This page provides information for bulk or wholesale orders of bonsai soil. For orders of fewer than 50 bags, please visit the Bonsai Tonight Online Store.
In an effort to make bonsai soil available at competitive rates, I started importing akadama, kanuma, and bonsai pre-mixes from Japan in 2015. These products, along with pumice and lava rock mined in California, are available online and at my garden. As supply allows, I make the soil available at wholesale rates to bonsai professionals, businesses, clubs, and individuals in the contiguous United States.
The information below will guide you through the process of placing an order. If any questions come up, feel free to call or write me at the contact info at the bottom of the page.
Availability and pricing
Wholesale rates are available for orders of 50 bags or more. Any mix of products qualifies for wholesale pricing.
| Product/Brand | Bag Size | Particle Size | Retail | Wholesale | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Double Line Akadama – S | 14L | 1/16″-1/4″ | 42 | 35 | Fall ’21 |
| Double Line Akadama – M | 14L | 1/4″-1/2″ | 42 | 35 | Fall ’21 |
| Aoki Blend – Shohin | 10L | 1/16″-1/8″ | 53 | 44 | Fall ’21 |
| Aoki Blend – S | 16L | 1/16″-3/16″ | 53 | 44 | Fall ’21 |
| Aoki Blend – M | 16L | 3/16″-5/16″ | 53 | 44 | sold out |
| Pumice – S | 30 lbs (~25L) | 3/32″-3/16″ | 20 | 15 | in stock |
| Pumice – M | 30 lbs (~25L) | 3/16″-5/16″ | 20 | 15 | in stock |
| Pumice – L | 30 lbs (~25L) | 5/16″-7/16″ | 20 | 15 | in stock |
| Pumice (hyuga) – XL | 18L | 3/4″-1.5″ | — | — | TBD |
| Lava rock (scoria) – unsifted | 14L | 1/16″-7/16″ | 20 | 15 | in stock |
| Kanuma – XS | 18L | 1/16″-3/32″ | — | — | TBD |
| Kanuma – S | 18L | 3/32″-1/4″ | — | — | in stock |
| Kanuma – M | 18L | 1/4″-3/8″ | — | — | TBD |
| Kanuma – L | 18L | 3/8″-3/4″ | — | — | TBD |
Product photos and descriptions
Akadama is a product that is mined in Japan, air-dried, sifted, and bagged in different sizes. Akadama is often characterized as being either hard or soft. The brands I carry are “hard” akadamas. Like “soft” akadama, hard akadama breaks down over time but at a slower rate. Hard akadamas differ from fired akadamas as these don’t break down and have limited utility for bonsai. Some akadama brands flash heat the product before it is bagged. This flash heating has little, if any, effect on hardness.
Recent batches of akadama have been the Double Line (also known as Double Red Line) brand.
Bag size: 20.5″ x 12.5″ x 3″ (approx. 22 lbs.)
Double line akadama
Aoki Blend is a premium bonsai pre-mix. It is a blend of akadama, pumice, and scoria (lava rock) that is approximately 80% akadama, 18% pumice and 2% scoria. It can be used out of the bag or blended with other ingredients to create custom mixes.
Bag size: 21″ x 14″ x 3″ (approx. 23 lbs.)
Aoki Blend
Kanuma comes from the same mines as akadama in Japan but is found at a lower level. It is slightly acidic and is used primarily for acid-loving plants like azaleas. Although it is occasionally used as an ingredient in bonsai soil mixes, it is far more often used by itself for growing satsuki azaleas.
Bag size: 20″ x 13″ x 3.5″ (approx. 14 lbs.)
Kanuma
Pumice is mined around the world. Our supply comes primarily from California. The color is white compared with the yellowish pumice commonly used for bonsai in Japan. It is commonly used by itself for the cultivation of recently collected bonsai or as an ingredient of popular mixes like APL (akadama, pumice, lava rock).
Bag size: 23″ x 14″ x 5″ (approx. 30 lbs.)
Pumice
Scoria, also known as lava rock, is a mined product found around the world. It’s water-holding capacity and utility for bonsai is similar to pumice. Depending on where it is mined, its color may be red, brown, or black. Unlike the other soils we carry, our scoria is unsifted. As a result, we recommend washing the soil with water to rinse off dust and sifting the soil by particle size before using.
Bag size: 18″ x 13″ x 3″ (approx. 30 lbs.)
Lava rock (scoria)
Ordering instructions
To place an order, call or send an email to Jonas Dupuich at the contact info located at bottom of this page. Please include the following information with your order:
- Soil types, sizes, and quantities
- Shipping address
- Billing address
- Shipping contact phone number (the shipping company may call to confirm delivery)
After receiving an order, I will prepare an invoice payable by PayPal or credit card online. I will pack and ship orders after receiving payment.
Shipping
Bulk orders can be shipped within the continental U.S. to businesses with a loading doc or forklift or held at will call at the shipper’s local service center. Liftgate delivery or delivery to residential addresses may be available in your area for an additional fee. (Local customers can pick up orders in Alameda, California.)
The shipping rates below are per pallet. If you do not see your city or state on the list below, contact me at the email address below for a quote.
Sample shipping and handling rates
RATES CURRENT AS OF JULY, 2021.
| City, State | Base Rate (per pallet) |
|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 335 |
| Middletown, CT | 405 |
| Atlanta, GA | 335 |
| Des Moines, IA | 330 |
| Boise, ID | 235 |
| Chicago, IL | 335 |
| Baltimore, MD | 375 |
| St. Louis, MO | 315 |
| Reno, NV | 160 |
| Long Island, NY | 390 |
| Columbus, OH | 330 |
| Portland, OR | 210 |
| Dallas, TX | 265 |
| Houston, TX | 300 |
| Seattle, WA | 220 |
| Milwaukee, WI | 340 |
Additional Services
| Service | 1 Pallet Rate | 2 Pallet Rate | 3 Pallet Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Will call delivery | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Lift gate | 160 | 260 | 290 |
| Residential delivery | 70 | 105 | 105 |
Shipping terms
To keep shipping costs low, I use a carrier program that does not guarantee delivery dates. West Coast deliveries typically take 1-2 weeks. Deliveries to the East Coast usually take 2-3 weeks.
Although we take care when packing pallets, bags may be torn while they are in transit. If this happens, refunds or credits up to $200 are provided for bags damaged during shipping.
If shipment is lost or severely damaged, I will submit a claim to the shipper when the following conditions are met:
- Notify shipper at time of delivery so shipper can indicate damage on Delivery Receipt. Claims cannot be made without the shipper’s acknowledgement of damage;
- Notify me of damage within 24 hours of delivery at jonas@bonsaitonight.com or 510-915-2025;
- Provide photographs of damage and evidence of the amount of product that cannot be recovered.
Returns are accepted: customer pays return shipping and a 15% restocking fee.
Typical pallet size is 48″L x 48″W and up to 50″H
FAQ
How many bags fit on a pallet?
For pallets where the bags are all the same size/same product, the max bags per pallet is listed in the product description above.
How can I track deliveries?
Tracking information will be provided after the shipper picks up the order.
The soil is a different size/color/shape than it was last time. Why is this?
Bonsai soil is a mined product. As a result, natural variation in size, color, and shape is common. Even within a given screen size, different batches of soil can be slightly bigger or smaller than previous batches.
Are additional discounts available?
Additional discounts may be available for orders of five or more pallets. Call or write me for details.
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