Hi Theo:
That is the reason that I started my Email with this statement.

"This is another one of those things that we will be debating for many
years...."

In my case I do not use and peat or garden soil. My soil mixes are very
loose. My other reason is that I do not wish to soak each of of my 80
or so trees in the same bath water.....

When I repot I use a tub to soak the newly repotted tree, but then I
move on to my next tree to be repotted. I change the water between
repotting....

I guess this is a matter of our experiences and choices.... that is why
some like Vanilla and others like Chocolate ice cream (or some other
flavor :-D )

8-) Carl L. Rosner - near Atlantic City zone 6/7
http://bmee.net/rosner
http://www.jamesbaird.com/cgi-bin/Ja...d=00000068 48
http://www.jamesbaird.com/cgi-bin/Ja...d=00000068 48


Theo wrote:

Hi Carl
I am not so sure that water salts are washed away when the tree is
watered from above .. but half soaking makes sult climb to the surface
for sure and deposid on teh rim of the pot
full submersion has also some advantages to water /fertilize
eveyrwhere even in the very core of the root pad expell old air and
renew it when flushed awaay .. of course it depends again of the
kind of soil, plant,season, and so on
For example in high % of soil with peat the earth when dried and
compacts , reduce in size so watering even if given 10 times from
above will make water run between the root pad and the pot walls .. and
will never reach the inside .. in this case teh best solution is
soaking for 15 minutres or more
When the surface of a bonsai soil is covered with moss the water
will run over it like on a velvet so it takes more that 3 times to
water properly the tree ..
The soil itself is not compacted in theh pot in the same
consistency so water will take the esiest way to run out and leave dry
zones inside ( especilaly in the *root ball core *
The pipes where the water is running all the time get clogged with
calcar anyway .. Both sistems are valid each has its own advantages
and disavantages.. one cannot apply them as a rule to all bonsai
In Bonsai technics there is a difference between the theory and the
practice and and we have always to adapt the know how to the specific
situation .... and not apply the rule word by word
just my two cents...
Theo
Carl L Rosner wrote:



Dear IBCers:
This is another one of those things that we will be debating for many
years....




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