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The
Holiday Season is Fast Approaching!
BUT... let's
don't forget your loving Bonsai just because you
get busy with your family and business commitments.
You
gaze, you touch, you talk to your Bonsai. Yes,
we kind of give our close associations with representatives
of Nature a human character.... Even naming our Bonsai
Joshua or Betty or whatever. We are getting into
the whirlwind of Seasonal Activities, BUT.... don't
forget to take care of your Bonsai during these busy
times.
Here
I go again... Lecturing.
- Light - Lots
of light. Evergreen Bonsai require light all
year round. Deciduous Bonsai require only a small
amount of light during their dormancy period.
- Water - If you keep your Bonsai
outside most of the time just remember that if
it's raining for a day or two that doesn't mean
that you can forget the Bonsai on the third day.
If you have good drainage the Bonsai is going to
need a watering.
It
is extremely important to get into the routine
of watering daily - or at least checking your Bonsai
daily to see if it needs watering. Remember also
that some Bonsai may need more water than others
so be sure to look at or touch the soil of each and
every Bonsai you have to be sure it's moist. If your
soil has excellent drainage characteristics it should
be moist and not soggy wet. You will learn to "feel" and
understand your Bonsai's requirements just as you
do with a dog or cat.
- Tidiness -
When we visit our Bonsai friends in Japan we
see their masterpieces with only about as much
light as you have in an office environment or
other poorly lit areas. They are immaculately
cleaned of all debris - both the
tree and the pot including the soil and bottom
drainage holes.
- Protection from temperature extremes -
Some parts of the USA have already experienced
freezing temperatures. Here in Dallas, we won't
have our first freeze until about the middle
of this month. Think about the Bonsai's exposure
to these freezing temperatures. Tropical Bonsai
- Serissa (snow rose), Fukien tea trees, Ficus
(rubber trees) need protection when temperatures
go below 40° F. There can
be leaf damage at these low temperatures. Leaf
damage can be seen as a browning or blackening
of the leaf partially or completely. Hardy Bonsai,
such as Elms, Maples and Junipers can tolerate
lower temperatures. Remember, however, that your
Bonsai is in a pot and if on a display table about
3' or so above the ground. If the temperature is
32° F then the pot, soil and Bonsai will be
at 32° F also. Why am I explaining this temperature
bit this way? If the Bonsai is in the ground or
was a nursery type plant in the ground it's roots
would not be at the freezing temperatures, but
would be much warmer. Extreme temperatures can
have a devastating effect on your Bonsai - death
or such severe root damage that it will take years
to recover.
- Indoor Bonsai -
Even Indoor type Bonsai's environment changes
with the seasons. In summer you have air conditioning
which drops your humidity down into the 50 to
60% humidity range. Comfortable for humans and
Bonsai. When we start the heating season our
humidity changes drastically. We can experience
desert humidity when the heat comes on. To help
your Bonsai along during this low humidity period
of the year you might consider a humidity tray.
What are humidity trays? It's basically a drip
tray (a tray that catches and holds the excess
water that flows through the drainage holes in
the bottom of your pot when you water) that is
larger than a normal drip tray that you can put
nachi rocks (river rocks) in to increase the
humidity surrounding your Bonsai. You don't want
to have your Bonsai sit in water. This can drown
your Bonsai and cause death. You place your Bonsai
on the nachi rocks and then have the air space
surrounding your Bonsai with a much higher humidity.
This will lower your Bonsai's stress during this
period. Gravel can be used, but it is a lot messier
than the 1" and larger
nachi rocks.
- Boiled water - If
you can drink the water then your Bonsai can
drink the water. Yes, there are some areas of
the USA that the water is absolutely intolerable
for a human to drink. In this case you will need
to use bottled or distilled water to water your
Bonsai.
| Update:
The Bonsai Channel |
We
are very fortunate to have another article by one
of our local experts, Thomas J. We are sure you
will enjoy reading and seeing the details. Thank
you very much for sharing your talents with us
again Thomas J.
Click
here to read Thomas J's article
Next
month I will continue this discussion and emphasize
what happens during this transition and various methods
of protecting your Bonsai during these seasonal changes.
Enjoy
your Holiday Season, but remember your Bonsai ...
they are a part of your life and very important part
of your enjoyment in these fast and furious days..
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