Watering technique

[DaveL]

I know this sounds simple and slightly dumb but it's really annoying me.

How do you stop your bonsai soil washing away when watering. I use a vertical shower on very slow velocity and yet I still seem to be able to wash away my nicely mounded soil back to about the level of the pot. What solutions does anyone suggest? I.e moss, rocks (even then the soil seems to come out), toughing it out and re topping every so often or am I doing something.

Thanks Dave,

[Mitchell]

I got annoyed with this also, spending way to much time hand watering with a light vertical sprinkle. I opted to spend $40 at Buzzings and now I have an automated misting system with a very high flow. Solved the issue. I tried the small sprinklers jets on the irrigation first but they too blasted soil away slowly, so I ripped them out and replaced them with the micro misting heads instead. The misters are also great for creating humidity.

I was spending up to 2 1/2 hours a week hand watering... now I spend about 30 secs each week, just to ensure the system is automating properly.

The added bonus I had with the irrigation system, is I built a in-line capsule from pressure pipe. To this I can add ferts and tonics which get mixed and sprayed through the misters onto my plants at a specified rate, governed by a flow valve.

[craigw60]

If you look at some pics of japanese trees you will see they are always potted flat in the pot with the soil level slightly below the rim. If your trees are potted in this manner watering becomes very easy even if the trees are a bit pot bound.
Craig

[Nereus]

iv been wanting to do something like that Mitchell
just renting at the moment tho

[Crowie]

Mitchell,
I have the same watering system and it works well.
Any chance of some more info about this in-line capsule for ferts?

[Mitchell]

iv been wanting to do something like that Mitchell
just renting at the moment tho

So am I.

Nothing needs to be permanently fixed to the property, so you won't have any issues. Just a bit of poly pipe connected to the tap, end plug in it, then insert misters where applicable, I placed mine every 30cm which is fine for a row of plants. If you want to get fancy, bung a $25 tap timer on the tap so it goes off daily.

Head done to your local B store and get the person in gardening to do their job and get you the parts.

[Mitchell]

Mitchell,
I have the same watering system and it works well.
Any chance of some more info about this in-line capsule for ferts?

A foot long piece of 40mm Pressure Pipe, with end caps glued on both ends. Clip on gardena female sockets epoxied into either end. Quarter turn ball valve epoxied in one end cap also.

The capsule gets plugged into the irrigation line prior to the misters via the click on adapters. Now due to the ball valve we can open the capsule, add liquid ferts/tonics, then close the ball valve again. Once the system is turned on it fills the capsule/mixs then pumps it out over the plants.
Trick is, you need to measure the flow of water through your system, then do the math to work out how much ferts you can add. I only run mild ferts (liquid dynamic lifter) at quarter the instructions to make sure I don't flood the plants with it I also add seasol.

You need to use pressure pipe, sewer pipe fittings will blow out, trust me, tried it.


I can't grab a pick of the system I use, as I buried it. I'll grab a pic of another system, so you can see what I mean.

[kcpoole]

Intereting Idea Mitchell
I was just going to Pump mine out from a header tank, as i collect my runoff water to reuse, but that is actually a clever idea
I was just going to add Ferts into the header tank when I want to use it.

Dave Mine is a programmable timer corrently on the mains tap, but when I get my tanks in a few months will be using it on that supply then.( I have done it before).
Nothing need to be fixed as it just plugs into a Power point and the tap so is good fro rentals too. mine system would cost less then $150 and waters every day automtically, and when I expand it after said tanks installed will do the complete garden / Bonsai benches and poles on about 4 different Zones

Ken

[Mitchell]

This is the version with drainage grade, the screw cap blew out under pressure, despite the relief valve. That is why I suggest not using it. When Drainage (grey) pipe bursts it can just tear, but it also can shatter. Note my gaffer tape and cable ties for the test, i've seen it shatter before and it is not pretty. Hundreds of shards of sharp PVC flying off at high speed, did I mention that it can't be picked up on X-ray? Don't use it.

The pics serve the purpose though, in then out, picking up ferts as the flow travels through it. If your going to try a similar setup you must work out the flow rate and calculate the mixture. I now run mine in parallel to the irrigation system. This allows me to govern exactly what mix it is using, but it more complicated to set up as there are addition vents/valves needed.

One I had been successfully using for some time was a coke bottle. They are safe for high pressure and work well. Flow goes in the top, then out a connected 3mm line to the side. This was my first most basic model, to get the idea.

[archie1979]

Wow you guys are pretty full on, I have a mister system to run in the summer period when its driest but I certainly don't have a fert/feed capsule incorporated into it. I kind of enjoy standing around misting my plants.

[Mitchell]

Wow you guys are pretty full on, I have a mister system to run in the summer period when its driest but I certainly don't have a fert/feed capsule incorporated into it. I kind of enjoy standing around misting my plants.

I think it's just me that's crazy mate.

I also have a hand hose rigged up, with a nice sprinkler rose pinched off a watering can on it. I also like to hand water, when time allows.

[Mitchell]

If you look at some pics of japanese trees you will see they are always potted flat in the pot with the soil level slightly below the rim. If your trees are potted in this manner watering becomes very easy even if the trees are a bit pot bound.
Craig

Sorry for hi-jackin' your thread Dave, Craig has the best answer to your problem. I know when I started potting below the rim, it stopped the issue.

[Taffy]

My answer to the problem was to put a layer of 10mm gravel (sieved from Concrete pre-mix) over all my pots - black plastics, styrene boxes and Bonsai pots. I started doing it mainly for when I dunk my pots after re-potting to stop the potting mix floating away. For me, it does two things. It stops the soil from floating/being blown away, and it reduces the evaporation rate - can get pretty hot here in Maryborough during the summer.

When I display my trees, I remove it and put a layer of moss on the pots. I have the moss growing in a couple of metre square beds in our shade-house just for that purpose. When my trees come home again, the moss is removed and re-planted in the shade-house, and the gravel goes back on.

Oh, and all my pots are hand watered.

[anttal63]

If you look at some pics of japanese trees you will see they are always potted flat in the pot with the soil level slightly below the rim. If your trees are potted in this manner watering becomes very easy even if the trees are a bit pot bound.
Craig

Hi Dave,,,
Hand watering is a great way to get intimate with all your trees on a regular basis. Allowing you to constantly look over your trees, creates oppertunities to find different styling options. It also allows you to keep a check on any nastie's that may occur and go on if otherwise. Fertalising by hand also ensures that every plant gets the right amount of the right fert if you like to get specific and keep the trees on the pump. I really enjoy these times with my trees. Hand watering and feeding is a ritual i could not bare to give up!

[Jamie]

i couldnt agree more with ant on hand watering and feeding, it does give you the oppurtunity to go over your trees, see if anything is going wrong, see how it is developing etc.

i can understand some bigger collections need some auto watering but i would put money on it that the feeding is done ritually by hand and everything gets the good going over.

plus i find hand watering is great as you can also check the mediums