Colanders.

[bonsaibeginer]

http://www.easyorchids.com/shop/categor ... &start=100
This is the place that I used, the 210 and 300 squat mesh pot green ones are the ones I used and found them to be a good size.

[Grant Bowie]

http://www.easyorchids.com/shop/categor ... &start=100
This is the place that I used, the 210 and 300 squat mesh pot green ones are the ones I used and found them to be a good size.

Wow, thats fabulous.

Thanks

Grant

[Webos]

These orchid mesh pots are pretty much the same as the hydroponic ones I mentioned

Adam

[Grant Bowie]

Thanks all,

There are more options than I knew about.

Grant

[Andrew F]

If you guys have a Daiso, 100 yen shop near you they sell plastic bonsai training pots.

Heres some pics of them:

daiso.jpg

daiso1.jpg

[Grant Bowie]

Thanks for all your replies.

Now we need to ask what is best?

I believe the fully holed Colander type pot or colander will do the best job of air pruning all the roots at all levels, stop root wrapping or even roots descending at the outside of the pot.

You can also insert a smaller colander inside a larger colander after a few years to give a growth spurt without a repot.

Any one got examples of what you have been doing?

I have seen. but not photographed, Black pine using the double Colander method.

Grant

[Scott Roxburgh]

These orchid mesh pots are pretty much the same as the hydroponic ones I mentioned

Adam

Adam,

Are they UV stable? I've used colanders from the $2 shops and after a year or two they seem to go really week and break apart.

I have tried the colander in colander thing but didn't think it was any better than letting the roots run into the ground...and it was a pain to repot them out of the doubles.

There is a bit of info on colanders in this thread on BonsaiNut too:

http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread. ... post175923

[Jow]

What i found useful when growing in colandars was to cut a plastic skirt that ran from the top edge to the ground. this maintained an air gap between the edge of the colandar and the plastic but reduced water loss and made watering much easier.

[badabing888]

how big a bonsai can you put in the average colander size pictured?

I've also been told pond baskets are another alternative http://www.bunnings.com.au/aquapro-240- ... -_p2940003 for example

[bonsaibeginer]

image.jpg

image.jpg

These are the 210mm colander I got from the orchid place. Been using them in the ground since June and even the few waiting to be used are sitting in the sun here all the time and no fading yet. The food colander I used first has already split and been moved to the new one...

[Watto]

I have attached a photo of a few colanders I picked up today from the local $ shop. The round ones (standard type) come in about 6 sizes. In the photo below the green one is 150mm, the blue 190mm and the red 250mm. The round one also comes in three larger sizes up to 450mm.
The recangle ones shown are also available in about 4 or 5 sizes and the ones in the photo are about 200x275mm (green) and 220x300mm (the red one). They also have square ones.
I have a few being used from the same shop and have not had any breakages as yet, but they have only been in for 18 months or so (maybe a photo tomorrow). I have had one in use for moe than 2 years but about 6 months ago I planted it in the ground so I don't know if it is breaking down or not.
The five below only cost $8 with the two most expensive ones (the red ones) $2 each so they are cheap, but you probably get what you pay for. However if you are only using them for a short period, probably up to 4 years then it is a good buy.

[Slothman]

I just went to the local hydroponics store (who am I kidding, the ONLY hydroponics store) and picked up some decent pots. Just two, as I need them today, but was pleasantly surprised.

THEY HAD BONSAI STUFF.

Admittedly not much, some wire, some cheap tools, quite a few pots (ala Bunnings but at least some variety and cheap for when I desperately need something), some self contained green houses that I would find very useful (think Coke bottle setup but self contained so just slip in small pot) and the closest I have seen to useable aggregate locally.

Not to mention trees including Japanese Maples, Silver Birch, Figs and others. From Tubestock to fully grown trees at good prices....problem is poor quality, most dried and dead but some hidden gems in there. Did I mention the HUGEST range of fertilisers and soil additives I have seen. Most of the fertiliser mentioned in this forum I just could not find locally.....until now Fish pond supplies and ornaments and HEAPS more.

I reckon I have passed this store 100 times when driving out to Denmark and had no idea what it was as it looks like someones front yard with Tolesa's on a board out front.

So thank you above for recommending hyrdroponics as I would never have looked and found this little gem hidden well out of the way.

[Petra]

Guys your local opp shops should have them. I get mine from there
on accasions. The best part is,sometimes there are different sizes.