What did you do today? Show us Pic Required

[Orion_metalhead]

Started heeling trees in and preparing windbreak for the trees under the table. These are the more sensitive trees in nicer pots.





I have more trees to get done as you can see. Also need to finish the windbreak. I have three lengths of shade fabric im using. Should be perfect for the task.

 

[penumbra]

Built a cold frame under my taller bonsai bench. Lid will actually be a heavy 2 1/2 ounce per square yard frost blanket doubled. In the summer I will plant ferns and flowers in it.

 

[shohin_branches]

I had a really amazing day! Heading back to the United States tomorrow and I'm going to miss Japan so much. Hoping to get some photos posted for y'all while I'm on the flight

 

[Faisal Ahmad]

Today, just reclean my garden.

 

[River's Edge]

Working on a shore pine in development. Wiring and styling, my favourite part of the Bonsai year! Quieter time to focus on taking material on to the next stage of design or refinement. That is if you work with a lot of conifers and live in a milder climate.

 

[Deleted member 47471]

Additional work applied to 2 JPNs:

Staked, wired, applied guy wire, and tied sticks in place to direct immature branches in the desired direction. I used tape and firm foam pieces rather than wire directly applied to branches (softer on the scales/no crushing/allowing scales to lay down and harden):



1mm and 1.5mm was helpful to anchor directional sticks in place, gently redirecting younger branches while not impeding their hardening off.

Staking, guy wiring (makeshift), and gentle redirecting applied to my smallest JPN:


Above: lifted branch from growing into container and being squished


Also placed into larger container with bark, mulch, and straw for additional warmth and protection of root system during winter.

Until I have the means to acquire proper guy wire materials, I will continue my makeshift method and track the progress. Branches have shown to mature fine thus far. Being cautious is proving effective and without detriment to foliage or overall growth.

 

[PaulH]

Removed some old needles and did some detail wiring on my literati lodgepole pine.

 

[BobbyLane]

Recently did a nursery crawl

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Still working on winterizing satsuki and other azaleas. Got to eleven today. If one stores azaleas in a confined space, greenhouse, cold frame, basement, behind a barrier etc. it’s good to do this procedure. Not only does it prevent fungus and jump starts spring growth, it also is one’s last time to do pruning work an azalea.

However one can do some wiring in the winter… the wood is at its hardest, so take precautions.

Here’s two before and after images.

Young (6 yoa) Nikko before winterizing

Nikko after


Kazan before (>15 yoa) btw it’s very important to winterize this particular satsuki. Kazan is a really tough azalea, but it has extremely close packed and layered leaves… thus picks up fungus easily in storage.



Kazan after



cheers
DSD sends

 

[Adamski77]

Recently did a nursery crawl

about to do the same next weekend... last year was very successful with my Chinese elms...

 

[Plasticgoat™]

Can any Satsuki thrive in a tropical climate?

 

[Deleted member 47471]

Still working on winterizing satsuki and other azaleas. Got to eleven today. If one stores azaleas in a confined space, greenhouse, cold frame, basement, behind a barrier etc. it’s good to do this procedure. Not only does it prevent fungus and jump starts spring growth, it also is one’s last time to do pruning work an azalea.

However one can do some wiring in the winter… the wood is at its hardest, so take precautions.

Here’s two before and after images.

Young (6 yoa) Nikko before winterizing
View attachment 518380
Nikko after
View attachment 518379

Kazan before (>15 yoa) btw it’s very important to winterize this particular satsuki. Kazan is a really tough azalea, but it has extremely close packed and layered leaves… thus picks up fungus easily in storage.

View attachment 518378

Kazan after

View attachment 518377

cheers
DSD sends

Pic 3 is a beautiful tree nice elegant shape and ramification

 

[Deleted member 47471]

Removed some old needles and did some detail wiring on my literati lodgepole pine.

View attachment 518381

Love the movement in trunk line and at apex. How old is your pine?

 

[PaulH]

How old is your pine

I collected it at Mammoth Lakes about ten years ago.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Can any Satsuki thrive in a tropical climate?

I believe so…check out this link JIA BonsaI Singapore

@Glaucus might also be able to give you some cultivar suggestions.

cheers
DSD sends

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Continued.


These are the people and parties we can vote for.
So I've voted today.

Lets hope it doesnt end in the trash like two elections ago.

 

[snowman04]

Usually does...

Got a new pot on its way from down under... Natural stone from Scott Hogbin...

 

[Fidur]

5 minutes ago, in my garden....

 

[Glaucus]

Can any Satsuki thrive in a tropical climate?

Possibly, but I have heard different things and it also depends on how hot and dry it can get. In terms of cultivar, you probably you are limited in those which you can get. There's cultivar I can mention that are maybe better to try, but maybe it doesn't matter based on what is available to you.

Vireya rhododendron are native to Malaysia, though. It could be that some satsuki do ok. Maybe also as bonsai. I have heard mixed accounts. Besides that, there are Belgian indica and possibly related semi-local cultivar, from Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, etc. Likely those are also R.simsii hybrids using subtropical species. Even the Phillipines has an evergreen azalea species that is rarely discussed.
But all those (semi-)local rhododendron species, be them azalea or vireya, likely only occur at significant altitudes. Maybe 1 km to 3 km in height.Puncak Jaya in Indonesia is almost 5 km. Mount Kinabalu in Maleysia is 4km. Rhododendon are rare in that they are temperature species that evolved before the ice age, survived the ice age, and/or moved towards tropical areas. Usually, species diversity comes from the tropics and then moves to subtropical and temperate areas, slowly evolving more winter hardiness.

On top of that, satsuki x vireya hybrtids likely are possible. But that is a huge project to take up when all you want is to grow some satsuki bonsai.

There are some satuski tradiutionally associated with Kyushu in Japan, rather than over Honshu(where Tokyo and Kyoto are located). But nowadays, almost all new cultivar are from the 'colder' parts of Japan (Honshu/Tokyo/Kyoto).

 

[PowerTap]

Put some wire onto my Myrtle. I'm excited for the spring I think I'm going to have some great flowers and back budding.