Growing Box Idea

grumpa

TB & Craig , thanks for your information.

I'm gonna try some of the plastic stuff so I don't have to rush making boxes, and in my leasure try the wood ones.

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jemmick

I would like to echo the comment about using the blue plastic barrells but cutting them to use just the top and bottom thereby getting two pots per barrell. We have a person who sells an assortment of these . He gets them from car wash business and they use them for soaps and waxes ( supper clean them out first) They also come in assorted sizes as restraunts use them in smaller sizes for things like apple juice etc. They have worked great for me and you can always find just the right size quickly
Regards,
Jonathan

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Jonathan

wendell

I have some treated wood that I'm considering using to make a few boxes.
Good and water resistant, but the chemicals in the wood have me hesitant.
Does anybody have any thoughts on this?
Thanks!

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Tree will sleep and I will dream:
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Bonsainut

Wendell,

Arsenic, copper, and chromium called chromated copper arsenate (CCA) have all been used as wood treatments. Human exposure to this stuff is well documented as being bad for you. As a framing contractor for many years this was a constant worry to us. And the poor kids who play on outdoor structures built out of it. yuck!

Of course the lumber industry maintains that it is safe, of course. As to plants Conmmon sense would tell you not to plant an edible item in it. But as to trees, well CCA is basically a pesticide and most trees are pretty hardy toward sprays and dust, etc.

The EPA has a ton of stuff you can't do with treated wood like burn it, compost shavings, use it for animal bedding, or in building and storage for animal or human food storage, and on and on.

So one has to ask oneself is it worth it. Ya know, to your own health let alone to your precious potensai.

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Mittar

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RonMartin(deceased)

Personally I use Mica pots to grow out things. They are cheap and do not rot like wooden boxes.
And they do come in all the traditional bonsai pot shapes. Looks a bit better in the garden.

Emperor Fish

Ron has a good point.

I've also tried plastic dish-tubs and stuff - cheap and about the right size for some things. Now, I'm progressing to cheap large stoneware bonsai pots. They'll last forever, (unlike plastic and wood) and don't poke you in the eye with their ugliness. You don't have to make them, drill them, or burn holes in them. Just have to buy them.

The only downside is the weight, but I'm not dealing with anything over 3 foot, so it's probably good exercise for me anyway.

Fish.

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wendell

Ron.
I like the idea of using mica pots, but have found them to be a bit pricey.
For a good size pot over $20 and sometimes quite a bit more. Do you have a cheaper source--possibly an online wholesaler or something along that line?
Thanks.
Wendell

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"Last leaf has fallen,
Tree will sleep and I will dream:
Spring is tomorrow"
--J. Naka

RonMartin(deceased)

Well one time I was a good souse. Hate to say it but I was the one responsible for about 85% of the Mica sold in the US. I was the dreaded importer of them.
Now I have turned the selling of them over to others and just import for them. This gives more time to teach and do a bit of traveling.
The one with the largest supply of Mica pots is Jupiter Bonsai in Florida. Their web page is http://jupiterbonsai.com/ They have distributors in a couple of other states and I think that the others are listed on the web page.
I do keep a supply on hand to take with me to clubs when I do workshops for them. But now that is about all I do in the sales department on Mica.