The Redwood Empire Bonsai Society hosted their 36th annual show last weekend in Santa Rosa, California. Looking over the photos from this and past events reminded me of how much some trees have changed – or not changed – over the past eleven REBS shows I’ve visited (see the posts here). More than anything, seeing […]
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Cutback and leaf pruning on Chinese Wisteria
My usual routine for new trees in the garden is simple – keep the trees as healthy as possible until repotting season. When I repot a tree, I can get an idea of what the roots look like and better understand how the tree might respond to bonsai work. A few weeks ago, I brought […]
Top 5 tips for keeping azalea bonsai healthy
Azalea care can seem puzzling at first, especially if you’re familiar with junipers or other hardy species. But with the right approach, keeping these flowering bonsai healthy is within reach. Here are the top five things you can do to keep your satsuki healthy. 1. Water more frequently Satsuki azaleas produce fine roots that don’t […]
How to lower the pH of your water to keep bonsai healthy
I found out that the pH of my water can get pretty high a long time ago. It’s not too bad when it’s in the lower ranges, but it definitely needs attention when it creeps into the higher ranges – which it did this summer. pH is a measure of how acidic or basic water […]
The effect of fertilizer on water pH
A hidden benefit of many fertilizers is their ability to lower the pH of the water. Had I kept this in mind this past spring, my trees would be a lot greener today. Looking back on my fertilizing habits, I shouldn’t have been surprised that my pines remained yellow despite repeated fertilizer applications. I changed […]