just a question-Learn to Develop Stock?

bonsaikc

So, what exactly is Calidama? Is it a baked clay product like akadama?

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Aaron_K

Just subscribing to this thread as I too would be interested in any techniques, tools and materials used in developing young stock quickly. Also, I think it would be very useful if all the information was posted in the form of an article as opposed to scanning through snippets on this thread.

Greatly looking forward to hearing your experiences.

All the best,

Aaron

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ripsgreentree

Will on some level I want to agree with you but for me the jury is still out, I do not have open ground any more and I am still watching my new growing systems. Ponding baskets compaired to the hand made growing boxes. 1. cost as I remember it. Hand made cedar box with screen sides $20.00 and up, ponding basket at lows or some other big box store $3.00 for a 12in. by 12in by 10 in deep in my mind no comparison.
Glenn Van Winkle

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ripsgreentree

It requires an open hand to give and to recieve.

Vance Wood

The fact remains that to get large trunks, branches and sadly needles you get results quickes in the ground. It takes vegitative growth to produce girth in the trunk. This means allowing both branches and roots to grow at will.

However with one of my training planters, and I assume a pond basket as well, the trunk will continue to thicken where it will not in a regular pot, though not as fast as in the ground. I do not have access to a growing bed either so I have been developing stock using my screened planter for over twenty years and have had excelent results with none of the problems associated with harvesting from the field.

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Bone-sigh

Just subscribing to the thread. Curious as to what we will learn!

Ryan

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Will_Heath

I do not work for a grower, I have my own land up north and also growing beds at home, I grow my own trees. I also use potting baskets and Vance Wood's planters for almost all my stock that I collect, lift, or purchase. There is no doubt in my mind that these "screen sided" pots work better than any other container. There is also no doubt in my mind that they can not give the rapid growth that open ground can.

Certainly, root development is better in these pots, and they certainly allow for quicker growth than any other containers that I have used. But again, for plain old fashioned quick growth and trunk development, the ground wins.

I speak not only from my own experience but also from the fantastic results Vance Wood has obtained with his planters. I have seen his results first hand and these pots are amazing. I have always been a solid supporter of pond baskets and recommend them highly for training, I also have been a solid supporter of the open ground for trunk development.

Granted, without access to land or space, these basket will make a good second choice, but never a first. On this fact, I am hoping we can agree.

Sorry Rip, I just have to see pictures of your results in order to entertain the thought that pond baskets can somehow even compare to the ground for development.


Respectfully,

Will Heath

Will_Heath

Price wise, you are correct, there is no comparison. Appearance wise there is no comparison either, Vance's wins. The only difference is what you are using them for and why.

I use both. If I have a really nice bonsai in training I put it into one of Vance's pots because they look 100% better, they display nicer, and they last much longer than a pond basket.

Pond baskets will break down after a while in the sun, they were made to be used under water out of the sun's rays.

Lately, I have been using pond baskets only with trees I plan on trading or auctioning off. They are inexpensive and I don't mind seeing them go with a tree. I also keep a dozen at the cabin with some growing boxes for trees I collect.

Vance's pots on the other hand have a better shape, not square, that seems to promote more roots toward the surface. They create fine feeder roots as well. The bottom on his pots will slide up, making removing a tree easier. They look much better on my benches. The bottom screened area does not sit flat on a bench like pond baskets do. They will not shatter when bumped if cold as pond baskets will. They also out last the pond baskets, which in the long run makes better economic sense.

Just my reasons for using both,


Will

Joanie

So how about a pond basket buried in the ground? All the good drainage/stable temps etc of the ground, and the root limiting plastic mesh (well, at least you could dig it up easier?) of the pond basket.

Would the two augment each other?

Joanie

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Will_Heath

If you bury a pond basket, you defeat the purpose of using one. You see, roots get self-pruned when they reach the screened sides, forcing them to essentially back bud (if you will) and thereby creating the mass of fine feeder roots that we need. By burying the pot, you take this advantage away and you might as well plant it in a terra-cotta pot and bury it.

I know some people claim that they bury the pond basket and put it into the ground, later cutting off the roots that grew through the sides. Although they are correct in stating that the tree has a better chance of survival when re-potting by doing so, the biggest reason to use pond baskets is taken away. That reason is the fine root development that these screen sided pots create.


Will