fertilizing baskets

Hello everyone,
Has anyone of you used anything more than the classical fertilizing baskets like the one in the picture attached?  like something homemade?   I am finding it a problem to keep on buying these baskets as they tend to break because of brittleness after a summer or so.  
Any idea or comments?

I use tea bags, I bought 500 for about £8 from China. They will last another year, works well, and also keeps moisture in.
Geoff.

I have seen PVC pipes cut down to size for use.
Hot water type or normal water pipes.
Laters.
Khaimraj

My suggestion would be to look up Walter Pall article on watering and fertilizing then go get some inorganic fertilizer like Miracle Grow.
No stink. No mess. No animals digging around in your trees. No bugs living in them also.

I will try the tea bag option as geoffm5eay suggested

I love to use both slow release and fast release - for the slow release I normally use a synthetic one which is odor less. I find it convenient because each time you are watering you are filling gaps in the nutrition needs of the plant which may be left out by the liquid one

Just use old shirt or fabric. put the fertilizer in and tie it into a ball. You can use excess bonsai wire to tie it up as it will not rust. You can adjust the size and dosage as well depending on your needs.

regards,
jun

Ha ha L.L.B.,

now that's sensible.
Until.
Khaimraj

Khaimraj Seepersad wrote:Ha ha L.L.B.,

now that's sensible.
Until.
Khaimraj

Sometimes we people in the bonsai world tends to overcomplicate matters.

hahaha,
jun

Yes and end in the consumerist world - while forgetting   simple things!!

For sale:

5"x5" squares of fabric specifically designed for BONSAI fertilization.
simply wrap our own super-duper BONSAI fertilizer into a square and place on the surface of your substrate

and because these are specifically designed for BONSAI, they are only $9.99 for a pack of 10 squares !!!

I have an even better deal! One long handled stainless steel measuring spoon with 1 Tablespoon (14.8 ml) nominal capacity specifically designed to place measured doses of your choice of organic fertilizer on your bonsai for only $25 plus S&H. With reasonable care this specialty tool should last for over 1 million fertilizer doses at a cost of $0.000025 per dose (plus S&H).

Seriously, I just dump piles of my organic fertilizer mix on the pot. It spreads out as I water and I place the next batch in between the previous piles. If it starts to clog the surface of the pot or I need to make the surface look nice I just scrape it up. I also water every week or so with a mix of inorganic and fish emulsion if I remember and figure the piles of organic handle the between times.

to be honest, i did purchase some of these baskets but have yet to use the, figuring they will be good to use for trees that might be shown during the growing season... but beyond that, i do what you do Marty...

"We grow our trees for beauty, not produce or lumber " ----------------------- that idea needs very little fertiliser for a Refined Tree.


Aged compost and 1/3 strength Miracle -Gro fertiliser into moist soil.
Gives around 12 N and the compost supplies the rest of the NPK.

A few teaspoons aged compost sprinkled on the soil and it does not clog the surface.[ if needed ]
In 3 or 4 months many of my surfaces have loose inorganic.
Tip and remix some aged compost.

I tried that organic fertiliser, was 2nd hand notified by Paul or Michael of Australia that the stuff is
just fermented and has to compost still.
This is how it holds the 6 or 7 N xP xK and delivers to the tree. BUT I don't have the
patience with the clogging quality or appearance of the decay stage.
[ Did test the organic ]

This is week 4 of fertiliser application, trees started to wake up a week or two ago.
Nice stout shoots slowly developing and too hard/unpleasant for bugs to bite.

Sometimes I think all this traditional stuff just costs too much in time, forget the $$$$$$$.
Laters.
Khaimraj