watering bonsai while you are away

[Bonbon]

I think the most stressful period for bonsai people is when they are away on holidays. Esp during the x'mas and near year period when temp is soaring. Anyone share your experience how to make sure your tree are properly water while away?

possibilities are:

1. ask someone to water them for you. Risk: the person may not do it properly. They may forget. They may not know how to water a bonsai. They may find it too much to water the tree more than once a day in very hot summer days.

2. Automated timer, wires them up with tubings and mist head.: timer malfunction. battery ran out. Bursting of connection hose while leaving the tap on when temp is soaring. Clogged mist head.

3. combine the above. Automated and ask someone to check them daily.

I find that the hobby of bonsai is nearly a prefect hobby except that it's very hard to be away. Last time I travelled alone and trained my wife to do the watering. Still I got 11 dead trees when I was back. She did tried to do her best but watering bonsai needs quite some knowledge and passion.

Please share your experience as I am now planning my holiday again

[Mojo Moyogi]

Hi Bonbon,
I am lucky, I have a neighbour who looks after my trees for me when I am away.

I sugest that to avoid the problems with the automated system, you could use a mains powered controller with a battery back up in case of power failure, bury the water pipes below ground to avoid oveheating and bursting and use an inline filter to avoid clogged mist heads.

Cheers,
Mojo

[kcpoole]

I have an automatic Mains powered watering system that I use everyday to water most of the trees
When going away, I add another line to it and move the rest of my trees under it the week before.
All joines are locked and have not failed yet.

I aslo have my inlaws check that it comes on as well, but do not rely on them to actually water

Ken

[Mitchell]

DO NOT USE CHEAP BATTERIES IN TIMERS.

9/10 returns of faulty timers to me, are due to low quality batteries. You must use energizer or equivalent, Varta work but die within a week.

[Rowdy]

I defoliate my figs before going away for xmas, so they dont need much water. Only been gone for about 4 days though so i am not sure what i would do if going away for a few weeks, i dont know my nabours

[Ash Barns]

DO NOT USE CHEAP BATTERIES IN TIMERS.

9/10 returns of faulty timers to me, are due to low quality batteries. You must use energizer or equivalent, Varta work but die within a week.

Mitchell you are a valuable source of information on AusBonsai. Thanks mate!

[Hailun]

I have duplicate dripper systems that come on an hour apart morning and evening for 3 mins, so if one fails the other one still works.
I am away for the whole of February each year and so far haven't lost a tree

[Mitchell]

DO NOT USE CHEAP BATTERIES IN TIMERS.

9/10 returns of faulty timers to me, are due to low quality batteries. You must use energizer or equivalent, Varta work but die within a week.

Mitchell you are a valuable source of information on AusBonsai. Thanks mate!

After 10 years of working for Buzzings, you learn a few things.

Recently a couple of the leading timer manufacturers have insisted, when a timer is returned we must put new energizers in them and show the customer it is working fine. 9/10 times when I open the timer, it has Varta's which have failed. These manufacturers now have labels stating energizers or duracell must be used on the packets.


Varta batteries are a great deal, but one must observe their limitations. Put them in you tv controller and they will work fine for years.

[Mitchell]

In regards to clogging of mist heads...

It's def a good idea to install a inline filter prior to them. One of my mates checked his recently and it had filled solid its 2cm square retaining chamber, filled solid with sediment, from Sydney water in 6 months..... 2cm square of sediment.... that's what blocks your misters...


Note: I should practice what I preach... I don't have a filter... I don't go away though and generally hand water.

[craigw60]

I haven't had a holiday during summer for 25yrs I always holiday july august.
Craigw

[MattA]

Holiday? whats that?... I had a weekend away last november, the first 'holiday' in almost 20yrs and had my parents come to stay. For me it is not just bonsai but also animals that need tending & all have there own needs. I checked the weather charts before going & spent 2 days showing them thru it all. Then I also bumped watering from once to twice daily just incase they missed one or didnt give it enough water.

Mitchell thanks for the info on batteries in timers, I am in the middle of designing a multi-zoned system to water everything as it needs, until then no holidays for me.

Matt

[bodhidharma]

As i have a LOT of trees to care for i always plan my holidays for deep winter and go to a sunny clime elsewhere. I have also taught a person how to care for them and let them stay at my place (which is beautiful in Winter) It is also like a small holiday for them. If you have no choice and have to go in Summer and have a manageable collection put them on the ground in a shady spot and cover the pots thickly with pea straw, water well. That way the person looking after them does not have to be to pedantic about watering daily. If they miss a day or two the trees will survive. If you are only going for a few days they will also survive.

[Bonbon]

I have duplicate dripper systems that come on an hour apart morning and evening for 3 mins, so if one fails the other one still works.
I am away for the whole of February each year and so far haven't lost a tree

Can you explain a bit more of your system? What timer do you use? Anyone to check on them everyday?

[Pat093]

wow thats crazy, some of you's dont have timer to relax at holidays lol.
i just take mine to my friend down the road, they do bonsai so they love having new trees to care for temporarily. i dont have heaps of trees tho so i can move them around.

[kcpoole]

I am actually on holidays now , but Still at home. Going away next week, and are currently rearranging my watering system and Display area.

I moved my posts yesterday and today are putting in a sprinkler system to cover them.
I am extending my current watering system to do the other 2 gardens where I keep my poly box trees.

As teaser, here is the new location of my Posts. Along the edge of the pool and side fence. I can look out on them here from my Kitchen / Family room and Study so I can appreciate them. Now all need it so really nice trees to put on them

Ken