With some pests, no matter how closely one looks at the foliage, no signs of active infestation come to light. Slide the same tree out of its pot and it’s another story. Root adelgid on young black pine roots Root aphids and adelgids are insects that feed primarily on their hosts’ roots. There exist numerous […]
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Repotting red pine seedlings
I started repotting this year’s crop of seedlings by stepping up a number of 1 year-old red pine seedlings. Red pine seedlings Instead of making seedling-cuttings, I’m letting my seedlings grow this year as I’m aiming to produce larger specimens. Letting the seedlings grow saved me some time in summer and it yielded some great […]
For those of you who haven’t done so yet
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 – […]
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 […]