Keto Tsuchi soil 2 kg

What it is and where it comes from

Keto Tsuchi is an organic peat-bog clay, dark in colour and with a doughy consistency. It comes from Japan, where it has always been used for compositions on rock and on slabs. It is not a granulate: it is a compact mass worked by hand.

How it behaves in the pot

It is sticky. That is precisely its purpose: it clings to rock, slab and roots, and stays where you put it even when the plant sits outside a pot. It holds a great deal of water and releases it slowly, a quality that matters when the root ball is exposed on the flanks of a stone or along the edge of a slab, where sun and wind dry things out quickly.

On the other hand it is a dense material, with little air inside. For this reason it is not used as the substrate of an ordinary pot, and for this reason it is lightened: mixed with fine akadama the structure stays malleable but opens up, and roots run through it far better. Over the months it tends to harden at the surface, forming a crust that holds the shape given to it.

Features

• Japanese organic clay for compositions on rock and on slabs
• 2 kg pack
• Handy size, suited to a single composition or small projects
• Made in Japan

Which grade and for which plants

Here it is not a question of particle size but of plasticity. Ketotsuchi is used for ishizuki, bonsai grown on rock, for forest plantings on slabs and to hold the substrate where there is no pot wall to contain it.

With 2 kg of keto clay you can comfortably work a modest-sized rock planting, a small forest planting on a slab or a few kusamono. It works with all the species suited to these compositions: maples, elms, hornbeams and conifers in forest plantings, ficus and pines on rock. On kusamono and small grass arrangements it is the material that holds the root mass together.

How to use it when repotting

Knead it before use. If it feels stiff, simply add a little water and work it until malleable; fine akadama blended into the mix improves the structure and reduces the risk of suffocating the roots. Then spread it over the rock or around the perimeter of the slab, forming the rim that will contain the growing soil.

Lay the roots on top and cover them with the actual substrate, settling it with a chopstick. Water with a fine spray, never a direct jet: a strong stream washes away clay that is still fresh. For the first few weeks it is wise to shelter the composition from driving rain, until the surface has settled. It is often covered entirely with moss, which protects it and keeps it moist.

Frequently asked questions

Can Keto Tsuchi be used on its own as a soil?

No, not as a growing substrate in a pot: it holds too much water and leaves the roots little air. Its role is structural, to shape and hold soil on rock and slabs. We recommend mixing it with fine akadama, which improves its structure.

Is 2 kg enough for one composition?

Yes, for a modest-sized project: a rock planting, a small forest planting on a slab or a few kusamono. For large compositions or several projects, allow for more than one pack.

How should an opened pack be stored?

Close the bag tightly and keep it from drying out. If it hardens it is not lost: break it up, wet it and knead it back to working consistency. Keep it away from frost and direct sun, in a cool place.

What is included

• 1 pack of Keto Tsuchi, 2 kg
• Made in Japan

If you prefer to measure out the components yourself, you can put together your own blend on the made-to-measure soil page.