AusBonsai

Hi just start off with saying I'm a seedling when it comes to bonsai only been doing it for a month and have been reading the forums and getting some helpful tips.I noticed a lot of you had planter boxes so I decided to put one together myself today which is a little rough but I think it will do the job.One of the things I was wondering what kind of soil/medium would you recommend for a planter box and do you fill the whole thing or have some filler at the bottom? Also what would be some good started plants to put in there to get me going? Look forward to your feed and thanks in advance

Hi Daniel1986 , Welcome mate , the planter box is a good idea , however you could make 3 out of the height you have there . No need for a box deeper than 150mm unless you plan to plant large material with huge root masses . It an absolute waste of potting medium in such a deep box . I m most cases the tap root is removed and the radial side roots are used fro the bonsai .

Remember you have to get them into a bonsai pot sooner or later , no good growing huge deep roots then having to chop them off to get them into the bonsai pot . For starter a good quality potting mix , not a cheapy will do for starters and some course washed river sand blended in to aid drainage . Its a cheap alternative to buying the proper bonsai materials , sorry i can't help with those sorts of materials as i have never used them .

In a box 1500mm x600mm i would drill 6-8 - 20mm drainage holes and place some mesh over them to prevent the soil from washing out . If you cut this box into 3 at the corners and have a board height for each box , that is more than efficient and you would have a much better box and 3 times the area , simply stack them together at the sides for a tiered grow bed . Wiki has a good plant list i asume , its tab is up in the right hand corner . Plenty of info here just need to locate it .

Cheers Alpineart

Hey Alpineart thanks for the quick reply. The planter box is 300mm deep so it is about double what you recommend. I am looking at planting some of the bonsai I already have to thicken up the trunks due to I can not plant them in the ground. Would you recommend leaving it a bit deeper if I am planting larger trees? Also so you have a good eye you got the measurements of the planter box spot on .

Start here for a bit more understanding
http://www.evergreengardenworks.com/earthpot.htm
http://www.evergreengardenworks.com/overpot.htm

Thanks for the links Brett very helpful By the sounds of it I need some well draining soil not to deep with plenty of drain whole. Will have to build up a few of my bonsai's in larger pots . Any recommendations on what I should be growing in the planter box to get me started?

Once you understand that see this
http://www.helpfulgardener.com/phpBB2/v ... hp?t=15291

Don't want to confuse you with conflicting advice but take this with what Alpine has said. A flatter pot is not always the best. Although a deep pot uses more potting medium it is actually a much better raining option so be careful not to go too shallow with trees that have un refined or advanced root systems.

Also is this planter under the veranda ? That could cause some big health issues for the trees. Yes they need protection in some ways and shade at some time of the day for most is a good thing even essential for some but they almost need to be able to see the blue sky above.

Yeah the planter box is under a very thin shade cloth above but will get some sun later on in the day when the sun sets.

Shade cloth is great just not a solid roof

Which trees? decisions decisions. What ones do you like? A japanese maple would be good and grows fairly fast.
Oh I know a lill pilly that will get a a +1 with the native guys

Yeah I do like Maples also thinking of doing some figs maybe some junipers. What stage of the trees life is ideal to have in the planter box? plants with a decent size root ball or so cuttings that have developed a root system grow fine in them ?

Healthy ones, probably should have mentioned earlier (bit of an oversite) that the best potting time will be early spring. But if you are keen now then Fig would be the go and maybe lilly pilly as well but stay away from deciduous trees.

Hey Daniel, welcome to bonsai and AusBnsai.

The box looks like its made really well. Its more stylish than my large plastic pots. . I do like Alpinearts idea of the steeped planter box, it would let in a lot of light and still hold a large reserve of water at three different wetnesses. Yours would work for a start its just that you would have to do more work to keep the trees under control and there is some risk in doing that. But it will depend more on the trees you want to put in there.

So I would suggest that you make a short list and work for there, rather than starting with a blank canvis. I can't make a short list for you but here are some tips.
1/ pick trees you want to work with. (most people seam to have trees from the childhood that they like)
2/ have trees that are tolerant of wet and dry conditions, its easier starting out with something that won't just die the first time it gets too wet.
3/ have more than one of each tree. (I kill trees aas part of my bonsai experience)
4/ having trees at different stages of developement isn't a bad thing.
5/ healthy trees go better (Bretts makes a good point)

Admittedly all the things that I said I was, and wasn't, going to do when I started out have all been broken (or at least bent ).

As to a firm suggestion as to something to start with I would say a olive. Just search Olivecrazy's posts for some good reasons.

And join a Bonsai Club is a good idea too. (Someone always has to say that)

Might have to go down to the local nursery and pick up a few figs. Can't have an empty planter box for 6 months Just have to make sure I don't get to temped and fill it with figs

Thanks for the tips time8theuniverse Yeah I have few bonsai's but nothing of any girth So I'm looking to get some younger plants and cutting and starting from the start and also looking to get some more developed plants as well and try some hard pruning and wiring. Would like to give it all ago only way I'm going to make mistakes and learn just have to keep

I now see your from Melbourne. Doing well that is two oversights on my part
Figs will become difficult to care for come Winter in the cold. I am really starting to think that some natives will be your best bet at the moment some Melalucas There are so many varieties
see here
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2091
And some lilly pilly maybe a water gum but they may be harder to find?