Now is a great time to remove any foliage that’s still clinging to your deciduous bonsai that go dormant in winter. While deciduous leaves typically fall off on their own, not all varieties let go so easily. If you still see leaves on your deciduous bonsai – and you live in the northern hemisphere – […]
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.
Spider mites aren’t insects
Rather, they are members of the arachnid family. Here’s what they like: Hot, dry and dusty conditions Stressed trees Insecticides (they kill mites’ predators) If possible, avoid these. Left unchecked, spider mite infestations can severely damage bonsai. Although they are too tiny so see clearly without magnification, their damage is identifiable when you know what to look for. […]
Caterpillars
Have you ever seen moths or butterflies among your bonsai? Do you see them a lot? If so, there may be caterpillars nearby. Caterpillars are among my least favorite garden pest. They can cause lots of damage quickly, especially on small, tender trees. You can find them on deciduous trees and on conifers. Some are large, others […]
White spots on Western juniper
In the spirit of identifying white dots on bonsai these past few weeks, today’s subject is Western juniper. Western juniper For those unfamiliar with the variety, Western junipers are frequently covered with white dots, one per scale. On some occasions, the dots enlarge and merge together to form a sticky white mass. Sticky white substance on Western juniper […]
Adelgids
Have you ever seen small white spots accumulate at the base of needles or buds on black pines? On other conifers? If so, you’ve likely seen adelgids. See the small white spots just above the bud? Adelgids are a cousin of sorts to aphids. They are also known as pine aphids or wooly conifer aphids as […]