by Lee Squires

Please join GLBS members for a great weekend of bonsai planned for February 11 & 12, as we bring Julian Adams to Louisville from Virginia to present a comprehensive presentation & workshop on pines. He will also have some trees and supplies for sale. Please see a full explanation of events on page 3 in this newsletter.

Sound Advice for Bonsai Growers

Since 1972 when I started my first “bonsai“, I have done my best to keep them all alive; but, like most of us, I have had to set a few out for the garbage man. So, to help you out some and increase your chance of success, I offer the following advice that has helped make me somewhat successful for 39 years.

START WITH HEALTHY PLANT MATERIAL – No need to nurse a plant back to health before you start bonsai training- pick a healthy tree.

INITIALLY, DON’T MESS WITH THE ROOTS TOO MUCH – When styling for the first time,trim and wire the top of the tree first and then delve into the root system Don’t massacre the root system prior to trimming looking for that perfect rootage. It puts the tree off balance while trimming and starts an immediate decline and a race to stop permanent injury to the plant before the styling process is complete. It also may make you select the wrong tree front for the sake of a few good roots. Most of the admiring public look at the top of the tree first and then the roots. Good visible roots on the soil surface are great but are secondary to the primary tree itself. Don’t put your tree at risk to uncover or trim them too early.

DON’T BAREROOT EVERGREENS

WASH SOIL FROM ROOTS ON DECIDUOUS MATERIAL – This prevents root damage and gets rid of all of the heavy clay soil before potting

DON’T STARVE YOUR BONSAI – Use the proper fertilizer for the tree, and plenty of it while training.

SPRAY FOR RED SPIDER MITE when you first see it and again 10 days later when the eggs hatch.

DON’T WIRE ALL BRANCHES DURING FIRST STYLING – This stresses the tree out. Wire half & wait a week or so and go back and wire the other half.

USE LARGE ENOUGH WIRE – Wire too small for a branch makes you bend the branch over and over to make the branch conform and causes separation of the cambium layer under the bark, resulting in dead branches.

APPLY A WETTING AGENT AND ROOT STIMULATOR (Roots)- to the soil surface in July or August to help water penetration throughout the soil and alleviate root stress in 90 degree heat.

APPLY MYCORRHIZAE – to the soil surface or mix it in the soil while repotting. This friendly fungus helps roots grow and work properly.

APPLY POWDERED LIME TO THE SOIL SURFACE – once during the summer to neutralize the acidic buildup in bonsai that have been potted for a few years.

GIVE SOME SHADE – to those trees that require it – Pots get hot in full sun !

USE DIFFERENT SOIL MIX FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF TREES – This lets you water all trees everyday, but each pot will drain differently according to the species. Never use the same soil on all trees.

TRY TO COVER YOUR TREES IN THE WINTER – Garages, or cold frames work best. It is important to keep sun and ice and winds off of your trees in the winter. This prevents desiccation of foliage and branches and sunscald. See my cold frames on page 9 in this issue.