AusBonsai

The thermometer on the back verandah shows 42.4C at 3pm today. That's hot enough I reckon.
I have erected the shadecloth over part of the nursery. This is the part where I keep the more tender species, smaller and shallower pots and younger plants. Pines and natives still get to enjoy the sunshine. today I moved Japanese maple, crab apple, English elm, a shimpaku juniper and a tridents that has not been repotted for a few years under the shade until it cools down again. I think I have watered well enough this morning so the other display trees are still in full sun The callistemon is a great indicator plant. It has roots over a large rock so the pot is effectively smaller (and rocks tend to wick moisture out of the pots). Soft shoots of this callistemon droop easily when it starts to get dry but they stand up quickly without damage when I water it again.
I just checked and can't find any drooping tips so far

Neil

yep its hot . I think tomorrow will be worse with a hot northerly before a cool change I had a massive storm my place last night while I was out on the ride on. 15 mm in 9min , temp dropped 20 degress in a few minutes small hail and wind . I got soaked to the bone in 15 seconds but loved every second of it

Too many days over 35 this summer. So many of my trees are in struggle street.

Someone told me there was reports of rain nearby last night. Not a drop here, just uncomfortably hot until early morning.

I'm not sure what your climate is like Charliegreen. 35C does not seem hot to me here because we regularly get over 40C days in summer. I guess it is what you are accustomed to that determines what a person perceives as excessive. I am told that it has been drier and warmer than usual up north. We have had a much cooler summer than usual. Only one other day above 40 before this. In fact it has been quite cool overnight up till now.

6pm and the temp is now down to 38.6C
as predicted, the Callistemon is showing that it is getting dry. The nearby bonsai tridents , still in full, sun are fine but I found some in 11cm plastic pots that did not have enough moisture and have drooped a bit. All have been watered now and should return to normal in 30 minutes or so. Will be interesting to see if any have sustained burnt leaves today.

Crazy weather it reached 44 at my place today (20 minutes north of Sydney city) hasn't been that hot in the 14 years Ive been here. Shibui I use my callistemons as a gauge as well, although I got caught out today. I had some serious wilting so moved lots of tress into shade and watered them again. I have leaf burn on maples, banskia, crabapple and a camellia. I've just come inside (9pm) after drowning everything in preparation for tomorrow. Phew what a hobby!

Regards
Paul C.

I find that one watering is not enough Paul. Even before the mix is dry enough for the tips to wilt it becomes water repellent and takes a lot to get it properly wet. Even when you think you've flooded the pots I have found that the centre is still bone dry. most of the water just flows right through. Let the mix soak up the water it has then water heavily again in a couple of hours (or in the morning at this time of night). The second watering soaks more easily into the damp part of the mix and starts to penetrate into the dry interior. Apart from soaking the pot in a tub it is the only way I've found to properly wet a dry pot.
My trees are watered every morning and every evening all summer.
I've been caught out after rain thinking that the pots will have absorbed moisture. In fact I think the full canopy of leaves makes most of the rain run off and it actually misses the pot completely. Unless it has rained all day or night I'll still water as normal.

It's interesting you use your Callistemon as an indicator plant Shibui. I was using a different native (banksia) for mine until I came home from holidays in late Jan to find it had been indicating for some time it required more water ...
Ironically, natives seem to be more thirsty than exotics throughout summer (for me anyway).
I'm sure we'll all be complaining about the cold soon enough!

Ryceman3 wrote: I'm sure we'll all be complaining about the cold soon enough!

Its forecast to be 1 degree on Monday night here . Some of my neighbours may have a frost . Living on a hill I will be spared that expierance . Today was 31 and Shibui is right ,it is all relative because it was hot for me and for my trees . Tomorrow it's going to be a scorching 35 . And for the mountains that is hot .
Stay cool guys .

It sure was a hot one! My gauge plants are basil, chilli and mint. The Basil is the first to wilt, then the chilli and I must make sure I've watered before the mint does.

Thanks for the post Neil, it was a good reminder for me to water again today as the basil had wilted.

I am in Dubbo for an Athletics carnival all weekend!!!!!
Was 47 on the way home from work today. My daughter has strict instructions water everything 2 times each day if over 40 deg
Everything else should be fine e

Really it is just hot everywhere in Victoria I have taken down my shade sails last year so most trees are in full sun. No option but to water twice a day and sing songs of "Eternal watering"

Some cloud cover this morning and several attempts at rain but nothing significant however that has kept the temp lower today but unpleasantly humid.
Those tridents that had wilted tips have some scorched leaves. No other apparent damage but I found some of the older, inner leaves on the Japanese maples in the grow beds are scorched. Newer upper leaves are fine so maybe those older leaves are not adjusted to the hotter summer sun.
Keep up the water everyone and for you Bodhi without the shade to help.

Like shibul was pretty damn humid here and so a little cooler. A change coming with temps not expecting to rise above 32 for a week. Shade cloth off tomorrow for a bit and pine work on the cards. Have noticed little leaf scorching so far

It's interesting you use your Callistemon as an indicator plant Shibui. I was using a different native (banksia) for mine until I came home from holidays in late Jan to find it had been indicating for some time it required more water ...

After this comment I looked at my Banksias. Sure enough lots of soft new growth, even more than the callistemon has so I'm sure they would be great indicators as well. the little B. integ that is on the stand next to my Callistemon has hardened off so might not wilt early enough to be useful at the moment.

Ironically, natives seem to be more thirsty than exotics throughout summer (for me anyway).

I've also noticed that, in pots, many of my natives are really thirsty as well. I think, with banksias anyway, that is at least partly the result of prolific root growth. The dead ones I have dissected have had such dense root ball that water could not penetrate and they died from lack of water despite being watered well twice a day. Now make sure I root prune banksias every year when young and the older ones every couple of years to prevent this. I have noticed the same with wisteria.