Water retention

[DonovanC]

Hello,
I’m looking for ideas on ways to retain water on really hot days. Last year was my first real season in Bonsai, and often during the summer my trees would be quite dry when I got home. I have to water very early due to my schedule, and I’m typically gone for 10+ hours. It’s usually about 6am when I’m watering, and I’m not home until after 5pm. I know that adding more organic matter to my growing media will help, and I’ve done that for all the trees that I’ve repotted so far - I’ve added sifted compost. And I always cover the surface with live moss (or at least attempted live moss). I’ve thought about adding a layer of sphagnum moss to the surface then the live moss on top of that - I know that sounds excessive.
Any ideas? Do we think that the added organic matter will do the trick?

 

[_#1_]

Have you tried those round fibrous coconut mat thingy box stores and nurseries use for covering the top of the pot? I would try them, but a couple inch larger as to shade the entire pot. Its light enough to let air in and dense enough to block out the hot sun I think

 

[DonovanC]

Have you tried those round fibrous coconut mat thingy box stores and nurseries use for covering the top of the pot? I would try them, but a couple inch larger as to shade the entire pot. Its light enough to let air in and dense enough to block out the hot sun I think

I have not, but that’s a good idea - I’ll look them up

 

[WNC Bonsai]

Last summer I watered my trees once a day arund 5 pm. The first half of the summer they were on a drip irrigation timer and then in late summer I went back to hand watering—didn’t seem to matter, they stayed hydrated. I use a mix with about 20% sifted composted pine bark (Lowes Nature’s Helper) 45% pumice, 35% haydite. I water till it flows out the bottom of the pot freely. With the drip line that was 5 minutes. You are a zone colder than I am but the warmest we get in summer is around 85 and the humidity stays pretty high so the soil doesn’t tend to dry out as much. Also that is bare soil, no moss. Another issue here is I don’t have a lot of full sun area, most is part sun, and little drying widns ti deal with.

 

[DonovanC]

Last summer I watered my trees once a day arund 5 pm. The first half of the summer they were on a drip irrigation timer and then in late summer I went back to hand watering—didn’t seem to matter, they stayed hydrated. I use a mix with about 20% sifted composted pine bark (Lowes Nature’s Helper) 45% pumice, 35% haydite. I water till it flows out the bottom of the pot freely. With the drip line that was 5 minutes. You are a zone colder than I am but the warmest we get in summer is around 85 and the humidity stays pretty high so the soil doesn’t tend to dry out as much. Also that is bare soil, no moss. Another issue here is I don’t have a lot of full sun area, most is part sun, and little drying widns ti deal with.

Thanks, that’s pretty close to my soil ratio - I’m using about 40% perlite, 35% fullers earth, and 25% sifted compost. Which is heavier on the compost than last year, so I’m hoping that does the trick. Around here at can reach the upper 90s but average is about 85. Hopefully with the new soil ratio and the experience/knowledge that I’ve gained in watering will serve well this year.
Is your drop system on a timer? I’ve considered getting one but really don’t want to have to resort to that.

 

[WNC Bonsai]

Ye

Thanks, that’s pretty close to my soil ratio - I’m using about 40% perlite, 35% fullers earth, and 25% sifted compost. Which is heavier on the compost than last year, so I’m hoping that does the trick. Around here at can reach the upper 90s but average is about 85. Hopefully with the new soil ratio and the experience/knowledge that I’ve gained in watering will serve well this year.
Is your drop system on a timer? I’ve considered getting one but really don’t want to have to resort to that.

Yes, it runs on a 9V battery. Some tees in small pots have individual drip emitters, whereas others have tubing formed in a circle with multiple emitters at regular intervals creating a ring of water. This gives a more even application rate. You can also use spray heads to cover a greater area of pot surface but that works best on benches with multiple plants. Most of mine are on individual monkey poles.

 

[DonovanC]

Ye


Yes, it runs on a 9V battery. Some tees in small pots have individual drip emitters, whereas others have tubing formed in a circle with multiple emitters at regular intervals creating a ring of water. This gives a more even application rate. You can also use spray heads to cover a greater area of pot surface but that works best on benches with multiple plants. Most of mine are on individual monkey poles.

Awesome, thanks for the information

 

[bonsaidave]

Sphagnum moss will help. If you don't have shade in the afternoon, a shade cloth can help a lot. I use a water timer and micro sprinklers in the hottest part of the summer. I water before work (6am) then my water system showers my trees for 5 minute at 10am. This gets them through until the evening check. Usually another misting in the evening.

Changing your soil components can help with water but that is something you have to get sorted out before repotting season which is pretty much over in my area.

Good Luck!

 

[AZbonsai]

It gets hot here in AZ. I cover my pots with burlap from coffee bean bags I get from local coffee roasters. They cost a buck a bag. I water right through the bag. It also has the advantage of cooling off the plants because of evaporation.

 

[Shibui]

All my small pots sit on humidity trays - water proof trays filled with gravel. When you water the pot gets watered but also fills the tray below. Water from the tray evaporates during the day and cools and humidifies the air which reduces the tree's demands for water. Pots sitting on the gravel above water level means no risk of waterlogged roots. Many species grow roots out of the drain holes and into the gravel/water below so they have even better access to plenty of water. Really small pots are part buried in the gravel to give even better connection to the water reservoir.
This works well for me in a hot summer climate and allows me to grow smaller plants than ever before.
Trays can be any size to suit your pots and collection of trees. Single pots on a plastic pot tray full of gravel or many trees on a tray purpose made from galvanised or aluminium sheet.

Changing soil components may help in summer but could cause problems in winter.

 

[MrFancyPlants]

Putting a sprinkler on a timer has gotten me through some busy weeks, but I know not everyone can do tap water daily. Shading the pots sounds like good advice.

 

[DonovanC]

Putting a sprinkler on a timer has gotten me through some busy weeks, but I know not everyone can do tap water daily. Shading the pots sounds like good advice.

I have hard water, so I definitely want to get away from using tap, I’m trying to use rain water as much as possible. I’ve looked into timed irrigation systems that have a pump so you can use your own water supply. But I think shade netting is definitely a good idea.

 

[Ali Raza]

Well I am using organic mulch so as refrain soil getting completely dry. Also sometime compost and cocopeat had been very beneficial.

 

[sorce]

I rocked that schedule forever.

Best thing you can do is find a cheap autowater system.

You can keep stuff alive without watering inside those work hours.....

But your Bonsaiing Capabilities will be small.

Sorce

 

[Tieball]

My collected trunks...and trees...are in wooden growing boxes...so this might be easier for me. I use a plastic/fiber pet-proof-screening on top of the substrate. It does these things for me: shields the substrate top level from washing around when I water so casually with the garden hose spray; stops drenching rains from washing the substrate around; provides a decent shading of the substrate when the heat is up during the day without stopping air circulation; stops rodents and birds from digging in to see what’s below or to plant acorns; insulates some, actually quite a bit, when it’s chilly; it keeps surface roots covered while I want them covered so I’m not fiddling around with the substrate to cover roots; stays on all year; and is easily adjusted in size as the trunk grows. Not expensive. Stays in place well. It doesn’t answer your watering needs but for me does limit evaporation of moisture when hot...the shading effect works for me and has worked for me for many years.

I just cut and put on new screening this month.