Extended Vacation And All My Trees

Earl

I know that the folllowing question has been endlessly discussed in different variations but I have a rather specific question. I'm retiring in a few weeks and am planning on taking a couple extended vacations this summer (3-6 weeks each). I have not found anybody I can trust my trees with for that length of time. A few days, yes, but not weeks where you have to begin to understand each trees and it's needs. I've thought about overhead watering and drip systems with the trees on benches but it still seems too risky. What if the temps go real hot or real cold...how can you adjust for those?

So my conclusion is to put all my trees in the ground for the summer and use a drip system. I will take an area of the back yard and spade it up real well and mix a lot of good soil in with our clay so it will hold water well but still drain. I can also easily make some kind of lean-to to shade those trees needing it. this system would moderate the temperature and the trees would last through most any sudden weather changes. Also, I can easily get somebody to check to make sure the drip system is working.

If you are sill with me, here's the question: should I take the trees out of the pots or leave them in the pots? Leaving them in the pots would be easier, I could still pull them up when I'm home to work on them and each tree would keep its unique soil mix. Taking them out of the pot would lessen the chance of drying out or getting too wet.

Any ideas? Thanks

Earl

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bonsaial1

Why not remove the plants from the pots and Ball them? Just go to the yardage store and buy cheap hemp cloth. That will sort of keep the roots in check, but allow all the attributes of the ground.

when you get back you don't have to worry about repotting, just split the bag and place back in the pot, and fill in with soil around. Not much stress that way.

Bonsai-al

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Bonsainut

Earl,
Awesome about the retirement and vacations and all. Be sure to mix in some bonsai related activities on those trips.

The balled in fabric sound like a good idea to me. Maybe burlap might be cheaper. I personally would put them back in over sized nursery pots buried up to the rim. Just cuz I have lots of them and it would be easy to get them out.

Wisteria and bald cypress could go into a kiddie pool with several inches of water. Also a low tech hose end water timer (home depot) has watered for me several times in a pinch. Just get used to it before you go. Put in new batteries and trust. I have even used two different ones on two hoses one morning one night just to cut down the odds of trouble. The little green once a day one lasts about six weeks on a battery change.

Error on the side of to much water. If your soil mix is good chances of disease in this short time is minimal.

Have a great time, youve worked for it!!!

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Keep growing,---'Nut



Lethal Use of Farce

Earl

Thanks, Al. I hadn't thought of balling them but that would work. It would serve my hopes of still working on them from time to time, too, as I could still pull them out of the ground.

Also, wil check out the timers, etc. Bonsainut. That is my plan. Not too worry about the Wisteria and Bald Cypress. There isn't a prayer they will grow in our 0-5% summer humidity. I can't even keep a hinoki cypress alive! Using a back up system might not be a bad idea either. There would be a pretty small chance that both would fail and it sure would put my mind at rest.

Thanks for the help.

Earl

Bonsainut

Uh huh.

Hey Earl You might try the bald Cypress. I'm in the desert soutwest ,We got one and a half inches of rain last year. Bone dry!!

But the BC grow like weeds here, just keep em well watered and in the summer in little kiddie pool. They are happy as pigs in mud!

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Keep growing,---'Nut



Lethal Use of Farce

shibu

I put all of mine under the care of a bonsai nursery owner while I went to Europe for 6 weeks, last summer (Northern winter). They are all healthy and happy, and Steve even repotted a few of them for me. Sure, it cost a bomb but that's nothing to losing the lot.

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rschlafer

I don't know how much it cost but that is what i was going to say. Contact a Bonsai nursery.

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- Todd

coloradobonsai.com
Specializing in Yamadori Bonsai/Pre Bonsai.

shibu

In my case... $2500, plus another $350 for a pot that I lost during the 2 moves. Like I said, expensive. However, eminently worth it for the peace of mind.

You can be certain that the watering will be done, that bugs will be controlled, that weeds will be kept down and that your trees will be safer from theft than they would be at your own premises.

I wouldn't consider doing it any other way.

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rschlafer

WOW!!! I had no idea it was that much.

__________________
- Todd

coloradobonsai.com
Specializing in Yamadori Bonsai/Pre Bonsai.