bonsaibeauty wrote:Hi Ynot,
That certainly drains quickly doesnt it? so does the bonsai just get enough moisture from that? (how quickly does it dry out) how often (approximately) would you do that?
Good questions,
Yep, When I say well draining soil, I am not fooling around.
It drains like a box full of coat hangers is my favorite way to put it.
Yes it gets enough moisture from that {That was when I lived in North Carolina [VERY HOT & VERY HUMID & BLAZING SUN]}
I watered
as required [You
had to know I was going to say that, right?]
Every day or every other day [depends on what tree were talking about- tree requirements- pot size- location [sun or shade] are all factors here.]
From your pictures it looks like a mixture of course and smooth grounded grit which I could pick up tomorrow. How does the bonsai get any nutrients from this?
Two words; 'fertilizer regimen' I feed them on a regular basis, They take what they need/can utilize and the rest is washed away through the free draining soil. No worries about extra buildup of chemicals in my soil either.
It is my job/responsibility [and yours] to provide all that your tree requires [Water, Appropriate light, Nutrients, Proper temps { via a suitable location}..etc.
Lovely bonsai collection by the way, I like the little forest of bonsai
Thanks, Wait..eh?... Oh no...lol, That is not a forest, [url=https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3561]This[/url] is a forest- Or will be;)]
That is a raft [When a tree falls in the forest and the branches continue to grow into trees from the fallen log.] It has grown a bit since that picture [That was when rooted it] Here it is as of last Oct:
You can just see the former trunk along the soil line. [The 'trees' in this all sprout from it as they were formerly branches ] It is about 10" high
[url=https://img515.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ficusraftoct060003to0.jpg][img]https://img515.imageshack.us/img515/6638/ficusraftoct060003to0.th.jpg[/img][/url]
A picture of the soil line: [url=https://img156.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ficusraftoct060005oj4.jpg][img]https://img156.imageshack.us/img156/9746/ficusraftoct060005oj4.th.jpg[/img][/url]
There is quite a story behind that actually. Read it [url=https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=19101&highlight=soil#19101]here.[/url] [Good soil info in this thread also.]
That [future] raft is actually the top that I cut off of another tree entirely.
Just for the record: All of these trees [The forest, the raft and the shohin] came from the same 1/2G pot {or was it 1/2G-can't recall. 6,7, or 8 trunks in total about 2'-60cm high} from a garden center and cost about 8$US.
I heard that my particular bonsai the fukien tea needs to be moist at all times (hence how I got so carried away with the watering, or should I say flooding
This cant be right can it but would the grit be enough moisture for mine?
Well, You haven't really had a problem with having
too little moisture so far, Lets cross that bridge if we come to it.
I assure you it works for 1000s of bonsai worldwide [More actually].
Also this is what the addition of pine bark [an organic element] does to your mix- it helps it to retain moisture.
I make a distinction here as often people mistakenly water because it is not
WET- It only needs to be
moist- NOT wet.
If it is still moist their is no need to water, It need not be wet, just moist.
Note the difference between 'moist' and 'squidgy push on it and water comes out soaking wet'.
In better soil this will be less of a problem, Remember your tree lives
in the soil
not on top of it.
Those few bone dry flakes [You will see them] of bark on the surface ARE NOT a reason to reach for the watering can.
It is the depths that matter, And they don't need to be dripping wet either for that matter.
I know it all seems scary but you have to tough it out and resist the urge to water constantly.
Tape a huge note [or write in marker] on your watering can:
Only as required.
It will get less scary, I promise...
ynot
and have found out that the reason tesco premium lightweight cat litter is best when others aren't so good is that there's is different to most cat litters as it is made of just 100% recycled paper whereas all the rest are chemical, etc. The one I got was made of 'fullers earth' which I don't think is right or worth risking so I'm getting the right one from tesco tomorrow.
Wow, that really is a forest... I hope I can do that one day! Incredible.
Thanks for all the help again