planting jbp seedlings

[Dave E]

i just ordered some jbp 8-12"-probably a littler bigger than seedlings ,and they're coming in thursday bare rooted.
i would think they should be potted asap -so what should i have ready to plant them.

i can't do in ground but i got just about every size nursery pot up to 5 gallon as well as medium and large size colanders.
i'm assuming my regular bonsai soil would be ok.anything special i should do to prep them for a succesful planting?

thanks,
dave

 

[dirk hoorelbeke]

My guess would be medium colander and bonsai soil.

 

[jeanluc83]

I'm not sure if now is really the best time to be doing this but seedlings are tough and can take a lot of abuse.

I have used a mix of dry stall (pumice) and pine bark mulch (about 20%) with good results. You can get dry stall from Agway for about $18 a bag and the mulch can be had at any garden center. You can use the dry stall right out of the bag but I recommend sifting out the fines. For the mulch I do the opposite and sift out anything over 1/4".

For containers I would try 7-8" colanders. I was able to pick up some that were slightly larger at a local Chinese restaurant. You could also try to find a Asian grocery store. Nursery pots are also an option. You would want something that is large enough to accommodate the roots but not too big that I will stay too wet. Home depot has some 1 gal nursery containers for about $1 that work well.

Once you get them potted up put them in a shaded spot. When you start to see signs of growth start moving them into more sun. With the above mix you will want to start to fertilize fairly soon after getting them potted up.

Good luck.

 

[armetisius]

This is definitely the wrong time of year to be embarking on this endeavor.
However, you do have a couple of days rain forecast for the next few which
might help some. Expect a pretty high attrition [death] rate; you can mourn
the losers but take cheer in the knowledge that those that make it have got
some a$$ to them and should be strong growers in the future. Good luck, and
good growing.

 

[Bunjeh]

You can make this happen. Take jeanluc83's advice on the soil. After trying everything over the past 12 months I have finally settled on his exact mix (80%pumice/20%pinebark). Keep them watered and do not expose to more than dappled sun light until autumn.

 

[Dave E]

thanks for the help.
i have been using drystall and pb mulch as my main soil ingredients, but also mix in some oilsorb and granigrit.
so am i better off using just the drystall and pb.
so they should start with a small container,and as they grow increase the size container

i didn't think about the forecast-the trees should be in tomorrow and than the temps are gonna drop to 60's and 70's cloudy and 3 days of rain in a row and slowly getting back to 80 by mid week next week.couldn't ask for better weather to start these.

btw i was told by the local agway that agway has broken it's ties with drystall and can no longer get it.i found a garden center with 1 bag and they are trying to get me more.they have tried 3 different suppliers and are having no luck...but they said they will keep trying.local feed stores say they can't get it eather.

 

[jeanluc83]

I've had bad luck with the oil dry they carry at Walmart so I'm hesitant to use any similar products. Some people have had good luck with the oil dry you can get at Napa. I've used granigrit here and there. It helps to keep things weighted down but I'm not sure it has much other benefit.

If you go to the thread I started a couple of weeks a go you can see my JBP that are growing in the above substrate. http://bonsainut.com/index.php?threads/jbp-are-pretty-dam-amazing.19499/

btw i was told by the local agway that agway has broken it's ties with drystall and can no longer get it.i found a garden center with 1 bag and they are trying to get me more.they have tried 3 different suppliers and are having no luck...but they said they will keep trying.local feed stores say they can't get it eather.

Well that's a real pain in the ass. I guess I'll have to start to do some searching to see if I can find another source. Thanks for the heads up.