Sun Versus Shade - Keeping Trees Healthy

Some of our bonsai trees thrive in the sun; others require partial or complete shade.

Have you ever felt the sides of your pots in the summer time to see how warm they are?

What effect does this heat have on the soil in the pots?

What effect does this heat have on roots that cannot escape the heat?

What are the implications for watering?

At what point do sun loving trees require shade?

What's the best way of creating shade if that's what's called for?

What might a shade house look like?

Fertilizing Your Trees - Organic Versus Inorganic

We all know that our trees need nutrients in order to thrive in their limited environments. If these trees were growing in our gardens, their far reaching roots would search out both water and nurients to keep themselves actively growing. Trees in pots cannot emulate this.

Few of us rely on the actual content of the soil to keep our trees healthy; instead we use a variety of fertilizers to provide what our soils lack. Our options run from slow release formulations, to lawn-type fertilizers, to instant dissolving mixes, to organic fish emulsions, to composted manure.

What advantage is there to using one of these over another?

At what strength should fertilizer be applied?

How often?

Should one switch from one type to another every time one fertilizes?

How do we recognize that our trees need fertilizer?

How do we recognize fertilizer burn?

What can be done if we have over-fertilized?

Bonsai Soil Components

At our recent bonsai soil workshop, members had the opportunity to create their own mix using a number of different ingredients in different proportions for different types of plants. Several of these ingredients seemed similar in their funtion; for example, haydite, turface, pumice, granite, lava rock have similar properties and should therefore, one would think, be interchangeable in a formulation; soil, compost, leaf mold also share similar characteristics.

Why would one want to use one rather than another? 

On what is such a decision based? 

Why is one percentage of an ingredient appropriate whereas another is not?

Is there such a thing as a good all around formula for all bonsai trees?

Do we need to distinguish between evergreens versus deciduous versus tropical, ... based on what?

Why do some members swear by a complete inorganic mix whereas others use significant proportions of organic matter?

Sprouting Ginko Seeds

If you have had luck sprouting ginko seeds, I would be glad to hear from you so that this year’s new crop of seeds will possibly lead to some small ginko seedlings. My article in the April 2008 Journal (on this website) explains the issue I encountered. Perhaps you have some ideas for the coming year.