No, don't bath this time of year, its not a bad revival method in the summer / hot months, if you "make an error in watering"This is the one I bought the parents seemed to be doing well with weekly baths so I’m told
a massive 3-4foot treet that said the word bonsai on it.
Chinese elms are a good starter tree, not exactly indestructible. But will take a little misuse in their stride.so my plan is to pick up my self or add the website Raymond posted to my xmas list and maybe get one of there starter packs.
Looking good@Cobra
The Dawn Redwood Forest arrived today, a few things
Pro
1 - It has 7 trees, not 5 as the previous photo showed, 2 of them were obscured.
2 - Good size trees
3 - It was only £49
I would suggest a little rake over to remove the surface crap an old table fork with the tines bent at approx 90 degrees serves as a cheap alternative to "over priced" Bonsai tools.3 - The surface has a lot of growth, more than just moss, some grass and even slime substance, that's why it looks wet.
So many trees in such a small space will appear pot bound, Just go steady on the root trimming when you re-pot. and you can elevate the soil into a small mound, when you do,to increase the soil area.2 - It is really pot bound. I poked a stick into the soil to check moisture and I can feel roots everywhere
Is it dead? if not, when you re-pot maybe pot it separately for an additional tree?It could have been 8 trees, I can see a stump, which seems it was cut months or perhaps last year
On the other hand a little bit of dead wood can add to the aestheticsI am part tempted to put the stump back in when I repot, it looks kinda cool…..
Looking good
I would suggest a little rake over to remove the surface crap an old table fork with the tines bent at approx 90 degrees serves as a cheap alternative to "over priced" Bonsai tools.
And roots you expose, doing this just cover over with your potting mix.
So many trees in such a small space will appear pot bound, Just go steady on the root trimming when you re-pot. and you can elevate the soil into a small mound, when you do,to increase the soil area.
And don't forget to wire it back in place, once re potted to keep it stable
Is it dead? if not, when you re-pot maybe pot it separately for an additional tree?
On the other hand a little bit of dead wood can add to the aesthetics
Poor little tree's forced out of shape and tied up with wires for most of their lives , and when they try and grow they get cut down
Not bad then but S/S fork Amazon £3.50 or old stuff that I had laying bout even cheaperp.s. I one of those overpriced bonsai forks...I think it was £12.
Personally I'd leave as isI actually have another Redwood in a single point separately, I could add it into this but it would be even number again.
As you noted its rather wet too, try and let it dry out a bit. Also, check the underside of the pot to make sure there are plenty of drain holes and that they aren't clogged upGood idea on scraping all the slime off and putting some top soil in top. I will do that tonight.
Its not gonna make much difference TBH, the only real way to thicken trunks is to put them in the ground for 2 or 3 years.@Cobra btw, I would like to make the trucks a little thicker, would you get something this size?
But But But Prince Charles speaks to plants, so they must beNo different than having a fish in a bowl or an indoor pet really. Except trees aren't conscious.
Not bad then but S/S fork Amazon £3.50 or old stuff that I had laying bout even cheaper
Personally I'd leave as is
As you noted its rather wet too, try and let it dry out a bit. Also, check the underside of the pot to make sure there are plenty of drain holes and that they aren't clogged up
As I mentioned roots rot, trees die.
Its not gonna make much difference TBH, the only real way to thicken trunks is to put them in the ground for 2 or 3 years.
Personally speaking I like round pots for forests, and as above if you want more soil, then heap it up.
Or even add a few small rocks to the side of the pot for even more depth.
My ash forest is in a Terracotta pot dish 25 cm x 5 cm deep and elevated to around 18cm
But if you prefer the rectangle, as I said its personal choice
But But But Prince Charles speaks to plants, so they must be
Looking at the image, it does look as though it should lift out easy enough just mind you don't damage any roots as they store the energy for the winter months,Yeah, I can heap it up thick I guess.
I want to let it dry a bit but at the moment the weather is on the cold side and also on the wet side and forecast for the entire week ahead. Think I could take the entire thing out then put some small pebbles/cat litter on the base and place it back on top for now?
Looking at the image, it does look as though it should lift out easy enough just mind you don't damage any roots as they store the energy for the winter months,
Also, can you put it somewhere sheltered? not inside but somewhere when it maybe sheltered a little from the rain?
It looks as though you have it elevated, which is good, ( frost protection) as I was scraping ice off the windscreen at 5 am this morning!
The problem with putting it in a shed will it get enough light? trees need natural light even in the winter, mine live out all year, even in the harsh winters. And don't forget its there ( in the shed)But I plan to water it and keep it moist until all the leaves has fallen off then stick it in the shed.
Yep I see that now, I missed it before, cut the wire, or just unwind it, if that's not practical cable ties will act as a temporary solution, if you don't have any wire to hand.Oh, there is a wire holding it down so I can’t just lift it out. You can actually see it in the 2nd photo
The problem with putting it in a shed will it get enough light? trees need natural light even in the winter, mine live out all year, even in the harsh winters. And don't forget its there ( in the shed)
ie don't let it dry out totally.
BUT then again, do you know if its been living outside or in a green house etc.
If the latter then definitely give it shelter through the winter, but looking at it, I suspect that its been "reared" outside.
Yep I see that now, I missed it before, cut the wire, or just unwind it, if that's not practical cable ties will act as a temporary solution, if you don't have any wire to hand.
But its cheap enough to buy on ebay.
That could be a plan if its still "wet" and its likely to go below zero for any length of timeI could always wrap the pot in bubble wrap.
That could be a plan if its still "wet" and its likely to go below zero for any length of time
That could be a plan if its still "wet" and its likely to go below zero for any length of time
Plenty of root there
Just remember you have no idea what roots go with what tree before you start pruning though.
The outer soil also looks quite compacted to me, if you haven't already, I'd carefully comb some of the side to loosen it up a bit, and put a layer underneath and some around the sides.
Use a chopstick ( Or similar ) to gently work the new soil in and around.
That way you are less likely to damage the feeder roots ( the fine white ones )
Just take it slowly, but yep that all sounds good to meThanks, tomorrow i will loosen and lose an inch of soil from the side, and may be loosen up a little roots at the base and put down an inch of soil mix in the bottom of the pot and put the whole thing back in and raise it an inch or so. It'll just be temporary until spring when i repot them all again.
Just take it slowly, but yep that all sounds good to me
One last thing was there any mesh covering the holes in the pot? You may not need it,
but may need to source some if the holes are large and the "mix" is fine.
You can buy proper bonsai mesh, but anything will do, from "garden netting" to fine metal mesh to plasterboard tape.
Obviously it's to stop the soil mix dropping through the holes in the pot.
That all sounds goodIt has about 10 holes that are like 2mm diameter spread across the bottom evenly, I made them to be like 3mm.
There are also 2 holes in the centre that is like a “mesh” patten by plastic, about 15 x 1mm holes in a bunch in a circle size of like an inch wide. I think all together there are enough drainage to a regular ceramic pot. I am going to put a single grit size layer at the base to add a bit of air before putting the inch of soil down (deciduous soil mix I bought from Heron). https://www.herons.co.uk/Outdoor-Deciduous-Bonsai-Soil-Mix-2L
I have a few sheets of bonsai mesh somewhere but I may have thrown it in the recycle along with some waste paper the other week....have ordered some more for next spring when i will definitely need them.
That all sounds good
Everything I've passed on so far, is just the way I do things, over time you will probably find slightly different ways / preferable ways of doing things, be given different advice etc.
Just do what works for you
TBH if you want to put them all in the shed while you are away it won't hurt. If they are already "well watered" there will be minimal evaporation.I am not sure the Ficus or the Buddist Pine or the Chinese Privet would survive.
TBH if you want to put them all in the shed while you are away it won't hurt. If they are already "well watered" there will be minimal evaporation.
And the "lack of light" won't hurt for a few days, you may find they have dropped their leaves on your return.
But that's normal, they'll think winter is here due to the minimal photo periods, being in a shed.
Assuming its a Ficus Gensing bring it in the house that'll be fine as a "house plant" through the winter.
The general rule, once the temperatures fall below 10oC the "delicate ones" need protecting.
But keep it directly away from radiators or other heat source, but near some natural light.
Stand it in a tray of wet gravel. That'll help with the moisture for a few days.
TBH My Chinese pepper and Ficus live in during the winter months then outside in the daytime spring and back in at night
Chinese privets are also a little delicate, so you may need to protect that once the temperatures start to fall.
That's where mine ( ficus) live during the winter.Going to putting them indoors on a tray of wet gravel then on the kitchen window above the sink
The hardier varieties will be fine outside, and your parents checking on them in a week should also be fine,It's basically a choice between do I put them inside to protect from the cold with no watering or outsider with watering and brave the cold weather.
That's where mine ( ficus) live during the winter.
The hardier varieties will be fine outside, and your parents checking on them in a week should also be fine,
Also don't forget that trees need less water in the winter, and the air in November tends to be moist too, so hardly any evaporation will take place.
All I can suggest is check the long range forecast before you go, and make the final call then.
It should be fine on a bed of wet gravel. That's how I left mine for 10 days, the outside ones were watered by someone but the inside ones weren'tIt's really the indoor tree that is problematic,
It should be fine on a bed of wet gravel. That's how I left mine for 10 days, the outside ones were watered by someone but the inside ones weren't
I just buy a bag of gravel ( approx 10mm) from the likes of B&Q or Wickes.Good to know, I guess regular grit would work in the form of pebbles.
LOL and some are more expensive than a lot of trees too!Side note, I am finding myself looking at ceramic pot for it to be repotted into next year, I never thought it could be fun shopping for pots
If you are anywhere near the coast, there are interesting bits to be had there as well, even small pieces of drift wood, if you feel so inclined.might have to pay more attention next time i am in the country side.
I just buy a bag of gravel ( approx 10mm) from the likes of B&Q or Wickes.
Lasts forever and can even be used for "topping off" the soil if you want.
LOL and some are more expensive than a lot of trees too!
If you are anywhere near the coast, there are interesting bits to be had there as well, even small pieces of drift wood, if you feel so inclined.
Have you also thought of searching eBay?I am torn between this one, has a nice undertray.
Your'll certainly be in the right place for inspiration and "goodies"I am going to Japan next month, might take a look at some specialty shops when i am there
Have you also thought of searching eBay?
There is a lot of bonsai "stuff" on there
Your'll certainly be in the right place for inspiration and "goodies"
I *Think* its an English larch.Is that a Japanese Pine?
It just goes to show how resilient they areLook at those roots....I feel so sad for it.