Custom bonsai soil mix
Every bonsai needs the right substrate. Here you build your own mix from the same components we sell in packs: choose the size, start from a recipe or create one from scratch. We prepare it to order at our nursery in Giovinazzo, Italy, in business since 1983.
Choose the size
Start from a recipe (optional)
Pick your bonsai: the components load into the list below and you can change them as you like.
Build your mix
Each component goes up and down in steps of 5%. The total must reach 100%. Tap a photo to enlarge it.
Akadama
Japanese granular clay: it holds water and lets air through. It is the base of almost every mix.
Kanuma
Light, acidic substrate for azaleas, satsuki and other acid-loving plants.
Kiryuzuna
Very free-draining and long-lasting: the choice for pines, junipers and conifers.
Pumice
Light and porous, it does not break down: it lightens the mix and drains.
Lava rock
Adds structure and drainage. The 10/14 mm grade also works as a bottom drainage layer.
Other components
To adjust water retention, pH and organic content.
Your mix
Complete the mix up to 100% to add it to your cart.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose the percentages?
The easiest way is to start from a recipe: the ones for Mediterranean species and conifers are the same as our ready-made soils. Then adjust the components in 5% steps, for example more pumice if you tend to water often. If in doubt, contact us with the species and we will suggest the mix.
Can I change a ready-made recipe?
Yes. When you choose a recipe, its components load into the list and you can raise them, lower them or add others. The total stays at 100%, so to raise one component you first need to lower another. The price at the bottom of the page updates with every change.
What will I receive?
A 5- or 10-litre pack with the components already mixed in the percentages you chose. If you order several packs of the same recipe, they are all identical. The recipe is written in your order summary.
How many components can I use?
From one to all nineteen. Each component starts at 5% and goes up in 5% steps until the total reaches 100%. In the 5-litre pack each 5% is a quarter of a litre, in the 10-litre pack half a litre.