AusBonsai

Hi everyone.

i was wondering what type of sun and heat protection i should be giving my trees.

I ordered some 2 meter by 2 meter shade netting of e bay think its 80% sun filter and am going to make a frame out of plastic conduit

originally i was going to make this just for my maples but after reading an article on the subject i am worried about cooking the roots on other trees bearing

in mind most of them are in large training pots.

any advice would be very much appreciated. thanks

Hi,
The most important part is making sure that trees are adequately watered, sometimes more than once or twice on the very hot days (remember if the pots are small water will evaporate very quickly in the heat).
80% shade is too much. Most Bonsai nurseries use 30% or you can get white rated at 50% which tests at 30% if measured. Trees need sunlight, even on hot summer days.
I constructed a shade structure from aluminium joined together with plastic joints from Bunnings.
I also put in an automatic watering system and the time saving has been great.
Good Luck,
Michael Toohey

I concur with Michael. Up here in Brissy it does get very hot but the trees need sunlight. I made up a few panels from some old shadecloth and fence palings and they are positioned just to give shelter to vunerable plants during midday. I take them down over winter and have just put them back up. My tridents and hornbeams are under some extra shadecloth or under big trees as it does get a bit hot up here for them.

Tony

Paulneill wrote:I ordered some 2 meter by 2 meter shade netting of e bay think its 80% sun filter and am going to make a frame out of plastic conduit

Hi Paul, a few years back I built a shade house the same way, I wouldn't do it again ... firstly I too used 80% shade cloth - this lead to a higher amount of pests and disease, as it restricted both sunlight and air flow, and also lead to less desirable growth (less growth, longer internodes and larger/deformed leaves) ... secondly as a renter I needed semi-permanent construction, and so used pvc piping and conduit, this turned out to be rather expensive (for a 3x2m self-supporting structure), plus these materials tend to sag especially in the sun with the weight of the shade cloth - also once the conduit bends past say 40 degrees on a tight bend it just fold over and loses integity. Wood or even the aluminum described by Toohey would be better to work with.

Just my experience.

I too have been contemplating the shading options for this year. I'm not very competent in construction, and can't build a permanent structure anyway, so I'm looking at using those black (pallet type) domestic shelving units (from Big B http://www.bunnings.com.au/products_cat ... e+Shelving more options instore including 2100mm high ends) at either end with a slat shade system (better for ventilation) top and west side. Probably not the cheapest method, but relatively easy to construct, should last a few years, and easy to dis-assemble and use elsewhere over winter ... I'll post photos if I proceed

Cheers, Ryan

... otherwise something like this could work well too if you've got the room ... viewtopic.php?f=29&t=9421

cre8ivbonsai wrote:

Paulneill wrote:I ordered some 2 meter by 2 meter shade netting of e bay think its 80% sun filter and am going to make a frame out of plastic conduit

Hi Paul, a few years back I built a shade house the same way, I wouldn't do it again ... firstly I too used 80% shade cloth - this lead to a higher amount of pests and disease, as it restricted both sunlight and air flow, and also lead to less desirable growth (less growth, longer internodes and larger/deformed leaves) ... secondly as a renter I needed semi-permanent construction, and so used pvc piping and conduit, this turned out to be rather expensive (for a 3x2m self-supporting structure), plus these materials tend to sag especially in the sun with the weight of the shade cloth - also once the conduit bends past say 40 degrees on a tight bend it just fold over and loses integity. Wood or even the aluminum described by Toohey would be better to work with.

Just my experience.

I too have been contemplating the shading options for this year. I'm not very competent in construction, and can't build a permanent structure anyway, so I'm looking at using those black (pallet type) domestic shelving units (from Big B http://www.bunnings.com.au/products_cat ... e+Shelving more options instore including 2100mm high ends) at either end with a slat shade system (better for ventilation) top and west side. Probably not the cheapest method, but relatively easy to construct, should last a few years, and easy to dis-assemble and use elsewhere over winter ... I'll post photos if I proceed

Cheers, Ryan

This is exactly what I have. I also rent, so I bought 3 shelved worth of pallet racking form bunnings arranged in a I_I shape with 50% white shade cloth over two sides and top. I have had trouble with birds eating moss and destroying my seedlings, so I have just wrapped the whole thing in bird netting also. I think it is excellent as I can add to it as need be. I bout 4x 2100mm high single ends, and 2x 2100mm high double ends so I can add on to the two sides when needed (making 5 bays in total). each bay measures 1800mm long and the shelves are 600mm deep. I currently have one shelf in each bay. I am also thinking about buying a 2x 900mm high with 1800mm length to place in the middle parallel with the two sides. I can take some pics if anyone is interested in seeing what I have done so far??


Not cheap, but I think it is great for expanding, and for rental property's
Cheers,
Luke

Hi Paul,

30 - 50 % shadecloth is the way to go. I use 30 % but do not pull it out not all years - it depends on the season. Most years I leave the trees in full sun and I live in the hot tropics and fall in the camp of bonsai in full sun. There are some exceptions such as Fukien Tea which need shade for part of the day or they get toasted. If you have already purchased your heavier shadecloth then do not despair. You can 'tile' the cloth like this / / / / so that the plants receive full sun in the morning and to the middle of the day but are shaded from mid day into the afternoon which is the driest time of day.

cheers

Ash