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25-Sep-2007	#1
Goober69 bonsaiTALK Journeyman Join Date: Jun-2004 Location: Long Island, NY Country: USA Posts: 39	winter move ahead It looks like I will be moving soon and it will probably take place anywhere from late November to early January. Here on Long Island, that means cold weather. Any suggestions on what to do with my bonsai trees? It isnt a far move, just across town really, but how do i protect them from the cold. I was thinking putting them in large tubs and covering the pots with mulch for the transport. What should I do once I get them there? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Tony

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25-Sep-2007	#2
BrianBay9 Trunk Collector Join Date: Sep-2003 Location: Loveland, CO Country: USA USDA Zone: 4 or 5? AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 1,362	Hi Tony, You didn't mention if you're talking about tropicals or trees you winter outdoors, so it's hard to advise on the mechanics of the move itself. I've moved twice with bonsai trees. I've made some mistakes, and I've done some things right. In my moves, I was more concerned with heat than cold, but my basic advice is the same. Find someone (on one end of the move or the other) who can properly care for your trees while you set up your new home for them. I've been amazed at the generosity of bonsai friends, mostly found through this site. Brian __________________ There's a difference between taking your art seriously, and taking yourself too seriously.

25-Sep-2007	#3
bisjoe bonsaiTALK Expert Join Date: Oct-2006 Location: Sammamish Country: USA USDA Zone: 8b AHS Heat Zone: 3 Posts: 190	First, don't plan on them going in a moving truck. Take them in your own vehicle even if it takes several trips. If the temperature in your car is comfortable for you it will be fine for the trees. I moved mine by car in mid-summer with no A/C 16 hours drive with the windows open and they were fine. Inside a truck many things can go wrong, from getting smashed to being dropped by the movers.

26-Sep-2007	#4
Goober69 bonsaiTALK Journeyman Join Date: Jun-2004 Location: Long Island, NY Country: USA Posts: 39	Sorry, I should have been a little clearer. The trees that I am worried about are not tropicals. Normally they would be set up for winter hibernation by that point. My tropicals (mostly ficus) will be sent to my mom's house until I get things ready. My usual plan is to bring in the tropicals as soon as temps start to dip below 60. Then as the leaves start to chcnage color and fall of the non-tropicals I placethem in big plastic tubs. I put a plant heating coil in the bottom of the tub below the pots. Then I cover all of the pots with pine bark mulch. The reason for this set up is that I currently rent and am not able to do anything to the yard other than place "Flower pots" on the cement. So basically, do you think it is a good idea to continue this set up and then when I do move, try and move everything as is? Size wise I am not sure this is possible. When I get to the new place, I plan on putting the trees in a flower bed until spring. Should I keep them in containers or put them on the earth covered with mulch? In the future I plan to make a small trench to place the pots in, but I figure the ground will be frozen this year. Hope this clears up my question. Any ideas?

26-Sep-2007	#5
Goober69 bonsaiTALK Journeyman Join Date: Jun-2004 Location: Long Island, NY Country: USA Posts: 39	PS: bisjoe...no way am I letting the little trees in a moving truck. Although none of the trees are anything close to becoming true bonsai at this point, I couldnt let that happen to them. I have had them too long and enjoyes them too much for that to happen.

26-Sep-2007	#6
Cathie bonsaiTALK Master Join Date: Apr-2006 Location: Z5b Posts: 430	Actually I've done it - in the truck (not a long, cold or overnight move though) and everything was fine. You need to box them at least to the pot tops - like sizes with like, stuff whatever around the pots to keep them stable, and get them into the truck last (advise the movers you'll need the floor space and how much ahead of time), and off first - into the tub or on the deck are good safe places.

28-Sep-2007	#7
Goober69 bonsaiTALK Journeyman Join Date: Jun-2004 Location: Long Island, NY Country: USA Posts: 39	Thank you Cathie. I feel a bit more relaxed now. I will be moving the trees myself so I wont be worrying about movers. My biggest concern was always freezing the pots. Do you think that placing them on the ground in a flower bed and covering the pots with mulch will be suffice once I get them there? Thanks again. Tony

28-Sep-2007	#8
Mcspeed bonsaiTALK Master Chief Join Date: Mar-2006 Location: West Springfield Massachusetts Country: USA USDA Zone: zone 5 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 1,198	Tony, if these trees are being overwintered outside they will freeze anyway, it's actually what you want. It's the warming up too early that is more of a problem in my opinion anyway. If it's a fairly quick move just get them mulched back in and you should be ok, although it will still depend on the species. I am confused though, you overwinter outside, but with heating coils in the bottom of the storage container?? Are they covered over? Tell us what kind of trees. __________________ If at first you don't succeed -- skydiving is not for you. Always remember that you're unique -- just like everyone else Enjoy this day. Bill

1-Oct-2007	#9
Goober69 bonsaiTALK Journeyman Join Date: Jun-2004 Location: Long Island, NY Country: USA Posts: 39	I was never able to put the pots on the ground or bury them (renting...couldnt disturb the grounds) so what I did was put the pots in tubs. The kind you buy at Home Depot to mix cement in. In the bottom of the tub I had coiled out a heating cable that I bought at a garden center. This cable is used in planters and seeding pots to keep them from freezing. If the temperature falls below 35 degrees it turns on. So, coil on bottom, pots above and then I take mulch ( I have used pine bark, cedar and evan sand) and fill in the gaps between the pots and cover the tops about an inch or so. This keeps the roots from freezing which I had always thought would kill the trees. I have used this technique for about 5 years now. Trees I have used it on are maples, pines, mamosas a dawn redwood and a few others that I cant think of off the top of my head. Never had a fatality. However, you do have to water them because the heat will dry the soil in the pots out. Like I said, I was never able to put them on the ground or bury the pots in a flower bed or anything so this seemed like an ok option. Any opinions? By the way, sorry for taking so long to respond...with the move ahead, I dont have much time to get online nowadays. Thanks for your responses. Tony

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