I was at the local nursery the other day when I recognized a local socialite and county council member who will remain nameless. I knew her vaguely as we were introduced several times at local events and I thought it would be rude of me not to say hello.

As I walked over to her, she spotted me and exclaimed, “Dr. Meyer, thank goodness it’s you!”

Suddenly I recalled that she called me Dr. Meyer. I don’t know why, as I am not a PhD. Nevertheless, I half liked being called doctor, so I had never corrected her. This time though, I thought I should put that to rest.

“Mrs. Socialite, I’m not a doctor…that’s very flattering that you would think I was though.”

She replied, “You are to me Mr. Meyer. You see, you have a green thumb and grow beautiful plants, but I have horrible luck with plants. Everything I buy dies! I thought I would try again, but I feel like the grim reaper walking through here. I see all these lovely plants and I just know if I take some home, in a week they will all be dead!”

After I picked myself up off the floor from rolling around on it laughing, I said, “Oh Mrs. Socialite, plants are easy to take care of! It only requires just a little knowledge. Plants only need six things to grow and thrive: light, water, drainage, air, temperature, and fertilizer.

Together, these six things make up their environment, and when you think about them one at a time, it’s really easy to grow beautiful plants!

Once you understand these, realize that each plant will have somewhat different needs as to these six environmental factors, but if you keep it simple in your mind you will be fine because it’s obvious.

Let me tell you about the six environmental factors:

Light – There is many levels of light available in nature. But we have broken it down into just a couple levels. They are: sun, part sun, shade, and part shade. Your plant will do best in one of these levels of light. For example impatiens like shade or part shade. Oak trees and tomatoes like sun…full sun. You can look on the tag of the plant you purchase and see what light level it prefers.

“What’s the difference between part shade and part sun?” She asked.

“Good question. It has to do with the sun setting. You see, the afternoon sun is hotter than the morning sun. So if the plant you choose likes part shade, it can tolerate the morning sun for a couple hours, but it has to be shaded in the afternoon. On the other hand, a plant that likes part sun, can be shaded in the morning hours, but most likely needs several hours of sun, especially in the afternoon to really grow well.”

Water – All plants need water to survive. I think that everyone knows that. But what you may not know is – plants roots need air just as much as they need water. You see, plants need water for two reasons: 1) For helping with the process of photosynthesis, which is where the plant converts Carbon Dioxide and minerals into sugars that the plant lives on. The water is involved in the photosynthetic process as a solvent and the water carries the minerals (nutrient) from the soil up them stem into the leaves where photosynthesis takes place. 2) Water keeps the plant standing upright. Plant people call it turgid. It means that a plant without water will wilt and fall over because plants are a lot like balloons. The water keeps them plump and beautiful. If they lose water, they wilt.

Drainage – Remember I said plant roots need air as well as water? It’s true, and it’s very important! Plants also take up oxygen through their roots. They do use some oxygen. The air in the soil also helps the roots harden a little. Too much water makes the roots brittle. Finally, when plants roots are constantly submerged in water, they start to rot. Most of the time, when plants turn yellow and look droopy, people think they need water and water them, but the opposite is true. They have too much water and they need to dry out. It’s a careful balance that must be kept with water and air in the soil, but it’s quite easy to achieve.

Air – Plants need Carbon Dioxide in order to complete photosynthesis. Remember, photosynthesis is where plants take all of the ingredients the environment gives them and they make their own food. In the process, plants convert the Co2 into pure oxygen. With air, you just need to make sure it isn’t stale. This is why indoor plants can look so good in homes with large families. Inside your home, the Co2 levels are higher than outside because you have many people breathing and converting the oxygen into Co2. Plants thrive in these environments as long as the other 5 environmental factors are also taken care of.

Temperature – This is closely related to air actually because what we are talking about is air temperature. You can’t grow an Azalea in the desert and you can’t grow a banana plant in Alaska. Similarly, the air temperature in your location will change over the year. You need to know what air temperature range your plant can live in and always keep it in that range.

Fertilizer – Plants need nutrients to survive. They, like us, need many hundreds of minor nutrients, but they predominantly need N-Nitrogen, P-Potassium, and K-Phosphorous. These 3 major nutrients make up the NPK numbers you see on the side of a fertilizer bottle or package. Each of these help the plant in different ways. For instance, Nitrogen helps plants create the green color, and Phosphorous is vital for healthy roots. Plants mostly need a balanced fertilizer most of the year. There are only a few exceptions such as during the winter when the plant is going dormant and doesn’t need Nitrogen.

If you keep those six environmental factors in mind and learn a little bit about the environmental conditions the plant you have chosen prefers, you really can’t kill a plant because…

…Plants want to live!

Plants have an amazing ability to adapt to their environment. So as long as you give them just  a little attention and understand the six environmental conditions they prefer, you too will have beautiful plants!

She looked at me and smiled and said, “Oh you’ve made me so happy! I can’t wait to grow lots and lots of wonderful plants!”

Then she grabbed me by the arm and drug me down every aisle asking me about this plant and that plant. It took so long, I even forgot why I went to the nursery in the first place!

I had to excuse myself about an hour later, she was in the middle of choosing where she would like a hibiscus in her yard in the spring. I suddenly remembered my wife needed me to get the dry cleaning, or lunch or something…

…Ah well, even though it took me two hours to convince her she could grow anything she wanted as long as she paid attention to it and didn’t let it die – I realized that I really do love talking about plants!

	SN94 - Masakuni Spray Nozzle $29.95 Reg. $34.95 My friend Mike Miller, in Atlanta who did some of the Bonsai Channel videos begged me to put this Masakuni spray nozzle on sale this month. I think it’s because he wants another one and he’s trying to get a deal. He likes to negotiate. Regardless, you gain as well because this is one of the nicest spray nozzles on the planet. The Masakuni spray nozzle is chrome plated with a very fine spray that comes from the spray head. Putting your hand under it while it’s spraying water is one of the best feelings. I mention it because you won’t believe me until you do it. It’s incredible! Anyway, the spray nozzle is 11" long and has Garden Hose Thread fittings. Most of our other Japanese spray nozzles have a different, more soaking spray head which is very nice, but they don’t have the American garden hose fittings. The Masakuni Spray Nozzle does! To borrow a term from the computer industry: it’s plug and play! You are going to love it! Many of my customers tell me it’s their favorite, most used bonsai tool.
	F79 0-10-10 Fertilizer - 2 large 8 Ounce Bottles $13.95 This 0:10:10 fertilizer is just the thing for your Bonsai during the fall and winter months. It gives your Bonsai no nitrogen, but does give it a boost of phosphorus and potassium for trunk, root and for future spring growth. Each 8 Ounce bottle will make 24 gallons of 0:10:10 fertilizer - meaning you will have 48 gallons of usable fertilizer for your Bonsai.

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.

This month is the beginning of autumn, yet the weather is apt to be hot or hotter than any of the summer months. This condition calls for certain precautions in bonsai care.

Location: In general, follow the rules recommended for the hot days of July and August. If severe leaf burn occurs on any tender leafed deciduous tree and a premature leaf drop results, put the bonsai in the coolest and shadiest place available. Keep the soil in the pot moist and cool as possible. This will prevent a re-sprouting and will start the tree on its required period of dormancy.

Watering: Now that the growth period is coming to a close and the bonsai do not require as much water, be careful not to over-water. A balance must be achieved between the tree's minimum water requirements and water loss by evaporation due to the hot dry weather.

Trimming: Long shoots on "new" bonsai should not be cut off completely, but just trimmed slightly, and only after the shoot has matured.

Fertilizing: Half of a normal feeding may be given a "new" bonsai, if there are indications that it is still in its growth cycle.

Transplanting: Usually by the middle or end of this month, an established bonsai of pine, juniper or other conifers, as well as most deciduous trees, can be transplanted, but only from one pot to another and not if the tree requires radical root pruning. If the weather is still quite warm, it is better to wait until October. The rapid growers like tamarix and willow, may have its second annual transplanting this month.

Miscellaneous: It is possible during September to successfully collect and transplant native trees, providing there has been adequate rainfall in the collecting area. If not, the trees lack good roots, which are very necessary.

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