Akadama is a naturally occurring clay-like (but not clay) mineral found only in one region in Japan.

Akadama (red ball earth) is a volcanic byproduct mined exclusively in Japan. It is in some ways similar to clay, but with a unique microscopic structure that makes it ideal for bonsai use. Akadama is a key component in nearly all quality bonsai soils.

The common ingredients in bonsai soil are akadama, pumice, lava rock, organic potting compost and fine gravel. Ideal bonsai soil should be pH neutral, neither acidic nor basic. A pH between 6.5-7.5 is ideal.

Turface, pumice, lava, DE, drystall(pumice) are some of the things used as an alternate to akadama, but they aren’t the same.

Akadama (赤玉土, akadamatsuchi, red ball earth) is a naturally occurring, granular clay-like mineral used as soil for bonsai trees and other container-grown plants.

So using akadama is a great solution in that regard. This particular trait of akadama really makes them suitable for use not only for bonsai but for all plants like succulents and cactuses that hates soil dampness.

Kanuma soil vs Akadama But you should mix other soil components with Kanuma soil. Akadama is also less light than Kanuma soil so it will never float up when watered. Kanuma soil is also much softer in texture.

Using pumice for plants is a better choice if the plant is tall, because the weight of the pumice can help prevent the pot from toppling. As explained by Central Texas Gardener, pumice is a heavier material so doesn’t float or blow away as easily as perlite. Pumice also lasts longer than perlite.

Volcanic Akadama for cultivation of cacti, succulents and bonsai. The Akadama can be mixed with pumice, volcanic lapilli, zeolite and perlite to make the soil richer in nutrients and more similar to the natural characteristics in which plants live or it can be used alone as the only component of the soil.

Pumice, chemically speaking, is equivalent to granite and its fine-grained relative, rhyolite. “Lava rock” is scoria, like pumice a volcanic rock. Either one, in my opinion, is excellent as a component of succulent potting soil, but I notice that pumice comes in a much better size for use!

Well-Known Member. Lava rock is perfectly fine to use as a substitute for perlite. We use it a lot here in Hawaii because it is extremely cheap.

As with so many other products, perlite has both its advantages and disadvantages as a growing media….Cons:

• Water can drain away quickly.
• Being so lightweight, perlite can be blown away and tends to float in excess water.
• Nonrenewable resource.
• Dust can create respiratory problems and eye irritation.

Combine 1 part perlite and 1 part peat moss with 1 part compost, pasteurized garden soil — soil you have baked at 250 F for half an hour — or purchased bagged soil, usually labeled “Garden Soil,” from a nursery to create a potting mix suitable for containers indoors or out.

PBH rice hulls are proven alternative to perlite. In recent years, as greenhouse growers have embraced sustainability and looked for feasible ways to reduce production costs, the use of parboiled rice hulls in greenhouse growing media has become a popular substitute for perlite.

Styrofoam is an economical alternative to perlite, according to the University of Connecticut. Similarly, it is lightweight, but differently, and it compresses over time instead of retaining its airy properties.

Perlite is a naturally occurring silicous rock and as such, is not toxic. Ingesting the products that incorporate perlite may cause illness and, in excessive amounts, permanent harm or death.

However, since some people have difficulty obtaining perlite for a variety of reasons, some gardeners may be interested in substituting other materials. One such material is Styrofoam. According to many experienced gardeners, Styrofoam can be used instead of perlite.

In pots with little to no drainage, the area of Styrofoam may be waterlogged and cause these plant roots to rot or die. Styrofoam also contains no nutrients for plant roots to absorb. Too much water and lack of nutrients can cause beautiful container designs to suddenly wilt and die.

Adding a few inches of foam peanuts or chunks in the bottom of the container reduces the amount of soil needed to fill the planter. Also, the foam keeps soil from washing out of the drainage holes while assisting with drainage by keeping the soil from compacting at the bottom of the pot.

Lightweight Filler for Pots

• Recycle Plastics. Plastic Water/Soda Bottles.
• Reuse Packing Materials.
• Unused Plastic Pots Turned Upside Down.
• Recycled Crushed Cans.
• Natural Materials.
• Recycled Cardboard, Newspaper (Also for short term use only.)

The small styrofoam-like particles in your potting soil are a mineral called perlite. It’s made when lava rock from volcanoes cools, trapping tiny quantities of moisture inside. Initially, it looks like glass (usually because of the crushing weight of the Earth on top of it).

I have used old potting soil to fill around the plastic containers in my large garden pots. This soil is not good to support plant growth, but is fine to fill in the gaps that the roots won’t touch. Or, you can add landscape fabric over the fillers to prevent much potting soil from falling down.

The key to properly drill drainage holes is using the correct drill bit. Both can be drilled – though pottery in it natural state is by far the easiest. For unglazed terra cotta pottery & ceramics – Masonry Drill Bits are used. For harder, glazed surfaces – Glass and Tile Drill Bits are used.