Stainless steel colanders experiment.

[Clicio]

Found these colanders at Daiso, the Japanese chain store.
U$2.50 each.
3 sizes, strong and well finished.
Repotted today a young Elm in training, using fast draining soil; lets see the results.
The idea is a maze of fine roots due to the natural air pruning.

 

[SizeXtraMedium]

Good luck with your experiment. I have not yet tried a colander for any tree but I have read they work wonders for the root system and thickening of the trunk. I think next year I will be planting a lot more in colanders/pond baskets

 

[Adair M]

Found these colanders at Daiso, the Japanese chain store.
U$2.50 each.
3 sizes, strong and well finished.
Repotted today a young Elm in training, using fast draining soil; lets see the results.
The idea is a maze of fine roots due to the natural air pruning.

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I hope you never forget to water!

 

[Saddler]

Found these colanders at Daiso, the Japanese chain store.
U$2.50 each.
3 sizes, strong and well finished.
Repotted today a young Elm in training, using fast draining soil; lets see the results.
The idea is a maze of fine roots due to the natural air pruning.

View attachment 207565

View attachment 207567

View attachment 207568

Just a heads up, I have those same strainers from Daiso. They will rust. Hard! I will be surprised if they make the first winter. I left one outside for a few days... ok weeks and it was unusable for food by then.

 

[Clicio]

Just a heads up, I have those same strainers from Daiso. They will rust. Hard! I will be surprised if they make the first winter. I left one outside for a few days... ok weeks and it was unusable for food by then.

Thanks for the info!
If they last for a whole season, I can always repot every Spring, let's see.

 

[Clicio]

I hope you never forget to water!

I will not, I will not...

 

[Anthony]

Clicio,

because of the nature of those colanders - freely draining.
I would have suggested a test with a moisture retentive mix.
With about 3 parts organic if not 5 parts.

And yes they will rust and cause rust on the metal stands
we use.

Please chew on the - freely draining property.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[Clicio]

Clicio,
I would have suggested a test with a moisture retentive mix.

I can always water more often, no?

 

[Rodrigo]

What do you think about the fact that they're metal and Brazil being as hot as it is? Maybe with a few waterings a day you can keep it cool enough?

Looking forward to seeing the results! I saw them at Daiso a few weeks ago also

 

[Anthony]

Clicio.

the colander idea was originally for J.B.pines, and I not
sure what they might do for other tree types.

If the fine feeder roots are encouraged, does the colander
make the tree more efficient ?

Will you see more branching, greater % of leaves ?

Greater refinement ?

Or are you going to end up with a bunch of colanders
and more watering ?

Questions to ask as you test.

Let the group know what you discover, please.
Good Day
Anthony

* If the colander makes your trees more efficient, do you
then make wire pots that can fit into exhibition bonsai
pots, and you keep your trees in wire pots for their enhanced
health when not showing ?

 

[Clicio]

If the fine feeder roots are encouraged, does the colander
make the tree more efficient ?
Will you see more branching, greater % of leaves ?
Greater refinement ?

Excellent questions, @Anthony .
When I have the answers I'll let the group know.

If the colander makes your trees more efficient, do you
then make wire pots that can fit into exhibition bonsai pots, and you keep your trees in wire pots for their enhanced
health when not showing ?

That's a good idea!

 

[Clicio]

What do you think about the fact that they're metal and Brazil being as hot as it is? Maybe with a few waterings a day you can keep it cool enough?

I can do what I do to most of my bonsai pots during the Summer; wrap them in wet towels when in the direct afternoon sun.
Let's see!

 

[Clicio]

An update:
After two months, being outside, no visible signs of rust, many signs of new finer roots getting air pruned, and the little Elm looks happy.
It's being watered at least twice a day.
It's spring here, so I hope these good news last for at least 7 months:

 

[SizeXtraMedium]

Looks great! I'd like to do the same to a few of my trees but I'm afraid my construction work schedule doesn't always allow for twice a day watering :/

 

[Clicio]

Another update:
Still thriving, no rust on the colander, Elm looks happy.

 

[leatherback]

I think you have this all wrong. You need to put the colander in the ground I have been told

 

[Clicio]

I think you have this all wrong. You need to put the colander in the ground I have been told

Well, well, well...
I really see no advantages to ground it at this stage. The mesh is small holed, the roots are being air pruned, I can see it happening, and... It IS thriving anyway.
Only pita is watering twice a day (I guess more often from now on as the summer approaches).

 

[Forestcat]

I have never heard of putting a colander in the ground. The whole point is to air prune roots.

 

[Clicio]

I have never heard of putting a colander in the ground. The whole point is to air prune roots.

Well, after some years and many trees in various stages of development, I have an BRT in a steel colander, in the ground, and this is its second year so far. Thriving.
The idea is to let it thicken while containing the size of the rootball, so later on it can fit into a bonsai pot.

 

[Clicio]

On a side note, that horrible Elm is history now. It was a grafted little monster and I gave it away as a gift to a friend, who tells me it is healthy and still inside the colander.
It served its purpose as an experiment, so now I have at least 10 trees in steel colanders doing great.