Root Care

vln1502

Thanks, everyone.

Lots of good ideas. This makes me think I will also have to come up with better wind protection, because a wet cloth only stays wet for 20-30 min.s here. No way I come up enough white tile. I may have a source for the large containers, tho. I have seen some 1/2-1" styrofoam at work that may be a good cover if I can anchor it down.

What about 2 semi-circular pc.s of styro, an opening for the trunk and about a 3" overhang to shade the sides during high summer. Kind of a clamshell thing that I can get into for watering?

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Vance Wood

You don't want to obsess about keeping the mulch wet, other-wise you may wind up over watering your trees. As long as you are keeping the sun off the pots you are not cooking the roots.

__________________
The only finished bonsai is a dead one; me 1992 MABA Des Moines Iowa

rockm

Shading the pots is the idea. Doesn't make that much difference if the covering stays wet. Shading will greatly reduce soil temperature all by itself. You really dont' have to worry about how wet the covering stays. I put rocks on top of the towels and T-shirts to anchor them from the wind.

vln1502

It looks like I should be able to get my trees through the next heat wave .... now all I have to do is get them through the winter .... Hmmmm, cart/horse? Which goes first again?

LesLonsdale

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I live in South Georgia, and have been concerned about the roots in the pots becoming too hot ever since I moved down here. I've read that temps just over 100*F can 'cook' roots that are near the edge of the pots. My solution: burlap. You can buy it cheap at WalMart, and cut it out to fit around the pot with a hole in the middle for the trunk. I rinse it first with a hose to remove any sizing or finish from the manufacturing process before using it on my trees. I also cut little 'hooks' from wire to pin it down so it doesn't blow away.
Water goes through it, but it blocks the excessive heat from the sun.
Hope this helps.
L2

PS: I just joined this forum and this is my first post.

_gonzo_

Black or dark colored plastic pots of course can and do, absorb the sun and get very hot. In south Florida, almost too hot to touch!

My solution has always been to simply reflect it.

If the pots are on the smallish side, a sheet of tin foil works very well. If they are larger, form a cross with 2 sheets. Tear some off at least twice the size of the pot, stand it in the middle of the sheet, and scrunch the foil up as you wrap the pot so that air can penetrate or, you can even poke holes in it afterward. No hooks, wires, or pins are needed since you can then just bend the foil over the lip at intervals. Just remember to also poke some holes in the bottom for drainage.
The whole procedure should not take more than a few seconds. Something we nurseryfolk value around x-mas (poinsetta) time.


Cheers!

_gonzo_