Natural soil occurs in "horizons", but this layering occurs because of
a combination of weathering, microbial activity, and most especially,
the action of water on a large horizontal surface. Phenomena such as
"perching" have meaning when you are talking about a surface area of
acres; it has NO meaning in a bonsai pot with a surface area of square
inches interrupted in each direction by the SIDE OF A POT. There is no
need to worry about soil structure in a bonsai pot as long as the soil
is well-draining and the pot has good drainage holes.

Nina.

On 9/12/05 8:01 AM, "Nina" <nina.shishkoff [at] GMAIL.COM> wrote:

> Natural soil occurs in "horizons", but this layering occurs because of
> a combination of weathering, microbial activity, and most especially,
> the action of water on a large horizontal surface. Phenomena such as
> "perching" have meaning when you are talking about a surface area of
> acres; it has NO meaning in a bonsai pot with a surface area of square
> inches interrupted in each direction by the SIDE OF A POT. There is no
> need to worry about soil structure in a bonsai pot as long as the soil
> is well-draining and the pot has good drainage holes.
>
> Nina.

I wonder, try the wet sponge held horizontally.
This is (to me) a perfect perched water table.
Jim Gillespie

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Nina:

Thanks for your post. I print out a hard copy of almost everything you
write - does that get me in your fan club?

Jim, who reads (cherishes) everything Nina writes

On Sep 12, 2005, at 8:01 AM, Nina wrote:

> Natural soil occurs in "horizons", but this layering occurs because of
> a combination of weathering, microbial activity, and most especially,
> the action of water on a large horizontal surface. Phenomena such as
> "perching" have meaning when you are talking about a surface area of
> acres; it has NO meaning in a bonsai pot with a surface area of square
> inches interrupted in each direction by the SIDE OF A POT. There is no
> need to worry about soil structure in a bonsai pot as long as the soil
> is well-draining and the pot has good drainage holes.
>
> Nina.
>
> ************************************************************ ***********
> *********
> ++++Sponsored, in part, by Bob Pastorio++++
> ************************************************************ ***********
> *********
>>> -->> The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/
>>> <<--<<
> +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail BONSAI-REQUEST [at] HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM
> +++++
>

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++++Sponsored, in part, by Bob Pastorio++++
************************************************************ ********************
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+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail BONSAI-REQUEST [at] HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM +++++

The only time I have seen evidence of perching is when I do an emergency repot in the middle of summer because the plant is stressed and the roots on the bottom of the pot are no longer healthy. That lower root layer seems to be a barrier for new roots to move through. A couple of years later and that layer if roots is still not penetrated.

I have used and not used layers. I have never created a layer where the roots do not penetrate.

Kits



****
"Expectations are resentments under construction."

Anne Lamott

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Ditto. Each practitioner can adjust the water-holding potential of the mix by adjusting the amount of bark and aggregate components in the mix. The adjustment will be based on the species being grown and the characteristics of the growing environment.

Cordially,

Michael Persiano
members.aol.com/iasnob



-----Original Message-----
From: Nina <nina.shishkoff [at] GMAIL.COM>
To: BONSAI [at] HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM
Sent: Mon, 12 Sep 2005 08:01:42 -0700
Subject: [IBC] soil layers.


Natural soil occurs in "horizons", but this layering occurs because of
a combination of weathering, microbial activity, and most especially,
the action of water on a large horizontal surface. Phenomena such as
"perching" have meaning when you are talking about a surface area of
acres; it has NO meaning in a bonsai pot with a surface area of square
inches interrupted in each direction by the SIDE OF A POT. There is no
need to worry about soil structure in a bonsai pot as long as the soil
is well-draining and the pot has good drainage holes.

Nina.

************************************************************ ********************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Bob Pastorio++++
************************************************************ ********************
>>-->> The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ <<--<<
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail BONSAI-REQUEST [at] HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM +++++

************************************************************ ********************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Bob Pastorio++++
************************************************************ ********************
>>-->> The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ <<--<<
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail BONSAI-REQUEST [at] HOME.EASE.LSOFT.COM +++++