Made some training flats - Thought I'd share

[Dabbler]

Made these in lew of all the repotting I'm about to do - I'm figured I'd make a video about it too and have fun!

 

[Dabbler]

 

[cbrshadow23]

Real nice! What's an ideal use for flats of this size? New yamadori in their first pot? A training pot for a tree before it gets a bonsai pot?

 

[dbonsaiw]

Nice job on the video. I am so technologically challenged.

 

[Deleted member 47471]

View attachment 530720

This is a great idea! Nicely done

 

[n8]

They look good.

I've used window screen for a bottom before, too, and it's proven to be difficult to cut it out of the roots when transplanting. I just use more wood on the bottom now and leave a little space fr drainage.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

I've used window screen for a bottom before, too, and it's proven to be difficult to cut it out of the roots when transplanting. I just use more wood on the bottom now and leave a little space fr drainage.

Others have echoed this. Not sure I agree with this.

But imho they are using cloth and cheap screening coupled with not so good technique.

Given one uses heavy duty screening and trims off the roots three times a year forcing the roots outward vs downward which keeps the nebari flat. Even with light screening, proper trimming will solve this issue

That’s what these boxes are designed to do unless one’s goal is to thicken trees by letting the roots escape. In that case Anderson flats are your best bet. Even then one needs to trim the roots periodically.

In addition, no need for so much support on the bottom. This allows ease in root trimming.



Cheers
DSD sends

 

[Dabbler]

Real nice! What's an ideal use for flats of this size? New yamadori in their first pot? A training pot for a tree before it gets a bonsai pot?

I always use these when bonsai first start their journey into getting them into pots, nursery material, yamadori, tree needs to grow out a bit and the like.

Nice job on the video. I am so technologically challenged.

Everybody has their strengths and weaknesses

This is a great idea! Nicely done

Thanks!

They look good.

I've used window screen for a bottom before, too, and it's proven to be difficult to cut it out of the roots when transplanting. I just use more wood on the bottom now and leave a little space fr drainage.

I've never really had this issue as I try and keep the nebari flat - It's usually just some feeder roots that are easily removed

Others have echoed this. Not sure I agree with this.

But imho they are using cloth and cheap screening coupled with not so good technique.

Given one uses heavy duty screening and trims off the roots three times a year forcing the roots outward vs downward which keeps the nebari flat. Even with light screening, proper trimming will solve this issue

That’s what these boxes are designed to do unless one’s goal is to thicken trees by letting the roots escape. In that case Anderson flats are your best bet. Even then one needs to trim the roots periodically.

In addition, no need for so much support on the bottom. This allows ease in root trimming.

View attachment 530789View attachment 530790View attachment 530791

Cheers
DSD sends

I use more support as I'm a sucker for over engineering things - plus I work long hours so I try and keep the pots a little more water retentive so they don't dry out by the time I get home from work.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I am going to echo what people are saying about window screen. I used to place it on the bottom of my Anderson flats and had bad root problems - with larger trees I would have to cut the mesh off the roots, or cut off the roots entirely to get them free. In the case of seedlings in a 3" soil layer, many of the seedlings were killed trying to free them from the mesh.

Additionally, you are using untreated wood for your planters. They will probably start to rot sooner than you might want them to.

I would consider using 5/4" x 6" pressure treated exterior decking. Thinner, lighter, and longer lasting - while still being inexpensive (my Lowes has them at $4.48 for a 8' length).

 

[andrewiles]

Nice. Looks solid.

Some of these training boxes are roughly the size of an Anderson deep propagation flat. For that size category I wonder if you save all that much building it yourself. Worst case for an Anderson flat is probably $10 per tray, assuming you buy 10 or so. Closer to $7 on the west coast due to reduced shipping costs. Basing that off Stuewe. With pressure treated wood, screen, exterior rated screws, etc. it might be wash.

 

[Dabbler]

I am going to echo what people are saying about window screen. I used to place it on the bottom of my Anderson flats and had bad root problems - with larger trees I would have to cut the mesh off the roots, or cut off the roots entirely to get them free. In the case of seedlings in a 3" soil layer, many of the seedlings were killed trying to free them from the mesh.

Additionally, you are using untreated wood for your planters. They will probably start to rot sooner than you might want them to.

I would consider using 5/4" x 6" pressure treated exterior decking. Thinner, lighter, and longer lasting - while still being inexpensive (my Lowes has them at $4.48 for a 8' length).

I used these for like 10 years and they last as long as I need them too, 1 to 2 years and by that point I've pick a training pot or the like. I've also never had root issues - maybe I'm just lucky ( knock on wood). Also I avoid using chemically treated materials and they are really bad for the environment and touching them on human skin, plus cutting them - the dust is pretty toxic if you don't have a respiratory. Plus I have little ones that help me and I don't want them touching that then sticking their fingers in their mouth. If anything I would just use cedar 2 x 4 as they are not much more.

Nice. Looks solid.

Some of these training boxes are roughly the size of an Anderson deep propagation flat. For that size category I wonder if you save all that much building it yourself. Worst case for an Anderson flat is probably $10 per tray, assuming you buy 10 or so. Closer to $7 on the west coast due to reduced shipping costs. Basing that off Stuewe. With pressure treated wood, screen, exterior rated screws, etc. it might be wash.

I just enjoy building to the dimensions I need, plus I like working with my hands so I don't mind so much.