Aphids are among the most common of garden pests. They’re relatively soft, squishy and destructive. There are thousands of species, and their reproductive strategies are What’s that in the shadows? Aphids! I’ve seen them approach 1cm, but most in my garden are several millimeters long. Ahpid close-up Depending on the severity of the infestation, control […]
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.
Pine needle scale
The pine needle scale can be tricky to spot. Small, white spots are the giveaway. Uh-oh, white spots If it’s fall or early spring where I live, it’s always what I think it is – pine needle scale. Here’s why they can be tricky to spot. When they grow on the inside surface of a […]
Pest of the week – scale
Fall, in moderate climates, is a key time to look out for pests on bonsai. In colder climates, many insects are killed by cold weather. Not where I live. Within the past week I’ve found all varieties of unwanted guests in the garden. This week I’ll focus on scale. Healthy looking olive foliage What’s this – […]
Fall is for fertilizer
A few weeks ago I was struck by yellow foliage on a number of my young pines. After thinking about it for a moment, I came to the conclusion that I hadn’t been fertilizing enough. Black pines in development require a lot of fertilizer. If they don’t receive enough food they can quickly turn yellow. […]
Name this accent
The flowering perennial below has long been a favorite of mine. Do you know its name? The flowers are pink and white, the fruit are red. Accent plant – Gaultheria procumbens (Thanks Laura!) White flowers I’ve seen it in Japanese exhibits and it sometimes shows up in local shows. A specimen from Bay Island Bonsai’s […]