Good advice, Bill. I would like to suggest that one more reason for bottom
watering of new plantings is not to disturb ornamental effects (i.e. moss
and small pebbles in a forest or seikei.)
Marty
----- Original Message -----
From: "William N. Valavanis"
To:
Sent: Tuesday, December 23, 2003 9:04 PM
Subject: [IBC] water from top or bottom


Basically, it is important to water all plants from the top because as
the water moves down through the soil it will push out the old air and
draw in fresh air. So, whenever you water using this method you will
change the air in the soil which is very important.

After potting or repotting in bonsai soil it is also important to soak
the bonsai from the bottom AND from the top at the same time. The best
way to do this is to place the bonsai in a shallow pan of water up to
the container rim and allow the water to thoroughly soak each individual
particle of DRY soil. This is important because bonsai soil is usually
bone dry before potting. Now, since the roots need immediate moisture, I
will always water the bonsai from the top at the SAME time since this is
quicker than the water moving up the dry soil. When I water this way,
only after potting, small particles of dust can be seen leaving the
drainage holes. This small dust can actually clog the quick draining soil.

If the bonsai collection is not large in number you can use the
following technique for fertilizing which works excellent... if you have
the time to do it. Place water soluble fertilizer in a wheelbarrow then
move it from table to table to soak the bonsai from the bottom. The
fertilizer will thoroughly penetrate even the most potbound bonsai
through the hard soil. A good technique is to soak your healthiest and
most vigorous pines and narrow-leaf conifers FIRST, then proceed to less
vigorous specimens. Healthy plants will have an abundance of mycrohizza
in the soil which may become dislodged in the fertilizer water. When you
soak the next bonsai it will become inoculated with the mycorhizza. Yes,
I know that pathogens can be spread using this technique, but I have not
had that experience. But I have seen mycrohizza spread... I had
excellent results using this fertilizing technique, when my collection
was small enough to use it. Now I only use it for special specimens.

Hope this helps and is not too confusing.


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