| As if I needed to say anything more about it – It’s summertime and hot! |
In
this newsletter, Thomas J has provided us with an excellent
article on foliar feeding that everyone needs to read
over and think about during the summer’s stresses
of heat and an overabundance of sunlight.
I would
like to add my own comments to his very informative
article:
• |
Please remember that Thomas J. is doing 2 things
here with his foliar feeding. |
A. In one case he is fertilizing
with liquid
seaweed. Foliar feeding should be used
as an addition to your normal fertilizer regimen.
I think that all Bonsai enthusiasts use a number
of fertilizers to help keep their Bonsai healthy.
When we had our 6 stores
here in Dallas we had thousands of Bonsai in
production. We used organic fertilizers in the soil
and foliar fertilizers to boost the Bonsai along
during the stressful months of summer. We would water
6 times a day to keep the Bonsai cool and their soil
moist. Because of all the watering we were constantly
leaching the soil of any nutrients. How would we
replenish the nutrients in the soil? By foliar feeding. B. In
the other case he is applying chelated
chemicals to the foliage of his Bonsai so that they have
a more “healthy” appearance.
Not that his Bonsai are not healthy – I am
not inferring that at all. Because of the heat we
water excessively to cool down the Bonsai above the
soil and below the soil. With this leaching effect
we wash out any nutrients that may be in the soil,
leaving the plant healthy, but not looking as magnificent
as they should. And…the leaves/needles are
usually drenched with water during this process of
watering the soil. This washes out some of the green
in the leaves. To express it another way – 1.
they may look washed out because of the washing
out of nutrients from the soil and 2. because of
the overabundance of sunlight during the summer
months will fade the leaves/needles. This foliar
feeding is not fertilizer, but think of it as a
vitamin boost.
All plants have pores on their leaves/needles.
These pores (stomata) are open to absorb air/moisture.
These pores close when the temperature starts climbing
above 85 degrees or so. Your Bonsai is trying to
protect itself from the desiccation effect of high
temperatures when it closes its pores. When you
water you are using the evaporation of the water
to cool down your Bonsai. But, you are also washing/
leaching out the green in the leaves and any nutrients
that may be left in the soil. Thomas J.’s approach
to this problem is excellent and is the best way
to insure that your Bonsai don’t look like
a limp, faded dishrag during the summer. Please
remember that the chelated
chemicals are not fertilizer.
The chelated chemicals should not be used in place
of fertilizer. They are in addition to your fertilizer
regimen that you should already have in place.
Sincerely,
Fred Meyer
P.S. The ideal plant specific sprayer for foliar
feeding is our
WC94
- Royal Queen De-Luxe Sprayer
| What's
happening here at Dallas Bonsai Garden... |
We
have found a number of new items that will be
in shortly. New plastic pots that are deeper and
up to 20” long. As soon as we receive them
we will put them up on the new items page. The
latest issue of Bonsai Europe – the best
Bonsai magazine in the English language. Graver
tools. And many, many new Masakuni tools that will
thrill your heart. It goes without saying that
we are constantly looking for new items to share
with you. As for instance one of our close friends
came back from the Kokufu exhibit this year with
some new soil chopsticks and some very attractive
ceramic pottery which we will have in shortly.
If you have any suggestions of what we might
find for you in Japan, please contact us. We
will be very happy to try.
| Do
You Feed Through The Leaves? |
In this months article, Thomas J. introduces
us to a more advanced technique: Foliar
Feeding. With this technique, you are effecting
plant chemistry in a more direct way. This
has the potential to harm the plant if
you over do it, but through many years
of research and direct experience, Thomas
J. has identified the process to
maintaining a healty plant through the
summer months. Read
More >
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