Misting in the heat good or bad

[Paul W]

Hi, all you more experienced bonsai nutters out there,it looks like we are in for a bout of hot weather,so if I am at home does misting the trees that are out in the hot sun, do them any harm,I know pup said something about it being a fallacy but I am not sure whether he meant just watering them and getting it on the leaves or completely drenching them with a mister.
i don`t know whether it would burn the leaves or not. My trees need all the help they can get in the hot weather,
Thanks

[Guy]

to me it would depend on the water quality--here at the lower end of the Murray river we have a relatively high salt content-light misting in hot weather may be harmful but agood soak could only help--44 deg c here again today

[Pup]

Water that has a high salt content can harm trees, so can water with a high PH, but misting is still OK but drenching is better. The pot and soil need to be cooled down. Carpet, polystyrene under the pots help. A mulch of straw over them looks ugly but will help in the hot weather.

Cheers Pup

[Steven]

G'day Paul,

I run my sprinkler system over my benches every couple of hours for 5 or 10 minutes on the hottest days. My trees are in full sun.
It cools down the pots as well as the air around them. I've got gravel under my benches which holds some moisture also helping to reduce the heat and increase humidity.

Regards,
Steven

[MoGanic]

G'day Paul,

I run my sprinkler system over my benches every couple of hours for 5 or 10 minutes on the hottest days. My trees are in full sun.
It cools down the pots as well as the air around them. I've got gravel under my benches which holds some moisture also helping to reduce the heat and increase humidity.

Regards,
Steven

I mist all my trees during the day when I get the change, but Japanese Maples tend to get a bit more leaf burn when theyre young, so they just stay in the shade till the heats over =D.

I just have grass growing under my bonsai stand, seems to help with radiant heat. =D

-Mo

[Paul W]

Thanks guys for the info, I am in Sydney so the water quality is pretty good,so I am going out the back now on my day off to water the little treasures,will give them a good soaking like PUP suggests. Hot aye.

[Jason]

Definately doesn't burn the plant I looked into it not too long ago, just before we got the heat wave over here

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/93 ... unked.html

[fireworks]

Paul,
I agree with all of the above. I've just come inside from watering out in the heat.The little trees seem to bearing up OK. I, too, move the maples into the shade.
Good luck with the watering/misting. Cheers Frank

[Nathan]

Hi Paul

As most of the comments I find it is better to give then a good soak, as this wets them but also removes heat from the soil and pot, Up here in Brisbane I have a sprinkler system set up for my trees as most are in full sun, during a hot period I usually set it to water 2 or 3 times a day for between 3 and 5 minutes

[reddoggy]

Frank if it works in Mount Gambier it will work anywhere,I didn`t know you had water out there,and if so it would only be from the salt lakes,last time I was out that way it was about 50 degrees in the shade and that was a long time ago before the government said we have global warming,what is your favorite tree SALT BUSH

[fireworks]

Yes, we do have salt and heat. I wouldn't mind putting a watering tube from the Blue Lake to my trees though. Apart from the Salt Bush, another favourite tree Blue Ash.

[Grant Bowie]

Also here in canberra; a good wetting does the world of good. Do it at the collection.

When we had a nursery at yerrinbool we had 2 days of 43 and 44 degrees, watered a few times(3) during the day and never lost a plant or bonsai, let alone scorching[. hasn't anyone heard of evapaporative cooling?

grant

[lacertilian]

Also here in canberra; a good wetting does the world of good. Do it at the collection.

When we had a nursery at yerrinbool we had 2 days of 43 and 44 degrees, watered a few times(3) during the day and never lost a plant or bonsai, let alone scorching[. hasn't anyone heard of evapaporative cooling?

grant

But Grant, evaporative cooling is based upon the principles of science! We tend to disregard science here in Australia..

[Grant Bowie]

Big sigh.

science and experience.

[Pup]

Big sigh.

science and experience.

So sad Grant, and about 80% of airconditioners in Australia are evaporative cooling like the old Coolgardie safe.


Cheers Pup