UK, New-ish Bonsai

[Tinyjames]

Hello all from the UK

I live in the UK (Rugby)
while I have many faillings off amd on the years and gave my last batch of bonsai away I wish to start again.
I have just bought 5 European larch 3 year old seedlings from Greenwood Bonsai In Nottinghamshire, Now these tree's are bought for a group planting and until they arrive (postman) I will not beable to show the trees I have bought but while I'm waiting I thought I would ask some question and ask for advice.

So on receiving my trees what should I do. Should I repot in to a bigger pot to promote the trunk growth or plant in the ground.

leave the tree in it's pots and just water and wait until next year to see what I have to work with.
while on holiday in devon I visited a bonsai shop where all the tree's had a small ball of plant food wraped in what looked like old tights and just placed on the top of the pot (I have never see this system before) and was wondering what was in this tree food ball ?

 

[TomB]

It's the wrong time of year for repotting larch. They'll arrive in small pots. Leave them in those until next spring. Just water and give them some occasional fertiliser. You will know when it's time to pot them up because the buds will take on a 'golden' colour - probably around February depending on the weather. Then you can plant them straight into their final positions. There's no point putting them in the ground if they are destined for a group planting, unless you'll have trouble watering them this summer - you'd just need to 'collect' them in the spring and deal with new root growth at that point.

The 'balls' you are talking about would have been some kind of solid organic food, maybe Biogold, rapeseed cakes, Naruko or Green Dream - there are variou varieties. People also use plastic baskets or empty teabags for this.

 

[Tinyjames]

Tomb thank you for the advice
you say empty tea bags. so I fill a empty tea bag with my chosen plant/bonsi food. the balls I saw where all the size of golf balls? I think it's Bio gold he has used.

 

[ShimpakuBonsai]

Wait with repotting till spring next year.

The plant food is probably Biogold or Naruku fertiliser wraped in a teabag.
See the link to website of Devon Bonsai below for the fertilisers they sell.
Link: https://www.devonbonsai.co.uk/category/accessories/fertiliser/

 

[AshleyMammal]

Hello to you, I'm also in the UK - over towards Lichfield/Tamworth.

I feel like (and this might just be me getting giddy seeing stuff in person) the online prices for anything bonsai are hiked out of all proportion and picking up stuff from real people is the way forward!

Check out David Cheshire Bonsai in Coventry, it's good, reasonably priced and close to you!

A little further for you would be Walsall Bonsai - Ian does reasonably priced lessons in bonsai and also in pot making.

Further still is Beechfield Bonsai near Telford - well worth a visit and Mark has great prices.

I wouldn't worry too much about fertiliser bags/baskets at the minute, just pickup a good solid bonsai fertiliser (I use Oceana but Bio-gold and Naruko are also ones I've used and recommend) and sprinkle directly onto the soil, liquid feed is also available - seaweed extract is perfect.

 

[Tinyjames]

Thank you Shimpaku Bonsai for the advice.

I have been to the bonsai centure (video room) and two days ago he Defoliation a specimen clump style Maple witch is good because I'm going to buy one at the weekend ( Not a Specimen) but a red leaf Maple upright with my birthday money

Defoliation

 

[Tinyjames]

Thank you Ashley for your reply and infomation

 

[ShimpakuBonsai]

Peter Chan just made a video about feeding your bonsai.

 

[JeffS73]

Hi, UK here too.

Kaizen also do a good organic fert you could put in tea bags. My larch are happy with it, I also use a liquid fish emulsion & kelp fert from time to time.

At this time of year I'm still pinching out growing tips to get back budding going, Spring is best for larch repotting, I use a mix of pumice and bark which they like, but organic also works if they're young and growing out.

 

[Tinyjames]

ShimpakuBonsai
Thankyou very intresting

 

[Tinyjames]

Jeffs73
Good advice thankyou

 

[TomB]

you say empty tea bags. so I fill a empty tea bag with my chosen plant/bonsi food.

Correct. You can buy empty teabags (with a drawstring closure) on ebay - don't go emptying the tea out of your PG Tips.

 

[Tinyjames]

So I've spent some time today watching bonsai group planting. I now feeling inspired to go out and buy some maples as well to make a second group.

Check out this video It's long but it's all in real time

First video

follow up Video three months later