Soil back then and today

Looking through the old books on Bonsai written by Japanese authors I see a lot of soil mixes that work on -

[1] Just sand and manure
[2] Akadama that reads more like a porous stone
[3] Maintainance soils

So as more and more of my efforts reach maintaining a design. I am looking at sifted builders gravel and compost [ I can get and cure manure as well - cow ? horse ?] crushed red earthenware sifted brick [ manmade akadama "].

No real change, since I base my soil mixes on compost, brick and gravel already. Just more inorganic in the mix.

I already have a few trees/shrubs in a local yellow stone, and added organic material onto the surface. Growth is still constant and even.
I also added onto a few an osmocote type fertilizer, into the soil, after a month of allowing the transplanting to take and settle.

Why- with my older fukien teas, I am removing leaves, as the shrubs are getting too dense and swallowing up the negative space. This is one plant that allows you to cut back and come again on the same design.
Anyhow, thought I might share.
Later.
Khaimraj

* Hey just made my first concrete pot. Used two ice cream containers, and styro sheets. Pot is presently curing for a month under water. Decent for a first effort.
I am testing an idea that on our side, Japanese Black pines do best in porous pots, earthenware or concrete.

I would be interested in the concrete pot process.
Do you have a progression shot of the concrete pot?
Or some step or tips on the mixing composition?
I'm trying to make one myself, only managed one out of tile grout so far.

Apologies, I have forgotten your name, hence the Xtolord,

Was it Xavier, ?

The mix is simple - red plastering sand and grey cement plus a bit [ unmeasured ] of iron oxided black.
You can also do this with white cement, fine sand type and an iron oxide colour.Plus I believe cobalt oxide will also handle cement's alkalinity well.

At a later date I can put up a visual with the ice cream containers, etc.
Will show the pot later today or tomorrow, uncleaned.
Later.
Khaimraj

Here is a diagram I prepared for another list.
I forgot to put in the two knobs to form the drainage holes.