spring prep checklist

[pandacular]

Like many of us, I’ve been getting anxious looking for some work to do, but it’s not time for most anything. Instead, I’m going to focus my energy on preparing for the coming growing season, in particular repotting season.

I have a checklist of tasks that I’m working on getting completed before my trees start growing, but would love some help filling it out, potentially as a general list that the community can use.

my list
[ ] clean and sharpen tools
[ ] sift pumice
[ ] sift akadama
[x] make potting plans for all trees
[ ] get more bins for soil
[x] shred and dye sphagnum
[ ]setup repotting bench
[ ] cleanup backyard
[ ] buy chalk for marking pots
[ ] make more chopsticks
[ ] acquire pots for all trees to be repotted

• [ ] 2x colanders for ponderosa pines
• [x] bunch of root pouches
• [x] 3-5 Anderson flats
• [x] Tokoname training pots
• [ ] acquire growboxes
• [ ] order mica pots and large TGPs from Wigerts
  • [ ] first, must find root flare to help determine size

 

[River's Edge]

Like many of us, I’ve been getting anxious looking for some work to do, but it’s not time for most anything. Instead, I’m going to focus my energy on preparing for the coming growing season, in particular repotting season.

I have a checklist of tasks that I’m working on getting completed before my trees start growing, but would love some help filling it out, potentially as a general list that the community can use.

my list
[ ] clean and sharpen tools
[ ] sift pumice
[ ] sift akadama
[x] make potting plans for all trees
[ ] get more bins for soil
[x] shred and dye sphagnum
[ ]setup repotting bench
[ ] cleanup backyard
[ ] buy chalk for marking pots
[ ] make more chopsticks
[ ] acquire pots for all trees to be repotted

• [ ] 2x colanders for ponderosa pines
• [x] bunch of root pouches
• [x] 3-5 Anderson flats
• [x] Tokoname training pots
• [ ] acquire growboxes
• [ ] order mica pots and large TGPs from Wigerts
  • [ ] first, must find root flare to help determine size

Couple of extra thoughts.
Winter management of preventative treatment for insects and fungal issues.
Placement of trees in containers to prevent excess rain or drying out as conditions change. ( Pacific Northwest in particular)
Fertilizer. acquire/prepare/ dispensers, tea bags
Mark trees needing repotting.
Select and mark those that can be air layered.
Prepare flats for cuttings or seed .
Supplies check, cut paste, wire, liquid sealants, raffia, grafting supplies.
Soil components, black lava, granite grit, akadama, kanuma, pumice,
Sphagnum moss
Prepare wire for common repotting tasks ( pre cut or form pieces commonly used for screening or basket style anchors)
* Watering systems may be a part of regular maintenance management tasks.

 

[pandacular]

Another one that I thought of and have been putting off for some time: practice photographing your trees!

 

[Kievnstavick]

The only thing that stuck out to me is that you have clean and sharpen tools on your list.

If you keep up on good tool management, then that should be done basically every time the tool is used

 

[czaczaja]

Dye sphagnum meaning rehydrate?

 

[pandacular]

Dye sphagnum meaning rehydrate?

I shred and dye sphagnum to mix with native moss to use as top dressing. Dyeing it takes away the very strong white tones and makes it easier to differentiate wet from dry.

 

[czaczaja]

I shred and dye sphagnum to mix with native moss to use as top dressing. Dyeing it takes away the very strong white tones and makes it easier to differentiate wet from dry.

And how do you do that? Food colouring?

 

[pandacular]

I use sumi ink, as recommended by Ryan Neil. There’s a Mirai feature video on this if you’re a subscriber, but the process is fairly straightforward to figure out on your own.

 

[dbonsaiw]

Any pointers on how to sharpen concave cutters?

 

[czaczaja]

Any pointers on how to sharpen concave cutters?

 

[cishepard]

Like many of us, I’ve been getting anxious looking for some work to do, but it’s not time for most anything. Instead, I’m going to focus my energy on preparing for the coming growing season, in particular repotting season.

According to Frank Corrigan and also the BC Bonsai society, whose calendars I follow, Oct. thru Feb. is the best time for cutting, thinning and wiring conifers, heavy bending, and wiring deciduous (which all also require styling decisions). Should be similar for all the PacNW, I would think. I have so much of this kind of work waiting to happen, I can’t imagine feeling anxious about not having enough to do!

 

[pandacular]

According to Frank Corrigan and also the BC Bonsai society, whose calendars I follow, Oct. thru Feb. is the best time for cutting, thinning and wiring conifers, heavy bending, and wiring deciduous (which all also require styling decisions). Should be similar for all the PacNW, I would think. I have so much of this kind of work waiting to happen, I can’t imagine feeling anxious about not having enough to do!

I've definitely looked over my trees plenty of times, but I think I've really got them in the correct place for my goals for them. I've only been at this for a year, so many of my trees need more growing and less doing. What little work I have on my trees has been set aside for upcoming study groups and workshops.

On the other hand, I'll be repotting about 20 of my trees this year (and hopefully assisting others on several more), hence my focus on getting preparations underway for that.