6" plastic colanders do not exist for sale in America

[cmeg1]

Wow,I have had a rough time locating 6" plastic colanders to grow some JBP.I read how to do it in the Pines book.I did manage to get what I need to grow 5 trees from a fleeting website I seen one day.I wanted many more though.I think bonsai companies should get them wholesale cause' I think they would sell very good.You familiar with the Pines book?
Here's a picture.

 

[Ang3lfir3]

yes we are familiar with the Pines book

many of us use pond baskets in place of colanders.... many of us even use the larger sizes for larger trees... they are readily available at many garden centers

 

[Stan Kengai]

You should try hydroponic stores or websites, like this one: http://www.atlantishydroponics.com/Nursery-Pots-and-Self-Watering-Planters/13/Nursery-Pots-and-Self-Watering-Planters.aspx This particular e-retailer has more open-sided/breathable pots than you can shake a stick at.

 

[dpowell]

I bought 6" plastic colanders at the dollar store. They're cheap plastic and a very ugly red, but they are only a dollar.

 

[cmeg1]

You should try hydroponic stores or websites, like this one: http://www.atlantishydroponics.com/Nursery-Pots-and-Self-Watering-Planters/13/Nursery-Pots-and-Self-Watering-Planters.aspx This particular e-retailer has more open-sided/breathable pots than you can shake a stick at.

Ok,finally a pond basket that is 6 inches.I had bought some 5" ones that seem a bit to small.I have a bonsai pot full of seedlings left and I cannot bear to discard them.I'm not sure though,maybe five plants with the colander method is enough.thanks

 

[Ang3lfir3]

Ok,finally a pond basket that is 6 inches.I had bought some 5" ones that seem a bit to small.I have a bonsai pot full of seedlings left and I cannot bear to discard them.I'm not sure though,maybe five plants with the colander method is enough.thanks

you definetly should pot up as many as you can... on average only about 20% of seedlings survive to the age of 20yrs..... meaning 5 will only leave you will one bonsai in the end...

 

[cmeg1]

you definetly should pot up as many as you can... on average only about 20% of seedlings survive to the age of 20yrs..... meaning 5 will only leave you will one bonsai in the end...

Looks like I will be growing 10 more in colanders cause' I see my credit card has been charged for a long overdo order that was on hold.I got 10 more of them for $30., free shipping.Not to mention the 10 clear fruit bowls that comes with them. HA HA HA.thanks for help.

 

[milehigh_7]

I have hundreds of them that I buy from "99 cent only" store.

 

[Bill S]

Clyde you devil you cornered the market and he's been going crazy looking at them.

cmeg worse comes to worse, plant them in the ground.

 

[Alex DeRuiter]

There are also these: http://www.4hydroponics.com/growroom/items.asp?ItemNo=squareMeshPot

 

[evmibo]

and here's yet another type. these are "heavy duty"

I'm ordering a bunch soon

 

[Alex DeRuiter]

One bit of advice for those heavy duty mesh pots, you might need additional screen if you're using anything with smaller particles as the holes are a bit large. The ones I linked to have very small netting and I can throw some Turface in there without any of it falling out. Those mesh pots I had to line with drywall tape.

 

[evmibo]

I should have mentioned that I'm waiting for them to respond to me regarding the hole size

 

[Alex DeRuiter]

Haha, yeah they're a little larger. What kind of substrate are you using? I imagine pumice or Haydite might be okay, but Turface pours right out. Drywall tape did the trick, but those square mesh pots I posted have been a Godsend to me.

 

[goosetown]

Sorry if this has been covered, but always a ton of options on Amazon. Here's but one example:

http://www.amazon.com/Chefn-SleekSt...39451418&sr=8-5&keywords=6"+plastic+colanders

 

[Bill S]

Something to consider when using a cheap plastic anything outside is that they probably are not treated to stand up to UV rays, this degrades plastic making it brittle, much of it won't last more than a year or two and become unstable.

 

[mcpesq817]

I've used the black plastic pond baskets going on 3+ years now, and they are holding up really well. I can see myself getting at least 5 or more years out of the ones I have.

 

[Bill S]

I have had decent luck w/ them too, but I think they are made differently than typical plastic, not expected to be exposed to the sun. Even for underwater use they probably have UV resistant additives in the process.

 

[evmibo]

Haha, yeah they're a little larger. What kind of substrate are you using? I imagine pumice or Haydite might be okay, but Turface pours right out. Drywall tape did the trick, but those square mesh pots I posted have been a Godsend to me.

Currently I use turface in my mix (somewhat reluctantly). Thanks for the heads up. Mesh might be the ticket for me.

 

[cmeg1]

Here are a couple in their second growing season.I am glad most have low branching.I have 9 total.I invision having small pines with maybe 1" trunks in 4-7 years.If the pots hold up maybe I can wait longer and let the sacrifice leaders go on and nurture and train bottom branches for a more dramatic base.I did not have the patience to seedling cutting these,but it was pretty easy to spread roots radially in pots in most of them.We will see.I am going to wire them low this fall and let wire score the trunks this first wiring to increase girth.