# What does 1/16" - 1/4" Soil Size mean again?

**URL:** <https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/what-does-1-16-1-4-soil-size-mean-again/2836>\
**Category:** Beginners\
**Created:** [March 19, 2019, 5:43am UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/what-does-1-16-1-4-soil-size-mean-again/2836 "2019-03-19T05:43:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Diakonos](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.bonsaimirai.com/diakonos/32/4208_2.png) [@Diakonos](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/Diakonos)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2019, 5:43am UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/what-does-1-16-1-4-soil-size-mean-again/2836/1 "2019-03-19T05:43:57Z")

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I’m a little embarrassed to ask the question, but I’ll ask it anyways. When Ryan is talking about soil particle size between 1/16 - 1/4. Does he mean he keeps anything that stays in the sifter in the 1/16 and dumps out anything bigger than the 1/4 sifter?

Thanks in advance for anyone who can confirm for me. Thanks.

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**Author:** ![Max](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.bonsaimirai.com/max/32/3897_2.png) [@Max](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/Max)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2019, 6:40am UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/what-does-1-16-1-4-soil-size-mean-again/2836/2 "2019-03-19T06:40:20Z")

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I think you are right!

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**Author:** ![antelion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/898d66/32.png) [@antelion](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/antelion)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2019, 10:27am UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/what-does-1-16-1-4-soil-size-mean-again/2836/3 "2019-03-19T10:27:07Z")

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as just a “+1” was to short to post here then in a full sentence.  
Plus one, meaning yes.

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**Author:** ![KurtP](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.bonsaimirai.com/kurtp/32/16188_2.png) [@KurtP](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/KurtP)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2019, 8:02pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/what-does-1-16-1-4-soil-size-mean-again/2836/4 "2019-03-19T20:02:29Z")

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Note: I keep the \>1/10 inch to \<1/16 sifted size for my tiniest mame bonsai (brass geology sifter…), and the \>1/2 to \<5/8 for the bottom aeration layer…  
Throw the dust out on the lawn or garden.  
Wow, this bonsai ing gets complicated…  
.  
If you run into a set of 6 brass geology /lab sifters cheap, but the whole set. They are in increments of 0.1" usually. They are crazy durable.

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**Author:** ![Diakonos](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.bonsaimirai.com/diakonos/32/4208_2.png) [@Diakonos](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/Diakonos)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2019, 8:40pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/what-does-1-16-1-4-soil-size-mean-again/2836/5 "2019-03-19T20:40:42Z")

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Do you have a recommended geology sifter? Got a link?

BTW - thanks everyone for your input!

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**Author:** ![KurtP](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.bonsaimirai.com/kurtp/32/16188_2.png) [@KurtP](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/KurtP)\
**Post date:** [March 20, 2019, 1:20am UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/what-does-1-16-1-4-soil-size-mean-again/2836/6 "2019-03-20T01:20:14Z")

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Oddly, I bought mine at yard sales.

 ![20190319_181012](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/bonsaimirai/original/2X/a/a49378626ef36dd3029c61fdc10375d34f269130.jpeg)  
.