Akadama Ibaraki Hard Quality medium grain (14L)

Details

In a nutshell, Akadama substrate is a naturally-occurring, clay-like soil that is found mainly in Japan. Akadama is Japanese for “red ball earth” and is named because this soil is largely formed as a result of the eruptions of Mt. Fuji on Honshu Island.

The Ibaraki is by far the favorite of Japanese bonsai professionals. It is a hard clay substrate with good fertilizing properties. It is characterized by being very uniform in grain and being rich in iron oxide. Substrate that after a year will have formed a fine crust that will prevent the release of nutrients to our bonsai.

It is a substrate obtained from the ash of volcanoes, formed by the action of high temperatures and pressures, which makes it an excellent material for our bonsai. It is a practically inert material with neutral Ph that allows us a great aeration of the substrate, as well as favoring a good humidity of our bonsai.

It has a medium-sized grain that allows great aeration and regulates relative humidity optimally. It is 100% natural and with an ideal type of grain (medium grain). Its neutral pH helps maintain our bonsai with good aeration and perfect drainage.

Depending on the climatic conditions, mixing it with other components, we can increase or decrease the relative humidity of our soil as necessary.

Pros

The biggest advantage to using Akadama is that it has porosity, or the ability to hold water and store it in microscopic pores and cavities for a longer period of time. This ability to retain water and nutrients is crucial for any type of plant life, and is even more so for a bonsai species. This type of soil also has the benefit of being a free-draining type, meaning that it is easy for Akadama to drain unnecessary water given enough time. Yet another advantage to using this soil would be in the colour of Akadama, which can darken when moisten, thereby helping the caretaker to know when to water the plant.