Akadama Tochimi Green 2/6 mm grain - 14 lt bag

What it is and where it comes from

Akadama is a granular clay of volcanic origin, quarried in Japan and processed into porous granules. This one carries the Tochimi Green brand, Made in Japan, and comes in the original 14-litre bag. The material is fully sterilised: no seeds, no pathogens, no surprises in the pot.

How it behaves in the pot

The granule absorbs water and releases it slowly to the roots, while the excess runs straight through without stagnating. Air remains between one granule and the next, and it is this porosity between particles that keeps roots active even after generous watering. Akadama also supplies minerals useful to the plant.

The point to be aware of is how it holds up over time. Akadama works for a few seasons, then the weaker granules begin to break down under frost and repeated watering, and the fine fraction compacts. This is why many growers lighten it with a harder volcanic material, such as pumice or lava rock, when repotting is not planned any time soon. Used on its own it remains a classic all the same.

Specifications

• Material: akadama, granular volcanic clay
• Brand: Tochimi Green
• Grain size: 2/6 mm
• Bag capacity: 14 litres
• Origin: Japan, Made in Japan
• Sterilised product
• Can also be used as aquarium substrate

Which grain and for which plants

The 2/6 mm is a mid-range size, with a finer part and a coarser one in the same bag. It suits medium-sized pots and bonsai in training well, where you need a substrate that holds moisture without closing up. On shohin and shallow pots it is worth sieving and keeping the smaller fraction; on larger specimens the coarse part goes at the bottom.

It is fine for most bonsai species: deciduous broadleaves, maples, elms, ficus and, when lightened, conifers too. It is not the right material for azaleas and other acid-loving plants, which call for kanuma. Anyone looking for akadama for sale for the annual repotting of a mixed collection will find this 14-litre format covers several pots.

How to use it when repotting

First of all, sieve it. The dust that forms in the bag during transport is the main cause of substrates that fail to drain: remove it with a fine-mesh sieve and set it aside, it has no place in the pot. The coarser fraction is spread on the bottom as a drainage layer, over the mesh covering the holes.

Once the plant is in place, work the akadama down between the roots with a chopstick, moving it vertically without forcing, until the gaps are filled. Then water generously until the water runs clear from the holes: that is the sign the fine residue has been washed away.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use this akadama on its own?

Yes, akadama can be used pure or mixed with other soils. On its own it works well for those who water regularly and repot at close intervals; anyone leaving plants longer in the same pot tends to pair it with a hard volcanic material that does not break down.

Is the 2/6 mm grain suitable for a small bonsai?

It is a grain size intended for medium pots. On a shohin it is best to sieve it and use the finer fraction, sending the larger granules to the bottom of the pot as drainage. That way the whole bag is used with nothing wasted.

How many litres are in the bag and how many pots will it fill?

The original Tochimi Green bag holds 14 litres. It is a quantity suited to repotting several plants in the same season, or one large specimen along with its drainage layer. The material keeps indefinitely if stored dry, without losing its properties.

What's included

• 1 original bag of Tochimi Green akadama
• Grain size 2/6 mm
• Capacity 14 litres

If you prefer to measure out the components yourself, you can build your own mix on the made-to-measure soil page.