September Bonsai Tips
This month could be hot and dry, so you might need to maintain watering, but if the opposite happens then you will need to protect from over watering with rain.
If you need to fertilise still then this needs to be done with a liquid feed so that this is quickly absorbed as solid feeds could take a few weeks to break down. Use mainly potash or phosphorus fertilisers with little nitrogen which, along with carefully watering will greatly enhance the autumn colours.
Early flowering bonsai will benefit from repotting new into a larger pot along with quince and pomegranate, add extra soil so as not to disturb the roots nor should you root prune, as this will encourage flowering in the spring. Its possible to revert back to a smaller pot when flowering has finished as you can then root prune after flowering but not before.
Now’s the time to keep an open eye for insects looking for their winter quarters. Trees, especially deciduous, wired in the spring should now be set and the wires can be removed, if still movement, then rewire, if you do not remove now you could end up with wire marks on the branches.
This months meetings are Tuesday 12th September 7:30pm with Bill Baker & Roy Weatherall – Critique . Our Sunday Workshop is 24th September 2017 9am – 1pm.
August Bonsai Tips
Your fertilising programme needs to continue while you keep an eye out on the weather, as you must not fertilise if the soil is bone dry. Water first so that the soil is wet otherwise you could burn the roots. Heavy rain can also wash all the fertilisers out of the soil.
Pines will need far less fertiliser now than deciduous varieties, while fruiting trees require high in phosphorous fertilisers. Pines and Azaleas like a feed of Sequestrene. Soils will dry out in strong sun and even more so with strong warm winds, so you will need to water accordingly. If you have willow trees is an ideal time to set these in a tray that will hold shallow water as they do not like to dry out.
Keep turning you trees to obtain an even growth while continuing to spread for red spider mite and aphids etc. Inspect any leaves that may be stuck together as this could mean young caterpillars and damage can be done.
It’s also time to a watchful eye on any wiring as your trees will now building wood that is full of growth and could cut into the branches leading to scaring. Scars. Reduction in growing activity will mean pinching out of leaves will reduce to none depending of what variety of trees you have.
August Meeting dates : Tuesday 8th August with Dean Kelly. Sunday Workshop 20th August
