At this time or even a little earlier, I remove moss from the surface of my bonsai medium so as not to provide a home for unwelcome creepie crawlies or disease. I've even done a bit of re-potting of trees which have already lost their leaves. It's a good time to review the medium needs and stock up with the necessary mixes and any pots which will be required. Nature is taking care of the watering outside and my delicate Serissa and figs have been brought under cover for the winter. Early last month was when I applied my second dose of epsom salts to everything to counteract any shortage of Magnesium which may have been caused by all the water passing through the mediums and washing it away.  My last three feeds of the year were zero nitrates formula to harden everything off. I shall not need to fertilize any more until March 09.  A lot of you will know that I'm very thrifty with my feeds, subscribing to the theory that nitrates in particular will increase the size of both leaves and internodal distances. Both of which are desired to be small. The last trims of the year have just about ended and the only things still to do will be a bit of deadwood refinement and removal of any wire which has fulfilled it's purpose.

What are you all doing at this part of the year?    Our club, SYBS, will be holding the AGM this month followed by an auction of bonsai related items, which is always popular and tends to be a buyer's market. I'll be unloading a few more trees and some surprise items.

Don't just sit there - Talk to us. =Don.

My name is Don and I'm a bonsaiholic.

Now, where are those tablets?

I too am a great believer in removing all the moss at this time of year, especially anything that has to go into the greenhouse ie the fuchsia bonsai, these all get re-potted anyway at this time of year, so removal of all the moss is automatically done at the same time.

Indeed, also no more feeding until next Spring (only the winter flowering houseplants )

Kath
UK - Zone 8

"Patience is a virtue"

I have also been cleaning the bark of my trees with a tooth brush / soapy water to remove lichens etc.

 

If you forget your history, you will repeat your mistakes! RoyH 

The willow cuttings which I took at the end of September/early October have all rooted strongly.  I think that they must be able to do so regardless of season. They lost their leaves and have grown new ones already. They must be the easiest of all trees to propagate. I have S. caprea and S. babylonica.

My name is Don and I'm a bonsaiholic.

Now, where are those tablets?

Any pots which have been lounging about without occupants should be cleaned out and scrubbed in anticipation of new tenants in the spring. If the drain holes are meshed now as well, you will be pleased when you are in the full throes of re-potting.   Indoor trees continue to grow if much slower and long internodes might occur as they reach for available light. These can be removed to keep the original shape. Fertilization of these semi tropicals should be sparse and no more frequently than once per month.

Piles of fallen leaves which have been gathered together by the winds can be collected and added to the compost heap. These, along with composted animal bedding are all the feed that my garden gets or needs. Two dressings of this material each year are dug into the top-soil which no longer has any stones in it thanks to painful back bending when turning it over. The garden is alive with worms and good bacteria.         Be good and keep warm.

My name is Don and I'm a bonsaiholic.

Now, where are those tablets?

I'm lagging behind , my dirty bonsai and flower pots are still in a big heap behind the greenhouse, will get there sometime

Kath
UK - Zone 8

"Patience is a virtue"