Desert shading

[PastryBaker]

Thanks for letting me be a part of this forum. I have had bonsai for years but mostly in Los Angeles, where it is nice most of the year.
Now I live in the Palm Springs, CA area. And this is a learning curve. I built a shade canopy for my trees using 70% shade. But as of three days there is a little burning. SO today I took what was left of the 70% shade and put strips of cloth to cut the sun down even more. I also got out my light meter when I was growing orchids under lights. And it said 17,800 lux.
I acclimated my trees to the light. The ficus and olive are ok. But my powder puff is a bit more burnt. Should I move the Powder Puff to the shade til it is healed?
I was told by the grower I bought the powder puff from that if the leaves are open, it is happy. Well the leaves have been open. Even though they are slightly burned.
I was at a nursery the other day and he told me growing in the desert is a completely different world.

Thank you.

 

[BrianBay9]

This my second summer in Fresno. 55 of the last 60 days in triple digits. I feel your pain. The main conclusion I've come to is use species that will take the heat. Your ficus and olive are great - don't know anything about a powder puff. Junipers do well, as do most of the native California oaks. Shade is a must, and mine get water three times a day.

 

[Desert O'Piñon]

@BrianBay9 has far more experience than I do, but I have enough experience to agree. There's not a lot of bonsai artists crafting in the desert. It might be one of the most challenging climates for it, but it can be done. It sounds like you have a strong start.
As for your powder puff, it looks like a species of mimosa to me. The common mimosa, Albizia julibrissin, does well here in the Chihuahua Desert. I have several in full sun all day, although not yet in true bonsai substrate.

 

[PastryBaker]

This my second summer in Fresno. 55 of the last 60 days in triple digits. I feel your pain. The main conclusion I've come to is use species that will take the heat. Your ficus and olive are great - don't know anything about a powder puff. Junipers do well, as do most of the native California oaks. Shade is a must, and mine get water three times a day.

Thank you for the reply. Do you think I should put the powder puff in full shade for a bit til it heals?

The hardest about the desert is that "full sun" here is way different than other places. Even bonsai that take full sun, cannot do it here. Even junipers have a tough time. The Powder Puff is kept in full sun other places but not here.
I put extra bands of shade cloth on top of my shade canopy. I measured today and the Lux was at 12,000. As opposed to almost 18,000 without.
Now worried of that is enough light for the summer. I know the other 8 months I can actually have full sun because of the temps.
I am glad that the temps of the pots are cooler. But still water twice a day.

 

[Arizona bonsai]

I have best luck with elephant food, they are in full sun all day. My adenium, ficus, pumeria live under 90% shade cloth that faces west & they love it. They get watered 3 times a day for 8 min. They are in non organic bonsai soil.

 

[Arizona bonsai]

The soaker hose is 1/4”

 

[PastryBaker]

@BrianBay9 has far more experience than I do, but I have enough experience to agree. There's not a lot of bonsai artists crafting in the desert. It might be one of the most challenging climates for it, but it can be done. It sounds like you have a strong start.
As for your powder puff, it looks like a species of mimosa to me. The common mimosa, Albizia julibrissin, does well here in the Chihuahua Desert. I have several in full sun all day, although not yet in true bonsai substrate.

Thank you. It is tough. Actually makes me miss Los Angeles. The powder puff tree is like a mimosa. Calliandra surinamensis. The seller said it can take full sun. But he is in Florida which is a different full sun. Did you have to acclimate your trees to full sun? Does it get as hot there as here in Palm Springs? 110-120F And do you protect them from the middady sun? Thank you.

 

[PastryBaker]

I have best luck with elephant food, they are in full sun all day. My adenium, ficus, pumeria live under 90% shade cloth that faces west & they love it. They get watered 3 times a day for 8 min. They are in non organic bonsai soil.View attachment 560590View attachment 560591View attachment 560592View attachment 560593View attachment 560594View attachment 560595View attachment 560596View attachment 560597View attachment 560598

They look great. I would never think of going as high as 90% shade cloth. I would think it would not be enough light. It looks to be working great. How many hours of sun do they get? My ficus is fine with the high light. Do you take the shade cloth off in the winter months?

 

[Arizona bonsai]

They look great. I would never think of going as high as 90% shade cloth. I would think it would not be enough light. It looks to be working great. How many hours of sun do they get? My ficus is fine with the high light. Do you take the shade cloth off in the winter months?

The ones in the sun get 10hr + - in winter time we get sun under the shade that stays up year round. I move the ficus & bogis in and out of the sun as needed.

 

[Desert O'Piñon]

My mimosa were grown from germination outside without shade. Our temperatures average slightly lower, but we do look forward at times to temperatures cooling into double digits.

 

[PastryBaker]

My mimosa were grown from germination outside without shade. Our temperatures average slightly lower, but we do look forward at times to temperatures cooling into double digits.

Someone mentioned that if I defoliate my powder puff, that the new leaves would come back and be able to stay in the sun more. But, that scares me a little especially in summer.

 

[Desert O'Piñon]

Miyagi say bonsai not for faint of heart!
KKIII (the bonsai edition of the franchise) playing in the background

 

[PastryBaker]

Miyagi say bonsai not for faint of heart!
KKIII (the bonsai edition of the franchise) playing in the background

Oh I know,,,even when I had trees in Los Angeles, it kept me going. Orchids can be worse,,,lol

 

[Desert O'Piñon]

We were actually watching this movie when I posted that.
When root strong, tree strong.
or
Tree decide how grow, Daniel San.

bonsai artists: No, tree grow how wire decide!

 

[Desert O'Piñon]

Someone mentioned that if I defoliate my powder puff, that the new leaves would come back and be able to stay in the sun more. But, that scares me a little especially in summer.

I was reading a thread about environmental changes and how they affect foliage. The op was asking if he should move his Chinese Elm out to a shelf outside his window, as it had been indoorsnear a window. The concensus was that if the tree isn't acclimated gradually, the leaves will probably burn and die, and the tree will produce new leaves that are adapted to the hotter, brighter conditions. It is definitely a method that requires a certain amount of fortitude. But, like athletes in training, they'll be better in the long run for a little pain now.

 

[PastryBaker]

Well the 70% was not enough. Put 80% on yesterday. Which is white, so it will help reflect some heat. Now I have shade cloth to go with each month next summer as it heats up,,,lol

 

[PastryBaker]

A grower said that it didn't look like sun damage, but possibly the water and salination. So I ordered a PH tester. And I know the water out here is not the best.

 

[Desert O'Piñon]

This sounds likely, as Arizona and California have the worst water in the US. I feel like deserts would have poor tap water because of the salinity; the water here is pretty bad, too. I think maybe once a month or so I'll be drowning the pots from a 5gal jug of filtered water to wash out the salts and metals. But for now, most of mine are in the ground or very large pots, so those are not a big concern.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Test your water! I cannot under-emphasize how crappy California water can be. If you are watering your trees with hard alkaline water, they can become chlorotic even in the shade. Mesquite, manzanita, and other desert plants won't care, but tropicals like ficus definitely will.

 

[PastryBaker]

This sounds likely, as Arizona and California have the worst water in the US. I feel like deserts would have poor tap water because of the salinity; the water here is pretty bad, too. I think maybe once a month or so I'll be drowning the pots from a 5gal jug of filtered water to wash out the salts and metals. But for now, most of mine are in the ground or very large pots, so those are not a big concernI am really flooding when I water

This sounds likely, as Arizona and California have the worst water in the US. I feel like deserts would have poor tap water because of the salinity; the water here is pretty bad, too. I think maybe once a month or so I'll be drowning the pots from a 5gal jug of filtered water to wash out the salts and metals. But for now, most of mine are in the ground or very large pots, so those are not a big concern.

I am going to do that til I get my PH kit. I am flooding at each water with filtered water. And here in Palm Springs, that can be twice a day.