Of the two young black pines below, which do you expect to grow more next year – the one on the left, or the one on the right? 2-1/2 year-old black pines My money’s on the tree on the right. Not because the foliage is a darker green, but because the buds are so much […]
Bonsai Care
The bonsai care category includes topics like Watering, Fertilizing, Repotting and Bonsai Soil. You can also find information about the Pests commonly found on bonsai, and read Interviews with bonsai professionals.
Drench for root aphids follow-up 1
Back in July I treated a number of black and red pines for suspected root aphids (see “Why are my trees yellow“). I’ve noticed a few changes since then and wanted to share what I’ve seen. Some yellow growth has turned green The healthiest trees are sending out summer shoots The weakest trees remain unchanged […]
A novel way to find the lifeline
Earlier this week I heard a strange sound at a BIB workshop. It came from this thing. Moisture sensor John Thompson purchased the device to locate moisture that seeps through carpets but found that it can be used to detect lifelines too. Where there’s moisture, the device sounds. Where the wood has died, the machine […]
Why are my trees yellow?
I was puzzled, this year, by the appearance of yellow foliage on some of my young pines. Yellow foliage is common on weak trees and often results from bad soil, under-feeding or various kinds of infestation. All of my pines are in the same soil, get the same sunlight and fertilizer and show no signs of infestation. […]
Summer clean-up on a Western juniper
Some of the least exciting bonsai work happens in summer. This is when lots of watering and fertilizing happens, but it is also a good time for jobs that can get put off during busier seasons like fall or early spring. A few months ago, the Western juniper below was wired and cut back. After putting on a […]