Recent content by Leo in N E Illinois

I have subscribed to their email list, and plan to visit when time allows this summer.

In the Naka books, there is mention of using nails for iron. Which as horticulture goes is antiquated, but actually works as poorly controlled, slow release, form of iron fertilizer. Okay for large trees, meter tall or wide, not a good method for shohin. The soil mixtures recommended by Naka...

One of the objections to junipers indoors under lights is the perceived belief that they need a cold winter rest with near freezing temperatures. This is partially true, in that without a cold spell there will not be an spring flush of buds. Buds in spring will be more sporadic, and less...

Long time BNutters know I usually advocate growing junipers outside. But today I am feeling like a cantankerous old coot, and I will point out that it IS POSSIBLE, to raise junipers, particularly shimpaku and procumbens under lights. For those that don't know; for over 40 years I grew a...

Actually in my photos, most of the trees are bald cypress, and very few are "flat tops'. Especially the trees growing in water, those were, or are almost all bald cypress. Cache River, near Vienna, Illinois. The massive "nebari" tree the canoes are circling is a lone tree estimated to be 1300...

@baldone Just a thought to keep in mind. Bald cypress really do not develop "flat tops". At best, thy form low domes, gentle curved silhouettes. But much more likely something totally irregular. The older the tree, the more jagged the profile. Here are some photos of some old trees for...

Your local public library may have a number of books. All of the many Colin Lewis books are quite good. As the others mentioned. Do not rush to purchase the old now out of date John Naka books. They are expensive collector items with out of date horticulture. Naka books have fair to good styling...

Got a link for KUSA FARMS, I'd like to check out what they have available

https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/the-science-of-air-layering.27034/

Just to "pile on" @Orion_metalhead is correct Shimpaku, Itoigawa, and Kishu junipers are more resistant to the various "rusts" than any other species of Juniper. There are many disease rusts, one for just about every fruit tree, cedar-apple, cedar-pear, cedar-hawthorn and the list goes on. The...

Air layer looks deep enough, I think from the photo. Keep wrapped, check weekly to make sure it is moist. Unwrap beginning August to check for roots, Then check again for roots every 3 months. Once roots form, you can separate and pot up. Should go fairly quick, less than 18 months. Pine air...

White flecks are not diagnostic, though are a tip off. Pretty much should have 5 needles per bundle, that is a tip off. Needles persists on branch upwards of 40 years, makes P. aristata quite different than JWP. Pinus nigra - Austrian or European black pine is great for bonsai. Techniques are...

yep, go for it.

Tuesday, seriously, any day will work, Just Do It. Moss are not seasonal, if you are out in the yard or in the house and want to make moss grow on the surface of your potting mix, just grind up some moss and put a layer down. I have had the quickest results in humid spring. For me, April...

Actually, Siberian elms ain't too bad, they develop nice rough bark relatively quick, less than 15 years. Small leaves, fine ramification. Not bad at all. Got one in an Anderson flat in my driveway. Starting to like it.