19Mateo83
Masterpiece
I know this is a hotly debated subject on here. Some like to grow dry, some like to grow wet…. No one floods. I’m taking a note from @Cajunrider and @Maiden69 and maybe blending the two methods that seem to consistently get good results and try something a little different. My hope is to simulate the water level in a swamp and the periodical flooding that occurs in hopes of helping BC grow the trunk flare that the collected ones are known for.
I took one of the large cement mixing tubs and drilled 1 inch drain holes about 2/3 up on the sides. I then covered these holes with mesh in hopes of slowing down the drainage to the point that the tub floods when it rains but can slowly drain back to its normal “non flood stage” level.
I then proceeded to make a soil soup. The soil I used was leftovers from my bamboo propagation which is normal topsoil mixed with sand and manure. I filled the soil right up to the drain holes and topped the tub off with about an inch of water and nestled the cypress pots down in the muck. The roots will be able to escape the pots and when it is in “flood stage” the whole root ball is submerged with the exception of the ones in the tall pots. The drain hole idea worked perfectly. The tub fills up completely with water and over the course of the day it slowly drains down and the top 1/3 of the root balls are left above water. I also figured out I can adjust the speed it drains by playing with the drain screens. Ideally I want it to stay flooded for a day or two at a time. If I notice a difference in growth or development of basal flares I will start growing directly in the tubs with this method.
At “flood stage” the ones in shorter pots have their roots fully submerged.
I had to pack them all in but they fit. There is 9 in pots that the surface will stay above the water and 5 in pots that will get submerged. Getting it somewhat level on my sloping ground was important.
You can see where the soil level is when it’s drained all the way down to the drain holes. I tested it with only about an inch of water and it took 5 hours for that inch to drain out.
Science if fun, fully flooded pictures to come tomorrow.
I took one of the large cement mixing tubs and drilled 1 inch drain holes about 2/3 up on the sides. I then covered these holes with mesh in hopes of slowing down the drainage to the point that the tub floods when it rains but can slowly drain back to its normal “non flood stage” level.
I then proceeded to make a soil soup. The soil I used was leftovers from my bamboo propagation which is normal topsoil mixed with sand and manure. I filled the soil right up to the drain holes and topped the tub off with about an inch of water and nestled the cypress pots down in the muck. The roots will be able to escape the pots and when it is in “flood stage” the whole root ball is submerged with the exception of the ones in the tall pots. The drain hole idea worked perfectly. The tub fills up completely with water and over the course of the day it slowly drains down and the top 1/3 of the root balls are left above water. I also figured out I can adjust the speed it drains by playing with the drain screens. Ideally I want it to stay flooded for a day or two at a time. If I notice a difference in growth or development of basal flares I will start growing directly in the tubs with this method.
At “flood stage” the ones in shorter pots have their roots fully submerged.
I had to pack them all in but they fit. There is 9 in pots that the surface will stay above the water and 5 in pots that will get submerged. Getting it somewhat level on my sloping ground was important.
You can see where the soil level is when it’s drained all the way down to the drain holes. I tested it with only about an inch of water and it took 5 hours for that inch to drain out.
Science if fun, fully flooded pictures to come tomorrow.
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