian model of those insanely small pots!! I cannot, can not, fathom how they have any room for medium given the size of the plants and what I have learned is the resultant amount of roots???? Sorry, sidetrack

[frank_in_la]

You can use lava rock + charcoal + hydroton. I have yet to give it a try, but I know many people use inorganic media. You probably need to water more often but you don't need to re-pot because of break down of moss or bark. And re-potting is very simple by filling a bigger pot with same media without disturbing existing root. It sounds a great idea to me.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Jeff214

I'd love to use inorganic media but it's rather expensive and hard to find here. I can only find large diameter hydroton locally!

Not local, but in my recent “inert media comparison”, I tested a couple products from Bonsai Jack and American Bonsai, both based in Florida.

Personally, I am growing more and more fond of a blend of 50% LECA and 50% Grodan Mini Cubes for all my plants. I’m already at the 100% inorganic point, but have some plants in S/H culture, some with straight LECA, some with the 50/50 mix, and others with 100% cubes, plus some in traditional culture with the 50/50 mix and others in 100% cubes.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by frank_in_la

You can use lava rock + charcoal + hydroton.

frank ----- one reason why I stick to lava rock for my semi-outdoor (under-balcony) growing is ----- if a pot tips over for some reason, I won't end up in tears, as the lava rock won't roll around all over the place heheh

For my growing area, 'marbles' rolling around everywhere could become a hazard for missed ones. Re-gathering the scattered marbles could take a while. And some rolling out onto the lawn and getting missed could turn into projectiles from the lawn mower.

Although - as a growing medium - and even though I haven't tried it, I do believe that hydroton is quite a nice growing medium.

[estación seca]

What medium works best depends on ambient conditions.