Substrate
Triple-Line Hard Akadama, 3-6mm, 10L
Imported hard-grade Japanese akadama, 3-6mm.
AU$79.95
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Imported triple-line hard akadama, sifted to 3-6mm. Akadama is a baked Japanese clay that holds moisture and nutrients (high CEC) while staying open and free-draining, and the hard grade breaks down slowly enough to last several years in the pot. Use it straight for deciduous trees such as maples and elms, or mix it with pumice and pine bark for conifers. 10 litre bag.
How much do I need?
Approximate fill, measured as pot length × width × depth. Allow extra for a drainage layer in deeper pots.
What akadama is
Akadama is a naturally occurring volcanic clay from Japan, dried and hardened into stable granules. It holds moisture and nutrients (high cation-exchange capacity) while staying open and free-draining, which is why it is the traditional base of most bonsai mixes.
What the triple line hard grade means
Akadama is sold in soft and hard grades, and the grade decides how long the mix lasts. Soft akadama can slump into a dense paste within a season or two, and that breakdown is usually why an old mix stops draining. This is the hard triple-line grade: the granules keep their shape for several years in the pot, so the mix keeps draining between repots.
Which trees it suits
Use it straight for deciduous trees such as maples and elms. For conifers, blend it with Japanese pumice and kiryuzuna so the root zone runs drier. Azaleas and satsuki are the exception: they need an acidic medium, so pot them into kanuma instead.
Sifted and washed
Every bag is sifted to the 3-6mm on the label and washed of dust before it is packed. Fine dust is what clogs an akadama mix and holds water against the roots, so removing it before bagging means the bag can be opened and potted with straight away.
If you want it to last even longer
Sakadama is an akadama substitute with a harder structure and similar water retention, used in the same ratios. It resists breaking down for longer than akadama, at the cost of not being the traditional material.
How much a repot needs
As a guide, a 30 × 22 × 8 cm pot takes about 5 litres and a 40 × 30 × 9 cm pot about 10 litres, so a 10 litre bag repots one large tree or two medium ones. The fill table above lists more sizes.
