Shohin white pine work

[JudyB]

Bayer advanced tree and shrub protect and feed granular.

 

[coh]

Hi Judy. It was a give and take with the placement in the pot. It is somewhat centered. However, I used 2 criteria for the placement. One, the apex, if possible, should line up with the center of the pot. Also, the tree's silhouette should, some what, fill the pot.

On another note. About a year ago, I realized that for the last 3 years, all I had been doing was spraying fungicides, pesticides and taking care of sick trees. Basically not doing anything enjoyable that bonsai has to offer. Hence, I lost some of the passion for the art. I decided to greatly limit my involvement in bonsai, both public and private. I really haven't done anything but water for the last year. Not much else I could do. Not sure how things are going to go this season. Between scale, mites and juniper fungus, you never know what the season holds. I know that the season has just kicked off around here and I have already had to spray for scale. To watch all the years of work I put in be ruined has been a little tough to take.

Rob

Sorry to hear this. Unfortunately, I suspect this is going to be an ongoing and even worsening problem, at least partly due to all the introduced pests that we have around. Over the last 2 years I've suffered some major damage from borers in my in-ground growing bed. Years of work down the drain. I've got several bonsai that look "off" and the presence of so many diseases and pests makes it difficult to determine how much of the problem might be cultural (water, fertilizer, etc) and how much might be disease. This is especially problematic for those of us with only a few years of experience.

I miss your virst...you have a great eye for design.

Best wishes,

Chris

 

[october]

Sorry to hear this. Unfortunately, I suspect this is going to be an ongoing and even worsening problem, at least partly due to all the introduced pests that we have around. Over the last 2 years I've suffered some major damage from borers in my in-ground growing bed. Years of work down the drain. I've got several bonsai that look "off" and the presence of so many diseases and pests makes it difficult to determine how much of the problem might be cultural (water, fertilizer, etc) and how much might be disease. This is especially problematic for those of us with only a few years of experience.

I miss your virst...you have a great eye for design.

Best wishes,

Chris

So sorry to hear about this. Last we talked, about a year ago, you were in the middle of having issues, some of which were of unknown origin. Bonsai are supposed to get better as we work on them. However, with all the problems out there, many trees are actually looking worse and the years go on. There are different ways of trying to push through all the problems. I think that buying good potential trees and trees that will look good after an initial styling helps. I feel this route can lead to some enjoyment, even if it is more short term. What I am saying is imagine getting a very rough piece of material. You work on it for 3-4 years. Now, it starts to look like a decent bonsai. Then, a fungus moves in and kills half the tree. that's 4 years spent on something that never did and now might never become a bonsai. At least starting with better material, you can work on refinement and at least had 4 years looking at a nice, ever progressing tree. On the flip side of all this, you create a nice tree from the start, more towards the "finished" end and the same problems arise. This might ruin the tree permanently.

Basically, it comes down to enjoyment. Spraying pesticides, fungicides and nursing sick trees 90% of the time and only styling like 10% of the time, is not something I wished to continue doing. I have done it for the last 3 years. Things seem to be good so far, but it is much too early in the season to tell. Like the owner of the nursery I go to says in regards to trees. All we can do is help them a long, now the tree will decide.

Rob

 

[coh]

Basically, it comes down to enjoyment. Spraying pesticides, fungicides and nursing sick trees 90% of the time and only styling like 10% of the time, is not something I wished to continue doing. I have done it for the last 3 years. Things seem to be good so far, but it is much too early in the season to tell. Like the owner of the nursery I go to says in regards to trees. All we can do is help them a long, now the tree will decide.

Rob

Agreed, but you know what I've been thinking about...when I read about bonsai artists in Japan, and reports from apprentices, it seems that the Japanese have a standard seasonal spray program for pests and diseases. I always read about them spraying lime sulfur before winter (for example), and I'm pretty sure in the "Bonsai Art of Japan" (or whatever it was called, the video series by Bjorn) it showed them spraying periodically with pesticides and fungicides. Maybe we just need to get in the habit of doing that. I know that I prefer to avoid those kinds of chemicals if possible and many say you shouldn't treat prophylactically, but perhaps things have changed...with all the introduced pests and diseases (not to mention the stress of the more variable climate) that can do severe damage quickly.

The idea of getting more advanced stock is also something I've been thinking about. Maybe eliminate several lesser trees/stock each year and replace with something further along.

Chris