AusBonsai

Just a quick thread to see those effected who might be going away over the xmas break with 40 degree days predicted in my neck. I have automatic timers on the bonsai area that does come on twice a day in that weather . It floods the whole area for 15 minutes at a time . I've got a neighbour who will come daily to check to make sure its operating and water a few large trees not in the area . How are you guys managing when you go away this time of year?

Do you mind if I ask what type of hoses/system/gear you are running?
Thanks
Michael

I am away for 4 days. I will water heavily the morning i leave and come back and water against the day i arrive. I use metal trays under all the pots which fill up when i water and i have timed it to last 3 days on really hot days.

mjhc wrote:Do you mind if I ask what type of hoses/system/gear you are running?
Thanks
Michael

Micheal
Ill get some pics of the system and post tomorrow for you. The system can run 8 stations . I have 1 station running 5 big sprinker heads and the second station running about 20 jets on the bonsai bench. So you can run a lot with this .

regards
Matt

I've lost or had severely damaged trees every time i've gone away, thankfully I'm home all holidays this year.

I use one of these
https://www.bunnings.com.au/holman-4-st ... r_p3120238

Which has 3 of these connected to it and a manifold on the tap
https://www.bunnings.com.au/pope-25mm-s ... l_p3130107
Each line comes on once a day and waters most benches and I move those not normally covered a few days before going away so i can check they are getting watered.

Only time I have had an issue is when a friendly neighbour turned off the tap during a few days of rain!
Luckily I was home only a few days later and only lost 1 stock tree

Get someone reliable to drop in and check it comes on each day as well is good insurance

Ken

Going away I don't know what that means

I hate holiday going aways. The wife forced me into a 12 day holiday in Vietnam early Jan. I'm going to bring all the trees and bigger pots from everywhere into a tightly packed area. Will set up a sprinkler that the daughter will open for a set time daily. Will start her intense training soon. Please pray for me and the trees....

bodhidharma wrote:Going away I don't know what that means

Me either

fredman wrote:I hate holiday going aways. The wife forced me into a 12 day holiday in Vietnam early Jan. I'm going to bring all the trees and bigger pots from everywhere into a tightly packed area. Will set up a sprinkler that the daughter will open for a set time daily. Will start her intense training soon. Please pray for me and the trees....

Do yourself a favour, and setup a mains powered electronic timer and sprinklers.
Then you can get the daughter just to make sure it comes on everyday.
I have a bucket to collect runoff and the monitors check that everyday and empty it.
if it has water then all is good, if not then call me

Ken

Thanks very much for the links ken. I'll look into all this asap.

Just put up my umbrellas today. It just gives a bit of shade to my trees that are in full sun. Two big market umbrellas covers them pretty well. As far as going away, I'll pass, some catch up time and relax time, trees-fishing-sleeping. That's about it.

I am experimenting currently with drips and plan to use soaker hose (the thinner version) to see which option works best.

I find the simplest is sometimes the best.
Bunch trees up nicely.
Trays and catchments under the majority.
Timer set to water twice a day.
People to check would be a luxury.
Better to be wet than dry (overwater).

Boics wrote:I find the simplest is sometimes the best.
Bunch trees up nicely.
Trays and catchments under the majority.
Timer set to water twice a day.
People to check would be a luxury.
Better to be wet than dry (overwater).

x2
tried and tested