Watering: Down the Trunk?

[legoman_iac]

Hey AusBonsai'ers,

Been thinking about my watering techniques. Some trees receive mist, all (currently) weekly seasol and dunking though talking to some gardening buddies they argue against watering down the trunk like I've been doing, saying there is a natural bacteria which then gets washed into the roots which is bad for it.

Is this relevant and/or a concern for my bonsai (pines, figs, oaks and maples)?

- Daniel

[Ray M]

Hey AusBonsai'ers,

Been thinking about my watering techniques. Some trees receive mist, all (currently) weekly seasol and dunking though talking to some gardening buddies they argue against watering down the trunk like I've been doing, saying there is a natural bacteria which then gets washed into the roots which is bad for it.

Is this relevant and/or a concern for my bonsai (pines, figs, oaks and maples)?

- Daniel

Hi Daniel,
My answer is not to argue with this hypothesis, as I am not quite sure what is really being said here. My watering system is an automatic system that waters the whole tree. Therefore the water would run down the foliage and the trunk and the soil. I have been using this system for many years now and have never seen any negative results that would sound alarm bells. If I have misunderstood what you are saying, my apologies.

Regards Ray

[legoman_iac]

Hey Ray,

I water by hand, using either a bottle or hose with mist setting. I'll spray the leaves, then also pour water down onto the trunk, which trickles down into the soil.

Thought this would explain some trouble I've had lately.

Maybe not.

Do you have any pics of your setup? Keen to see how an automated rig is placed.

- Daniel

[fredman]

I always look at what happens in nature. Everytime it rains, water runs down a tree's trunk...
Natural bacteria can't do anything to a tree when its growing strongly....only when its weak for some reason, can the bacteria and other diseases take hold, or have an affect on the tree.

[tgward]

reckon I'd need a bit more info on the bacteria before changing the watering regime--avoiding wetting a part of a plant seems a little strange to me.

[dansai]

Every commercial nursery would water by automatic system which would allow water to run down trunk. Even hand watering it would be hard not to wet a trunk. I don't understand what the problem would be.

[Sno]

It depends on the tree . I have a Physocarpus which I try to keep the trunk dry , daily watering does not let the bark dry out which causes issues . If it rained everyday in nature you would have problems too . In nurseries if the trees are not spaced properly to allow air flow you can have problems . Commercial nurseries spray a lot to combat fungal and bacteria problems .

[treeman]

Hi Daniel,

Unfortunately what your buddies have told you is utterly and completely false. Firstly, bacteria of countless species are literally everywhere. Secondly, any harmful bacteria living on the trunk (which is also fasle as bark is one of the most resistant natural materials) that gets washed into the soil would not survive that competative environment unless they were the same kind of species in the first place.
Go ahead and water your trunks as much as you want.

[Phoenix238]

I'm with the "consider what happens in nature" group, if it works in nature it's a good bet it'll work elsewhere. Of course there are exceptions to every rule, but I think this one is a pretty safe bet

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[Ray M]

Hey Ray,

I water by hand, using either a bottle or hose with mist setting. I'll spray the leaves, then also pour water down onto the trunk, which trickles down into the soil.

Thought this would explain some trouble I've had lately.

Maybe not.

Do you have any pics of your setup? Keen to see how an automated rig is placed.

- Daniel

Hi Daniel,
Here is a couple of photos. Also in my Shade House there is side and overhead watering that works fine. For the last 30 years I have never used a fungal spray.

IMG_6988 -2.jpg

IMG_6989 -2.jpg

Regards Ray

[Sno]

The oaks could be an issue ,not so much the trunk problem but the foliage having mildew . Make sure you have good airflow around them .

[wrcmad]

Up here on the north coast I avoid watering trunks whenever possible - the humidity and warm temps over the spring, summer and autumn combined with constantly watered bark causes mosses to flourish on the bark from the base to the tip. This becomes a tedious problem when you try to clean the trunks - especially once the bark becomes aged and scaled.
It is much easier to just water the soil.

[Phoenix238]

Up here on the north coast I avoid watering trunks whenever possible - the humidity and warm temps over the spring, summer and autumn combined with constantly watered bark causes mosses to flourish on the bark from the base to the tip. This becomes a tedious problem when you try to clean the trunks - especially once the bark becomes aged and scaled.
It is much easier to just water the soil.

Different horses for different courses I guess, yet another example of differing care & advice for different climate zones

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[Gerard]

I have no concerns when I make my potting mix approximately one third pine bark

[legoman_iac]

What a great mix of feedback, thanks everyone! So I'll tell my mate he's bonkers, haha.

Lots to think about but good to know I don't have to worry about "bacteria".