by Midge Goeth

This is the first of what we hope will become a regular feature in this newsletter. Send your tips and successes/failures - Editor

Consider this column to be the "chat room" for the Greater Louisville Bonsai Society. Here is where you can learn from mistakes and successes of other bonsai enthusiast, as well as share your own triumphs and failures.

For instance, I just tried my hand for the first time to mix my own soil for my tropicals. One half oil dry and one half 4M Mix (contains Canadian sphagnum peat, 40% - processed pine bark -vermiculite) from Buntons. After repotting them, I read an article on-line suggesting I should have added lava or pumice, or grit. Hummm --- I'll keep you up to date on the progress, but think I'll add some sort of granular mixture when repotting my evergreen and deciduous trees. Any suggestions?

Speaking of soils, can someone suggest a good mixture for azaleas? I have one ready to take out of the ground and put into a pot. How much sphagnum peat (if any) should be added?

SUMMER EXPOSURE

• Pines and junipers go in full sun
• Deciduous trees do well in a spot that gets some shade from late afternoon sun (especially Japanese Maples).
• Tropicals will want quite a bit of sun. They are used to bright, humid climates.
• Do not let trees dry out. (I lost three trees one time because they did not get watered for three days in the heat of summer. What was I thinking!?)
• If you are going on vacation, call a club member. Most anyone will be glad to help, particularly if you can return the favor sometime.