Water measuring devices

[Lobaeux]

Does anyone use them? Im talking about the little "wands" they sell at Home Depot and such. I use a soil that's a majority of lava rock with a little bit of turf ace and some organics. I have been using a chopstick to help measure how wet the soil is, but it's proved a little unreliable.

I'm getting ready to leave for a few days and I may have someone come over to water, a measuring device would make it easier for them as well.

Thoughts?

 

[TomB]

Complete waste of time.

 

[rockm]

These are pretty useless if you're using bonsai soil. The wands sold at big box stores measure electrical activity between soil particles. The wands were meant to be used with potting soils, which have tiny soil particles. Bonsai soil is coarse, meant to drain fast. It has huge spaces between soil particles. That means the wands almost always read "needs water" or "needs ALOT OF WATER FAST" when the soil, in fact DOESN'T need water.

They're almost a guarantee to overwater your tree.

Learning to water is one of the most difficult, buy vital, practices in bonsai.

Over time, you learn what needs water simply by looking at the soil color (bonsai soil turns a lighter color when its dries) and local weather conditions (dry windy days require more water than rainy days. etc.)

I've learned to water by the weight of the pot and soil color over the years.

Using weight can be easier than a chopstick (but chopsticks can be good too-the secret is to push it into the middle of the soil)

Water monitoring by weight goes like this--Simply water your tree well, until water runs out of the drain holes. Pick the tree up right after it finishes draining--feel the weight? That's a fully-watered tree that DOESN'T need watering. At the end of the day, pick the tree up again. It will probably feel lighter. Do this repeatedly for a few weeks and you will get a feel for when a tree needs to be watered. I can tip a pot slightly up on one end now and can tell when it will need to be watered....Takes some time and patience.

 

[Lobaeux]

That's what I thought.

I like the idea of measuring the weight, I'll try that. Thank you for the detailed reply!

The thought of someone else sticking their fingers in my bonsai soil though......

I do have some drip lines, mainly for other plants. I might set my trees near the to get a little water while I'm gone.

 

[TomB]

The thought of someone else sticking their fingers in my bonsai soil though......

I wouldn't suggest that. If you get someone to help, just ask them to water liberally. Being over-watered for a few days won't harm your trees; drying out would.

 

[eferguson1974]

I too use weight and color so as not to damage roots. The measuring devices measure salts and conductivity of them in soil. How often do you water? Tell your friend every other day or whatever is normal. A day too soon wont hurt, and a day late probably not either unless your in a hot/windy place. All of my trees are fine if I skip a day or even two...

 

[Lobaeux]

Thanks! I like the idea of the weight measuring, I'll work on that.

I've set up a watering system, just need to get a timer that I can use just for the days I'll be gone.

We're in the start of the rainy season, so I probably won't have a problem with them getting water. Now, I'm thinking too much water.

 

[Potawatomi13]

I've set up a watering system, just need to get a timer that I can use just for the days I'll be gone.

Bad idea! One failure and your trees are dead. Have seen horror stories on here. Do not start out doing things the lazy way or might as well not start.

 

[Lobaeux]

Good advice, but this watering system won't be the way I water on a daily basis, only for when I am gone for an extended time and my wife is gone as well.

It doesn't happen often, but there are times when we're both gone for four to five days at a time on a trip. I'd rather have a backup in that case.