Three days ago I uploaded this video to YouTube, and guess what?  I have done nothing from that long list of tasks!  The wind has been howling around the bonsai garden and rain has also made an appearance.  The best thing about it, is that it stopped ‘drill man’ from featuring on my next video soundtrack

Seriously, I did spend all weekend breaking up the rotting benches and also cutting up and clearing away a lot of last years dead branches – left kindly by my very expensive Tree Surgeons (not sure that is the best description).  Then I had the joy of meeting our very well paid ‘Rubbish Disposal Technicians’ who were happy to  watch me struggle with a diverse range of rubbish.  Why do they have to be so rude and unhelpful!

I was actually told, bluntly, that I had to hold my rotting pieces of wood and NOT put them on the ground – whilst waiting for the current load to be compacted.  Now I know I’m not exactly feeble but I did struggle to understand why he was so adament I could not put them on the ground whilst waiting!

I started to become a wee bit uppity and then stopped myself as he suddenly spurted out some **** about ‘Health & Safety’ rules!  These council departments have so much power and the last thing I needed was to be slapped with a Tip Ban for being ‘aggresive or confrontational’…

So of the 5 Things I should be doing now, I can definitely mark myself with a big green tick.  Dry and ignored Dawn Redwoods watered, benches removed, majority of trees are happily dormant AND everything is safely tucked away from the wind.  I even moved my little Forsythia into the coldframe for some additional protection due to unwanted bud swelling.  I suppose I  now need to let you know how I have got on with the 10 Tasks for Winter (or not)…

Deadwood Work.

Do you know how cold it is right now?  I mean, I  did look at a few Bonsai with deadwood but then the rain hit hard and I had to run away inside and comfort myself with a hot chocolate.  By the time the rain had stopped, my enthusiasm had waned. So I reminded myself that there is always summer to do this job.  After all, why do something now when you can enjoy it much more in 6 months time!  A bit like cleaning dirty bonsai pots…

I did plug the dremmel in to a power socket and set my studio up with Andy’s lump of wood.  And I did even look at it for several minutes.  I tutted and mused over different ideas and drew all over it with my HB pencil.  Not sure why, because I have never followed any pre-planned cutting lines in the past.

Having decided where I was going to start channeling out this piece of trunk I realised I needed my safety glasses and gloves.  Although I didnt find the left glove I did manage to find a packet of Doritos instead…perhaps a sign that this job should be done another time too

Clean up your Pine Bonsai.

If you watched the video you will already know that I did my Pine clean up work in Autumn.  I did find a few dead needles and one or two terminal buds to remove but I am happy these can be left for a good few months yet.  The next bit of work will not be till late spring when the candles have elongated.

Bonsai Bench & Garden Clear-up.

I spent all Friday with my serrated saw blade and branch loppers to reduce everything into easy to handle pieces that I could pack into my old ‘skip’ bag.  The benches themselves fell apart as soon as I showed them a picture of my hammer. It appears the only things keeping them standing were the wood louse.  I can happily report that I achieved this momentous task without injury – a definite first for me

As for the Tip run…well, enough said at the beginning of this article.

Create Rock Structures for plantings.

I have the glue ready and the lava rock ready but unfortunately my studio lights have decided to blow their bulbs, making it impossible for me to film. I suppose that means I need to get some more hot chocolate instead…

Building my new Website Pages.

I am loving this task and my biggest fear is it will distract me from my Bonsai Channel too much.  At High School I majored in Journalism and Literature.  I love nothing better than spending a day just creating articles or starting ‘another’ prize winnning novel.  Needless to say, they remain unfinished – like most of my creative projects.  I really do need to learn to commit to something and stop getting bored and distracted.

There is so much work to do to make this website really useful and so many of the pages need lots of work.  The calendar may be the biggest issue with the volume of entries I need to start putting in it.

Update my Bonsai Workflow App.

The day after this video was released 8 people asked to try the app from various parts of the world.  Since then, I have sent out another 7 files.  Lexi and I are absolutely blown away with the interest and pray that there are no major issues using this product.  It has worked so well for me during the last 4 years AND the first group to use it have also reported postive results.

If you have taken advantage of this offer then please provide postive feedback in either the comments here or on the tuition videos uploaded to YouTube.  You are of course more than welcome to send a Gift Donation via Paypal to help me spoil Lexi for her hardwork

Bonsai Soil / Wire & Pots.

You all know that I have 29 bags of Zeolite and Pumice thanks to an order put in by my good friend Alex.  I also still have another 4 bags of Kitty Friend, 100 litres of vermiculite and a little bit of Pine Bark.  So I don’t forsee any issues with repots this spring.  I do need to order in a few rolls of 2.5mm and 3mm aluminum wire but that can wait for a few more weeks.  The price has remained pretty constant at £12.50 for 500g.

I did order over £100 worth of Pond Baskets for my Japanese Maples and last years succesful seedlings.  That is going to take a lot of time and this will be subject of one of my repotting videos.  Everything gets more expensive each year!

Cleaning Pots:

Everay day I step outside and then shudder in fear as I look at the piles of dirty and uncared for bonsai pots.  They litter most areas of my Nursery and have been the biggest thing ignored over the past 4 years.  I think the idea is good – but it is a little too cold right now!!!

Establish Bonsai Repots and Pruning Lists:

This is an ongoing nightmare.  I already have three A4 pages full of URGENT repots and the top of that list involves my Chinese Elms.  Some of these imported bonsai have not seen new soil in over 5 years – might also explain the occasional deaths.  Since starting a YouTube channel I have definitely found it impossible to keep up with this important job and my trees have suffered.  I think someone once accused me of ‘Tree Cruelty’ in one of my early videos.  I may not agree with the tone of the comment but I cannot argue with the sentiment.  I have too many trees to be able to care for them properly.

Managing your winter watering.

In truth, this doesnt present much of an issue.  The Dawn Redwoods missed out because I had stacked bags of bonsai soil on the bench above them – DOH!!!

I have visited the coldframe a couple of times this month and found most of the bonsai are happy and ‘refusing’ free drinks from me right now.

ANYWAY…

I have just spent another 2 hours writing this blog so I shall sign off here with a reminder of my biggest Bonsai fear: False Spring

Every year I wait as long as possible before starting repots on my Trident Maples, knowing that we always get a dramatic return to freezing nights (for about a week).  This has put my Bonsai back over the past two years and my Tridents are without a lot of their branches as a result of this.  Fingers crossed this year will be a mild entry into spring and the dreaded False Spring will stay away for once

God Bless & Happy Bonsaiing

Xavier

Through a series of photographs and short notes I will take you through the repot and root prune process used for one of my Chinese Elms in Spring 2018.  This process is the same I would apply for any bonsai that has outgrown its container.

Step 1 – Observation of the bonsai

The tree is sitting very high in the pot suggesting the roots are now pushing it ‘up’ from its original placement.  With Chinese Elm it is not uncommon to have to repot annually due to their rapid root growth.

I also noticed that water ran off the surface without much absorption and the lower soil was remaining dry and crumbly.  This is an indication of poor percolation / soil breakdown.  This reduces the ability for oxygen and water to interact with the roots.

Step 2 – Exposing the rootball

Take your time to remove the tree from the pot (don’t foget to remove the ties first!).  Slowly tease away the soil mass to identify the primary rootball.

Make sure you have a spray bottle on hand to keep misting the fine roots.

Take care not to cause unecassary damage to existing roots.  A chopstick is the ideal sorting tool.

Step 3 – Start sorting out the root structure

Using a chopstick I begin to remove the soil and other matter that binds the roots together.  Carefully beginning the process of untangling the fibres – some will tear (do not worry)

I examine the roots for signs of disease. (They often smell or squash easily)

Watch out for any bugs or larvae that may be wriggling about – try to identify and eradicate. GET ADVICE!

Step 4 – Time to do some root pruning

Once fully untangled it was possible to establish what  I really needed in this mass of growth.  I identified the core networks of roots I wanted for my tree – removing the rest!

In this case I have removed at least 1/2 of the lower root growth.  New roots will emerge from the cut sites.  In this way it is possible to develop a ramified system.

I have  removed  crossing roots and unwanted large surface roots.  I keep misting the roots to keep them wet whilst I work.

Step 5 – Prepare the pot

I have cleaned the old pot and checked for any winter damage.  In this case it had a hairline crack so I changed it.  Nothing worse than having a pot crack open in winter – risking root damage / death.

I have put a plastic mesh across the drainage holes to reduce the chance of insects getting in and grit getting out.

I then layed down a thin layer of cleaned grit as a base for the bonsai soil. This can reduce water collecting  causing root rot…

Step 6 – Prepare tie wires and soil bed

I cut two lengths of wire for anchoring ties and thread them through the drainage holes.  As the elm has lots of gnarly old roots beneath the surface I will use these to hold the tree in place.

I added the bonsai soil to the level I wanted the tree to sit at and ‘mounded up’ at the position the trunk will be placed.  This is the time to re-check the root and tree fits the pot.  I was aiming for a good radial surface spread and wanted to allow space at the edges for more root growth.

Step 7 – Position the tree

By now you should be happy where the tree will sit.  This is not a process you want to repeat unless you have to – it stresses the tree and can slow/stop growth for the year.

Secure the tree into position with the wire ensuring you avoid future damage to surface roots – wire digging in as they expand. I slide the wires beneath the lower ‘hidden’ roots or use a wooden peg system.

Step 8 – Fill the pot with soil

I gradually added soil to the pot whilst working it into the root network with a chopstick.  Slowly trying to fill any air pockets in hard to get places.

This is the last opportunity to identify and remove any unwanted upward growing roots.  So keep your clippers handy…

In this project I have added a rock and wrapped some of the roots around it to provide interest.  Over the years I hope that it will become gripped by the expanding roots.

Step 9 – Water and Detail

Water the tree carefully until it runs out of the bottom of the pot clear.  Free draining soil avoids the risk of water collecting and risking root rot during this critical early stage.

Check for any final alterations – you can still move the tree if needed.  Make certain it feels secure. You don’t want new root growth breaking due to insecure tie downs.

Brush away unwanted soil from the exposed roots and apply a moss top dressing. (See later blog post)

Step 10 – Admire your work

Take the time to admire what you have achieved – well done!

I make notes in my bonsai diary with a bring up date for the next ‘planned’ repot.  This tree will be fine for at least 3 years but I have a review date set for 2020 (2yrs)

I will not start applying fertiliser for at least 4 weeks or until any new growth starts hardening off.  As an indoor tree you can repot throughout the growing season without much risk.  I avoid winter as my indoor elms go dormant.

If you wish to purchase this tree then send me a message or look in the shop section.

In Part 2 of this Bonsai Collaboration I root prune and pot my four collected field-grown trees.

Watch to see just how much root growth you can remove safely.  I ended up with two Smooth Leaf Elms and two European Hornbeams.

Jelle @GrowingBonsai  also pops in for a few more words of wisdom…

Topics Covered today:

Cleaning and root pruning the first tree.
Why can we prune so much root?
Into a pot.
Let’s look at the Hornbeam.
Some essential advice.
What can I do with this Elm?
A root cutting perhaps?
Another tree to pot up.
A disappointing Hornbeam.
Jelle has the last word.

God Bless & Happy Bonsaiing Xavier

Tasks planned for Autumn:

Chinese Elm Bonsai.
Silver Birch Bonsai.
Dawn Redwood Bonsai.
Trident Maple Bonsai.
Japanese Maple Bonsai.
Oak, Larch and Hornbeam – Leave alone.
Any Air Layers?
This years cuttings.
Greenhouse and Winter Planning.
Rafia and wire on Bonsai.
The Beech Bonsai.
Indoor Trees – Ficus & Jade.
Use a Winter Wash.
Dirty Pots and Used Bonsai Soil.
What about missed Bonsai?

Hopefully your task list is a little smaller – I didn’t even finish this list this year!

God Bless & Happy Bonsaiing
Xavier

I killed my first Chinese Elm, also my first bonsai, within the space of 3 months.  I had no knowledge of how to care for this plant and no understanding that such care was needed.  When it first started to shed all of its leaves I panicked and thought it must need more fertiliser – to stop the leaves falling!

When more leaves fell from the bonsai I looked at a book in hope and realised my tree probably had a root problem and must need repotting.  Needless to say, I had no idea about the right soil or when the right time was to do such an operation.  I pulled it out and trimmed the roots, because the book said I should, and then put it back in using a combination of topsoil and John Innes No 2 (potting mix).

Surprisingly, it seemed to ‘pick up’ over the next month and I thought I had the problem solved.  I was now a Bonsai Master!!! Alas, I then noticed the tips of the new shoots were wilting and yellowing.  Clearly I thought, with an air of smugness, I needed to prune this back (like the book says)…

This process of plant murder continued for about 3 months.   It is probably important to mention that I made the biggest ‘common’ mistake by daily overwatering…as well as giving it more fertiliser.  One week later it dropped the last of its leaves and the new shoots browned off and died.  I think I ‘loved it’ to death…

But here is what happened with a dying Chinese Elm that I did take the correct action on

So if you want to learn how NOT TO kill your Chinese Elm Bonsai then I recommend watching this video

God Bless & Happy Bonsaiing

Xav