My area has received around 300mm of rain in the last week or 2 (Hawkesbury/Nepean). I know I get my bonsai out of the sun in extreme heat days (40+) but what does everyone do with there aust natives in extreme rain events?
Put them under cover?
Back off watering them?
I know my Melaleuca's seem to love it but my Banksia's don't.
Please advise.
Matt
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Natives in torrential rain
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Boics
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Re: Natives in torrential rain
My thoughts are mostly around how well your substrate drains.
If the answer is good - then I wouldn't worry too much.
You can tip pots on an angle to assist drainage and reduce wet feet.
If the answer is good - then I wouldn't worry too much.
You can tip pots on an angle to assist drainage and reduce wet feet.
One of the fabulous things about growing bonsai is as you get old and decrepit your trees get old and beautiful
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shibui
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Re: Natives in torrential rain
I think this is part of the reason many now use extremely open, well drained mix for bonsai. It does mean watering a little more in dry weather but there is far less problems in wet weather when the mix drains quickly.
It is not often we get 300mm of rain in a week but my banksias are in exactly the same mix as all the mels and maples and pines. Everything grows OK in the same mix here.
I guess the only thing to do if you have a problem caused by too much rain is to either move to a less rainy location or have some way to restrict the rain - a cover of some sort or a place to move the trees that don't do well when wet.
I can't think of any other solutions at the moment
Oh, yes, Boics has thought of tilting pots. Not sure how much use that is for plastic nursery pots but it does definitely help shed more water when the pots are wide and shallow. To test this out, water some trees, wait till the water stops dripping out the bottom then tip the pot up at one end. A whole lot more water should run out of the drain holes. It even seems to work when the drain holes are in from the edges a bit on bonsai trays.
It is not often we get 300mm of rain in a week but my banksias are in exactly the same mix as all the mels and maples and pines. Everything grows OK in the same mix here.
I guess the only thing to do if you have a problem caused by too much rain is to either move to a less rainy location or have some way to restrict the rain - a cover of some sort or a place to move the trees that don't do well when wet.
I can't think of any other solutions at the moment
Oh, yes, Boics has thought of tilting pots. Not sure how much use that is for plastic nursery pots but it does definitely help shed more water when the pots are wide and shallow. To test this out, water some trees, wait till the water stops dripping out the bottom then tip the pot up at one end. A whole lot more water should run out of the drain holes. It even seems to work when the drain holes are in from the edges a bit on bonsai trays.
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Raging Bull
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Re: Natives in torrential rain
Hi Matt,
Up here on the Gold Coast we've had over 500 mm in 7 days. The only thing I did differently was to turn off the automatic sprinkler system. My potting mix drains well, so they all enjoyed the good soaking and are looking fresh and green. But all the rain has encouraged those &!**@% little green grasshoppers to hatch and munch on everything in the garden.
Cheers, Frank.
Up here on the Gold Coast we've had over 500 mm in 7 days. The only thing I did differently was to turn off the automatic sprinkler system. My potting mix drains well, so they all enjoyed the good soaking and are looking fresh and green. But all the rain has encouraged those &!**@% little green grasshoppers to hatch and munch on everything in the garden.
Cheers, Frank.
