large training bonsai pots

I've seen on a here a few times people with large square wood bonsai pots. Are people makingthose or are they bought

You just make them yourself, some scrap wood a screw gun and some screen for the bottom (with spaced slats across for support) and you have a nice temporary training tray. I think I have some that are currently empty if you want photos.

That would be awesome for the photos- where do you get the screens?

Yes, photos please. I'm wanting to make one also, perhaps we could get some of the other members involved. I'd like to see some different techniques if possible.

Hi
Here an example.
You do not need a screen, just drill the bottom each few centimeters and as you can see also the sides of the box.
Note in the bottom the hole diameter is bigger.
Take care it can stand a few years outside, in this case with a pine at least 4 years.

regards, Sunip

Gentleman G. wrote: ... ... I'd like to see some different techniques if possible.

You can try the "colander growing" method, too!

You can make your own searching on the internet but for start you can look here, American Bonsai Society Forum

The screen I have used is any window screen (aluminum or fiberglass) or sufficiently draining landscape cloth has worked for me also.




I have also been known to collect all things with open grated bottoms. The plastic is just around the sides to help contain it until I can put some wood sides on it.

Hi
For screen i use the plastic mesh they use for protecting young trees in wood and gardens
against rabbits and so on.
You can buy them in any garden centre.
Just cut of the piece you need.
regards, Sunip

Giga,

Go your local supermarket, ask the fish section if they have any large polystyrene fish boxes. These are normally quite large and about one inch thick.

Drill drainage holes and place mesh over the holes as if it were a bonsai pot.

These boxes have a number of advantages over building wooden ones
1. They are free.
2. They are lightweight.
3. There is a natural insulative effect from the polystyrene construction which has in my own experience shown that it has a marvelous effect with regards to rooting.

It advantageous to wash them out before using them

Ive built a box a few days ago, wont bother to post it here cause I actually didnt bother to take any measurements when building it.
Looks a bit like the boxes here, and they are fast to make. Just make sure to use a thick plank, not a thin one. It will crack easilly when you use screws.
And use screws, not nails. Its much easier to just screw out when you need to take the tree out. That way, you dont have to pull or lift the roots out, they can just sit there. And if its proper materials, you can just screw the box back together for a new tree, or the old one. Just drilling a whole lot of holes is much faster and just as good in my opinion as making bigger holes and using mesh.
Ive made one box for a pretty big tree, and the planks cost about a buck for a metre here.

question, for a tree about 2-3 inches across and 12 feet tall, obviously cutting it down, how big should the bax be half a meter/ 18 inches?

zooloo10 wrote:question, for a tree about 2-3 inches across and 12 feet tall, obviously cutting it down, how big should the bax be half a meter/ 18 inches?

it depends on the size of the root ball, not the size of the trunk

the root ball has to sit nicely with some space around for growth

ok thanks for the information, wasnt sure if the size of the tree would determine the size of the rootball.