As you receive this Journal you'll no doubt have spent considerable time already bringing your trees out of hibernation and repotting those in need.
A few things to keep in mind:
Newly repotted trees require protection from wind and sun, at least for a couple of weeks.
Make a special effort to water these trees regularly and don't ever let them dry out completely - new roots require ample moisture so that they can establish themselves.
Don't fertilize. Your soil will have some nutrients available. New roots do not take kindly to artificial fertilizers, especially, and can be easily burned, thus setting your tree back considerably, or even destroying it.
Trees coming out of greenhouses or out of your home need special protection from sun and wind, more so than those that spent the winter outside. Keep these trees in the shade and gradually over a 2 - 4 week period acclimatize them to the great outdoors.
Hardy Evergreens And Deciduous Plants
If repotting and pruning and styling did not get finished in April, there is still ample time to complete these tasks in May. if these activities are particularly harsh on your tree, give it extra protection from sun and wind to help it recover, and don't be stingy with the water! Gradually move the tree into its permanent summer locaion - don't rush it.
Tropicals
I have spent a fair bit of time over the winter months discussing the need for vigilance with your tropicals, especially when it comes to pests such as aphids and white fly. Once you move your trees outside, natural predators will generally help you to control these pests so that spraying should not be such an issue.
If, like myself, you bemoaned the fact that pure soap flakes are no longer available for use as pesticides, relax. I have found a source of the same in Canada on the internet. Try searching for such things as "natural cleaning agents." You should come up with a source or two. If not, send me an email and I will avail you of my source in Ottawa.
As you move your tropicals outdoors for the summer, and it really is a good idea to do so rather than to keep them indoors all year long, you must be more careful than with your temperate trees that you overwintered outdoors or in a cold space. The latter will have swelling buds, but not open leaves, such as your tropicals do. Therefore, it is critical that these trees be placed in fairly heavy shade when being moved outdoors, and gradually over a 2 - 4 week preiod, being acclimatized to their new summer home. Failure to do this gradually, will lead to severe leaf burn. By the way, most house plants also benefit greatly from spending the summer outdoors - there are, however, some exceptions to this rule, such as all plants that are beloved of slugs.
If your tropicals have particularly leathery leaves that take forever to adjust to the sun without burning first, try leaf pruning. I do this annually with a fiddle leaf fig (granted with its one foot or greater leaves, it's not what we call a good candidate for bonsai,) and have found that the benefit is twofold: I get new unburned leaves and the new growth is used to the sun and does not burn.
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