Welcome to the August edition of the Bonsai4me Newsletter.
As this was an event I attended only yesterday, I'll start with a shout out to the the UK Bonsai Association stand at HyperJapan 23 at Olympia, London. It was a crazy day of anime, manga, cosplay, bonsai and all thing Japanese!
Credit should go to Russ Wheeler and Tim Back who organised and contributed the trees on display, there was a huge amount of interest in the trees from a very big crowd. This can only be good for bonsai in general and along with the National Koi Show I attended earlier in the month, gives plenty of exposure to bonsai. We need to keep encouraging people to this Art and help it grow!
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This months weather has been something of a relief after the 'killing' heat of last July, 2022. At the time of writing and for the next fortnight including the first week of August, we have perfect growing weather. Temperatures are a warm 20°-21°C and nowhere near the point (28°C) that the stomata on trees close, whilst night temperatures are providing a perfect 12°-13°C below which growth on Pines and other heat-loving Species starts to slow down.
I've heard quite a few people trying to compare the coldness of last Winter, or how dry the Spring was or how bright the early Summer was. Unfortunately, it's not easy working this out from memory!
However, these weather events and changes can greatly affect the way our trees will then grow during the coming weeks and even the following year. A late Spring with long sunshine hours will always give us smaller leaves and shorter internodes. A mild Autumn and Winter will always lead to a later start to growth during the following year.
This page from the UK Met Office though is very useful for discovering what is actually happening, or happened, with our climate. Met Office Climate Summaries
As you can see from the link, June was a particularly hot month for most areas with many sunshine hours. |
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Bonsai Focus magazine
The latest edition of Bonsai Focus magazine (July/August 23) came out in early July and has a 4 page report from this years UKBA ExpoBonsai in it.
The standard of the trees at the Show were phenomenal as I hope my photos illustrate, and it was great to have the opportunity to share what is happening in the UK to other bonsai enthusiasts around the world.
There are many from our scene who made it into print and deservedly so, if you get a chance to read the magazine yourself, check it out!
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Fungal disease on Taxus/Yew bonsai and Marú.
There’s some great news from Dr Karen O’Hanlon of ProBio Carbon with regards the possible outbreaks of a fungal disease on Taxus/Yew bonsai.
Academic evidence (link below) is showing that Bacillus, part of the make up of the ProBio Carbon Marú spray, is effective against the Phomopsis disease.
This means that Maru can be used as a preventative or as a way of treating an outbreak of Phomopsis.
Although it has been shown the use of copper sprays are also effective against an outbreak, they will also kill all beneficial fungi and bacteria.
Note that 3 applications of Maru to a bonsai results in a living and breeding colony of positive Bacillus on your tree, offering a long term preventative.
Maru by ProBio Carbon is available from the Bonsai4me.com/store
The research paper can be accessed here https://www.apsnet.org/.../1985.../PlantDisease69n06_506.pdf
More Information on ProBio Carbon at the Bonsai4me.com/store |
August is the very best time to start repotting all Pine, Spruce and Juniper species.
Once new buds appear on the tips of new growth on your Pines, from mid-July into August, the growth rate at the roots is at its strongest, repotting and root-pruning now is far less risky than in the Spring. This also applies to Junipers and in particular Spruce and Cedar (notoriously difficult species to repot).
For more information on this timing and an illustration of repotting at this time, please check out this video I made last year for my YouTube channel Repotting A Big Yamadori Scots Pine Bonsai
For further viewing: If the soil around your Pine, Juniper, Cedar and Spruce is congealed and broken down, leading to poor health or watering problems, it is possible to Repot A Bonsai Without Removing It From Its Pot a less intrusive and easier way to achieve the required results!
Finally, don't forget to feed your Pines heavily! Now that the new needles have set in length, generous fertilising will encourage stronger budding for next year without resulting in long needles. |
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BEECHFIELD BONSAI WORKSHOP
The Bonsai4me team will be conducting a workshop at Beechfield Bonsai, just west of Birmingham in Telford, on 26th-27th August 2023. Please contact Beechfield Bonsai for further details and to book a place. https://www.beechfieldbonsai.co.uk/contact-us/
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UK Bonsai Association (UKBA)
UK Events Diary for August 2023
13Aug23 Sun (Confirmed)
Bristol Bonsai Society Show
Failand Village Hall, Oxhouse Lane,
Failand, Somerset. BS8 3TS.
Adm: tba. Times: 1000-1600.hrs
Ctc: Mark Wood 07964.249279
Email: woodmdwoody@yahoo.co.uk
www.bristolbonsaisociety.wordpress.com
19Aug23 Sat ( Confirmed)
Bonsai Display organised by
Scottish Bonsai Association
At The Japanese Garden at Cowden
Upper Hillfoot Road,
Dollar, Clackmannanshire.
Scotland. FK14 7PL.
Adm: £8.50. Times: 1030-1700.hrs.
Contact: Marina Miller
Email: president@scottishbonsai.org
26-28Aug23 Sat-Mon (Confirmed)
Wirral Bonsai Main Show
Gordale Garden Centre,
High Road, Burton, South Wirral. CH64 8TF.
Adm: Free. Times: 0930-1730/1000-1630/0930-1600.hrs
Contact: Andy Hardman 07513.953646
Email: andy.hardman@hotmail.co.uk
www.wirralbonsaisociety.wordpress.com
27Aug23 Sun (Confirmed)
Bonsai Shed Car Booty & Auction
Wood Stock Lane North,
Hill Park Rose Centre,
Thames Ditton, Surrey. KT6 5HN.
Adm: Free. Times:0800-1500.hrs.
Contact: Andrew Barber 07590.595538
Email: foodsmithltd@gmail.com
2&3Sep23 Sat & Sun (Confirmed)
Dragon Bonsai Workshop & Auction
Cwmaman Resource Centre,
Station Road, Glanamman,
Wales. SA18 1QL.
Adm: Free. Times:
Sat Workshop & BBQ 1000.hrs-Late
Sat night Bunkhouse & Breakfast £25
Sun Auction 1100-1400.hrs
Contact: Chris Thomas 07798.798194
Email: chris.thomas1@sky.com
03Sep23 Sun (Confirmed)
East Anglian Bonsai Show
Kesgrave War Memorial Community Centre,
Twelve Acre Approach, Kesgrave,
Suffolk. IP5 1JF.
Adm: £4.Under 16.yrs Free
Times: 1000-1530.hrs.
Contact: Dave Fryer 07449.801297
Email: daveafryer@aol.com
Supporting Clubs:
Bury St Edmunds & Cambridge B.S
Ipswich Bonsai Society
Middlesex Bonsai Society
Norfolk Bonsai Association
North London Bonsai Group
Southend Bonsai Society
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Improving the surface roots of your deciduous trees
The top growth of most deciduous species will be stopping, now we have reached August. But the trees themselves will not stop growing; their leaves will still be photosynthesising and turning their attention to root-growth. A layer of fine moss, or sphagnum across the soil surface now will encourage very strong new surface roots, particularly in Acer/Maple species! |
Please forward the Newsletter to fellow enthusiasts and club members. They can also subscribe for themselves via the Form on the Bonsai4me.com homepage.
Enjoy the rest of your Summer!
Harry |
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