For several years I use draining substrates: mainly akadama but also pumice, pouzzolan, 'terra rossa' (from Etna volcano, Italy), bark compost and blond peat of Chile. I always got satisfaction with most of these substrates since I have no bonsai diseases.
On the other hand, problems occur with akadama which cleaves in time. In spite of I use extra hard quality which I keep drying 3 years before using it. I use chabasai for more than 2 years. My first tests were with bonsai seedlings, later I extended the use of chabasai to all my bonsai trees. For conifers and leaved trees I add 30 to 50% of pouzzolan.
chabasai is becoming my "universal" substrate. For sure I will continue to use chabasai and recommend it !
(Picture: hawthorn bonsai)
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