ICU for a sick tree(s)

clrosner

For some reason, my Fukien teas do not like their roots messed with. But, I want to keep the trees small, so I prune and then put them in a mini-hot house. What I call my (Intensive Care Unit) ICU. This ICU works quite well with most trees that show stress. The two Fukien teas were photographed on April 16, of this year. They have completely recovered and are outside.

I constructed my ICU out of an old discarded (large) milk container. I taped plastic around all sides except for the door. I constructed a piece of stiff plastic to fit the opening and used Duct tape as a hinge. I place any of my trees in the ICU, if they look sickly. (Usually after a repotting session) I open the ICU every morning for a few minutes to exchange the air (this exchange of air avoids fungus growth), and then I close the ICU for another 24 hours. Caution: make sure that the ICU is not in direct sun (even indoors)!

This ICU is fine for smaller trees, however, for larger trees, I have created a large box by using “stretcher (bars) strips” (obtained from art stores). These stretcher strips are available in almost any size you desire. They have special ends, which allows two of them to clasp together. Four Stretcher strips can be put together and used as one side. 20 strips can be put together to make four individual sides a top and bottom. Heavy plastic can be stapled to keep the sides, top and bottom together and makes a very sturdy box (of any size of your choosing). The door can be made to swing any way you wish using duct tape as the hinges and also to close the door. This ICU can be completely disassembled and reconstructed when necessary.


Both trees in the large ICU recovered from their attack of aphids. The last two picture were taken on May 15, 2003.

Attached Images

	ICU 041608.jpg (55.8 KB, 52 views)
	ICU 051503 A.jpg (55.5 KB, 53 views)
	ICU 051503 B.jpg (45.2 KB, 43 views)

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Carl L. Rosner - near Atlantic City zone 6/7
arteacher3725@yahoo.com

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Bonsaifreak

Hi Carl!

Great ideas for the intensive care of ailing trees! I also saw the small version of your ICU chamber published in the summer edition of the Gulfstream journal. When dealing with sick trees, something else is important to remember is to repot the tree in a larger container using well draining soil (I use plain turface for that purpose but acadama should work just as well). I don't disturb the roots when I do that. I have saved a few "sick patients" by performing this simple "ICU procedure".

Regards,

Jorge

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