Bonsai Garden Forums / BONSAI / Bonsai Techniques / Timely tasks / Latest Posts

RE: Timely tasks

tpranger — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 10:04:19 GMT

It seems that you are doing great there. it is quite an enjoyable experience to be hearing from you and the task you are doing. I appreciate the effort of sharing your best moments with us. In fact, I have just bought a few new pots as I felt that some of my plants are already out growing the current pot. It will be my turn soon to change the soil and cut some roots too.

[url=http://www.newprocontainers.com/]Wholesale Planters[/url]

RE: Timely tasks

Tuppence — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:12:01 GMT

OK. Thanks. Hope your Christmas is a happy one, as well, Don. :)

RE: Timely tasks

Stymie — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:05:22 GMT

[quote][b]Tuppence (12/3/2008)[/b][hr]Thanks, Don. How much gylcerine do you put into a gallon of water?

[/quote]

I don't know the percentage exactly. I just put sufficient into my water containers to stop them from freezing. I'm trying not to overdo it because its really still an experimental procedure. There might be a concentration which could harm some trees. This is the first winter when I have been brave enough to use it on everything. I started with stuff that I could afford to lose three seasons ago and included some of both evergreens and deciduous varieties last year.

My six water containers hold well over fifty gallons and I have only treated two of them to glycerine. The others are well and truly frozen. I noticed that two containers in the goatyard which had some organic refuse in them were liquid for long after the clear water was frozen. That may have some significance for future experiment.

RE: Timely tasks

Tuppence — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:04:30 GMT

Thanks, Don. How much gylcerine do you put into a gallon of water?

RE: Timely tasks

Stymie — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:31:20 GMT

Penny; As you know, I use a very open planting medium so I tend to water in winter after only four dry days. When the first frost was forecast, I watered whether it was needed or not with a dilute solution of glycerine to prevent the root balls from freezing solid. If left frozen for a few days, the trees would suffer from dehydration. I don't have the space to take them all inside for protection.

Roy; Your Acer will be quite dormant now so you'll be okay to go ahead. Don't overdo the root pruning but leave some room with new medium for the roots to grow into. Rootsafe or Superthrive in the first watering will not do any harm. Give it a bit of shelter from the cold and wind if you can until established. The only re-potting that I did this back end was well before the frosts arrived and the clients were left out at that time. I'm putting off any more re-potting until the New Year because as I said to Penny, I haven't got room to protect them all.

RE: Timely tasks

RoyH — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:24:01 GMT

Don, when you did some repotting, did you do any root pruning?

I'm thinking of repotting one of my acers, which is in a large training pot, but it would require some root pruning to get it into the desired pot.

RE: Timely tasks

Tuppence — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:05:54 GMT

Do you water in the winter, Don, when it doesn't rain for a week or so or will the bonsai not dry out too much?

RE: Timely tasks

Kath — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 08:22:01 GMT

Well rotted leaves have been dug in amongst the dying-back perennials, it all looks a bit of a mess atm, haven't been able to get out there these past two weeks, much too wet, although the sun is shining this morning after a 'crispy' night.

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

RE: Timely tasks

Stymie — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 19:03:22 GMT

Any less than hardy material should be sheltered for the next 2 or 3 months. I'm speaking of the Northern hemisphere. :P One light frost on deciduous trees is enough to put them to sleep for now but hard freezing of the rootball for more than three days should be avoided. Some people will know that I added glycerine to my water to act as an anti-freeze as an experiment. Not everyone has agreed with this practice but I have had no adverse reactions over the last two winters.

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.

RE: Timely tasks

Stymie — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 15:39:51 GMT

The pile of discarded wire continues to grow. Being an ex boy scout, I believe in thrift so most of it will be re-used in future. I don't remember ever buying all this. There's so much wire on that demonstration tree that it would certainly sink in water. I dare not remove all of that because the heavy, bent area can't be expected to stay put. Luckily the bark is protected by a double wrapping of raffia underneath the wire. The guy wire will have to stay on pro tem also.

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.

RE: Timely tasks

RoyH — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:44:47 GMT

at this time of the year i have been removing all the moss from my pots and replaced the void with some fresh cat litter / compost mix.

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

RE: Timely tasks

Tuppence — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:52:05 GMT

I didn't repot anything last year and must take a look at the few bonsai I have. They all need new soil, I think. I remove moss as it grows, though I like the look of it.

:)

RE: Timely tasks

Kath — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 22:21:12 GMT

Yes it really has been one of the most colourful Autums this year and seems to be lasting longer than usual.

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 :))

Timely tasks

Stymie — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 14:12:19 GMT

I hope that everyone is enjoying the local autumn colours.

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. :laugh: 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.