Welcome to the Bonsai4me February Newsletter.
Through last month I have been busy filming tutorials and styling videos for publication on Bonsai4me.com in the future.
These videos are being edited in a similar style to my current work on YouTube; so fairly direct, fact-filled and hopefully free of too much waffle and filler!
They will however explore a more detailed approach to styling bonsai, in terms of techniques and design, making them an average of 20-30 minutes content. Something I know many YouTube viewers have asked of me.
The videos are currently only available privately on YouTube but if you would like a taster of the new output, please follow the links later in this Newsletter. |
As previously announced, I’m not selling soil this Spring, neither the Ibuki or the Bonsai4me mix that was very popular last year.
I am however able to offer the ‘magic’ ingredient we used from ProBio Carbon in Ireland; a high quality and superior horticultural BioChar that can be added to all soil mixes upto 5% by volume.
This is a BioChar made from Olive stone that has the oxygen cut at 600C ensuring the perfect material for the soil in your bonsai pot, encouraging a very healthy biosphere as well as removing chemicals from your water supply.
BioChar also stores nutrients in a form that is easily available to your trees and this makes especially useful for correcting soils that have been overfed with nitrogen in previous years.
Personally I think it’s an exceptional addition to my soils; it has good water retention while offering good drainage. This makes it perfect for using on the soil surface 50/50 with akadama, removing chemicals as they enter the soil whilst keep the soil surface from drying out faster than the main body of soil during the summer. It also helped grow a huge number of surface roots for me, partly thanks to the luscious mosses that grew on the surface.
We have 1 litre bags as well as large 15 litre sacks of BioChar, available throughout Europe and the USA.
Please visit the Bonsai4me.com/shop for more details.
Top quality BioChar from ProBio Carbon can be purchased here at the Bonsai4me.com/store |
Repotting
We are now approaching repotting time here in the UK and after the Winter break I know it’s very tempting to get to work on your trees and start repotting them, BUT DON’T!
Early repotting, that is, before the buds become very plump and begin to open, will not kill your tree unless it is already weak.
However, if you prune the roots too early, you will be cutting away some of the strength of the tree (sugars and starches stored in the roots) and this will negatively affect the growth you can expect during the forthcoming season.
There seems to be little point in investing time and money in top quality soils and fertilisers if you then put back your bonsai by repotting them 3-4 weeks early!
As always, it’s worth noting that Acer palmatum are best repotted when the first leaves have opened (but before new shoots extend). Maples are understory trees that have evolved to open their first leaves very early, and this is very often much too early to repot them. |
The second exclusive Bonsai4me video covers the very basic structure of pine growth through the growing season. My aim with this video is to help people understand the basic growth pattern of pines and help them have a plan for approaching their pines of all varieties.
Pine techniques are often overly complicated for the beginner, and for more advanced enthusiasts trying to apply them too early in the development of a bonsai.
Hopefully this short video will go so way to helping you out!
A Basic Straightforward Guide To Pine Bonsai
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UK Bonsai Association (UKBA)
UK Events Diary for December 2023-onwards
Finally, the new Show and Event season is starting here in the UK after the Winter break!
04Feb24 Sun (Confirmed)
Twickenham Bonsai Club Show
Twickenham School,
Percy Road, Whitton,
Twickenham, Middlesex. TW2 6JW.
Adm: tba. Times:1000-1600.hrs
Contact: Tony Ulatowski 07956.362743
Email: twickenhambonsaiclub@gmail.com
www.twbclub.uk
11Feb24 Sun (Confirmed)
Swindon Bonsai Society Winter Image Show
Grange Leisure Centre, Grange Drive,
Stratton St Margaret, Swindon, Wiltshire. SN3 4JY.
Adm: £7. Accompanied under 16.yrs Free.
Times: 1000-1600.hrs.
Cafe refreshments card payment only.
Please visit Swindon website for further details
Contact: Paul Bowerbank 07982.401103
Email: paul1561@virginmedia.com
www.swindon-bonsai.co.uk
Supporting Clubs:
Aka Matsu School of Bonsai
Ashfield Bonsai Society
Bristol Bonsai Society
Eastleigh Bonsai Society
Glynderi Bonsai Society
Newbury Bonsai Society
Phoenix Bonsai Group
Splinter Group
Surrey Heath Bonsai Society
Warminster Bonsai Society
Supporting Traders:
Bonsai4Me
Chris Thomas Bonsai
China Mist Bonsai Pottery
Dan Barton Ceramics
Dragonfly Ceramics
Greenwood Bonsai
Lee Verhorevoort Bonsai
Mendip Bonsai Studio
Stone Monkey Ceramics
Suteki
Walsall Studio Ceramics
Windybank Bonsai
Wood and Clay
Zac's Bonsai
17&18Feb24 Sat & Sun (Confirmed)
Trophy Show
Limburghal cv, jaarbeurslaan 6, B-3600 Genk, Belgium
www.bonsaiassociation.be
25Feb24 Sun (Confirmed)
Doncaster Bonsai Experience
& The Spring Bonsai Exhibition
Markham Grange Nursery,
Longlands Lane, Brodsworth,
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. DN5 7XB.
Adm: Free. Times: 0900-1500.hrs
Contact: John Skill 07818.110978
Email: doncasterbonsai@gmail.com
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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 Autumn!
Harry |
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