| How do you "Bonsai" in January? |
Every month gives us an opportunity to spend time on and in our great bonsai hobby. January is no different. Even though half of the United States is wrapped in a blanket of either snow or ice, or cold, there are things you can do now to grow your knowledge and spend time with your trees.
A great way to stay involved in the hobby during the Winter months is by learning more about the many different aspects of bonsai by reading, watching videos, and listening to our Bonsai: Conversations with a Master Series. Any of these will increase your knowledge of bonsai and not only make it easier for you to care for your plants; it will also make it easier for you to produce the styles and looks that you are hoping for with your plants.
As far as your bonsai are concerned, January is a great time to shape and prune the roots on your plants.
Deciduous plants like maples, elms, and the like are dormant and can be easily shaped because without leaves, it’s easy to see everything. Depending upon the style you have chosen for the plant, you can remove all of the branches, from fine to large and dead, that need to be removed to make your tree look like a large tree in miniature.
Deciduous trees and Juniper plants are either fully dormant or dormant enough to prune the roots during January and February. When you are pruning the roots, the first task is usually to shake out all of the dirt and comb the roots. Then, the second task is to prune the roots. Just remember that you want to remove 20 – 30% maximum. That means that when you are combing the roots, and the roots break off in your rake, you count those roots in the total 20 – 30%. A good rule of thumb is to think of it just like a haircut: remember that you can always take more off, you can’t put it back on. So, as in most things, “less is more!”
So, even if it is 16 degrees outside and there is 6 foot high snow drifts, you can still enjoy the bonsai hobby. One of the great things about this hobby is there is always something to do. Like I said, this month, you can learn, shape, and root prune your plants. There is more than enough to keep you interested, but not so much that it’s a chore. That’s what I love about bonsai. The bonsai hobby is one of the most rewarding, yet least expensive hobbies in the world.
Stay warm!
Sincerely,
Fred Meyer
We just got a delivery from Japan and re-stocked our supply of these wonderful items!
| Bonsai: Conversations with a Master |
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Bonsai: Beginner to Advanced - Conversations with a Master
PRINTED VERSION
$99.95
The complete audio recordings of conversations between Michael Miller and Fred Meyer where Fred answers 372 questions regarding selecting, growing, maintaining, pruning, wiring, styling, watering, and fertilizing every type of bonsai. This is the information that will put you on the fast track to growing world class bonsai that you love to look at and enjoy! Here's what's included:
- 8 hours of interviewed conversations with Fred Meyer where Michael Miller asks him 372 questions which cover almost everything there is to know about bonsai. From beginner to advanced, nothing is left out. To be honest, there is some expert and master level topics about Jinning and intricacies of specific varieties that was left out, but the odds you will ever need them are so rare, there was just no reason to bore you with it.
- Transcripts of the entire interview. These transcripts are 137 pages of valuable bonsai information you can use to follow along with the interviews, or use to quickly review some specific detail.
- 67 page bonsai conversations guidebook that covers the highlights of the information Fred speaks of in his interview. This guidebook is a wonderful how-to guide itself worth $19.99 at least!
- BONUS - When you purchase the tangible, physical product, you also get a bonus CD with the digital versions as well. Put these in your iPod and listen while you shop or drive to work.
- FREE SHIPPING!!!
**IMPORTANT - This is the printed version of the product. We have a digital only version available for $49.95 at www.bonsaiconversations.com |
Our new monthly Bonsai tips are brought to you, by special arrangement, courtesy of the John Yoshio Naka Family. You can find the full year’s guide and a whole lot more in the book Bonsai Techniques I by John Naka. We have both of Mr. Naka’s books, Bonsai Techniques I and Bonsai Techniques II, available for immediate purchase.
The cold weather season will require just as much care as the growing season. A bonsai is not only a special plant, it is more like a pet, and a little time each day should be spent on its care. This is also a good time to study the structural lines and forms on any deciduous tree in nature.
Watering:January, because of its cold weather and rainy days, the bonsai will not need to be watered daily, but make it a point to check every day. If in a tropical area, the bonsai should have overhead sprinkling every other day whether the bonsai is dry or not. In the cold climate area, the bonsai will, of course, have been put away for winter.
Fertilizing:No fertilizing this month. This is a good month to apply any material that will help soften hard soil and neutralize any alkaline soil.
Spraying: Deciduous trees should be sprayed with lime-sulphur dormant spray.
Shaping: This is the best time to reshape any deciduous tree because it is bare. Do not do too drastic shaping because the branches my be too brittle. Check all plants to see that the wires are not too tight.
Transplanting:No transplanting or soil changing should be done this month unless bare root stock is available for starting.
Miscellaneous:Prepare soil mixture for future use. Move all deciduous trees into a shady place especially in a tropical or semi-tropical area. This will prevent them from sprouting during a warm winter. It will also help keep the trees in a dormant stage. It tress are in storage for the winter, keep temperature low enough so they will not sprout.
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B37 Bonsai Techniques I by John Naka
$36.40
The best book in the English language on Bonsai....NO EXCEPTIONS. John Yoshio Naka is our American Treasure Bonsai Master. This book is jammed packed with information that you won't find other places. A treasure trove of Bonsai Wisdom. This book is soft back, 8" x 11", 269 pages, 16 pages of color illustrations, many black & white photos and drawings by the author. Included in the contents are tools and supplies for the workshop, general approach to Bonsai, step by step training, rootage, trunk, apex, branching, trimming, wiring, pots, soil mixes, styles. |
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