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Bonsai nare-do-well
Join Date: Jan-2003
Location: Summerville SC
Country: USA
Posts: 4,653
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Overlooking the obvious
I am always amused at how people overlook the obvious.
I have several friends that go out of their way to make a great bonsai soil. They are picky about the ingredients and sift everything to get all the fines out.
The soil looks great, drains great and defiantly should work. But it doesn't .
They have a hard time believing me when I tell them the obvious. It has a lot to do with what they use for screens at the bottom of their pots.
I have seen just about everything. Fly screen is the one that pops up the most.
The soil would probably drain better if the small holes in that fly screen didn't plug up so quickly. Doesn't take much to plug them either.
By simply swapping that fly screen to something with larger holes that well draining soil can do its job. Almost a no brainier ;o)
I use a plastic screen sold in almost any craft store. Most stores call it plastic canvas. Those that do needle work will know exactly what I an talking about.
The picture below is what it looks like. It shows the holes full size.
The stuff is cheap. About a dollar for a 10x 14 sheet. Enough to do several pots. A simple enough solution
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