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[August]

I set up my winter storage today. Cinderblocks stacked 4 tall on each side, tarp held tight to the ground with one of my planks on the back side, another plank resting on the two stacks to make a tent... its a bit wobbly, I might come back on a fair winter day and improve it. For now I want to make sure the trees can soak up the last of the warm days and cover quickly if I need to. Snow on Saturday then back into the 50s next week

 

[broken_branch]

Decided to take the outermost layer of coverings on my first air layer off to do a status check. "Houston, whe have roots"

Super stoked on my beginners luck. Hopefully the red dragon next to it will be just as kind to me when I attempt to do the same to it in the spring. Still going to probably wait till spring or just before while it's still dormant to do the chop on this one though.

 

[Fidur]

Today it was raining, so I took a tree to work inside....

 

[broken_branch]

Today it was raining, so I took a tree to work inside....

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Super cute little tree

 

[shohin_branches]

Slip potted this guy so there is a little more insulation around it for our chilly winters. It will get a full repot in spring.



And because I want the good stuff to colonize more of my bonsai soil.

 

[Cajunrider]

Decided to take the outermost layer of coverings on my first air layer off to do a status check. "Houston, whe have roots"
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Super stoked on my beginners luck. Hopefully the red dragon next to it will be just as kind to me when I attempt to do the same to it in the spring. Still going to probably wait till spring or just before while it's still dormant to do the chop on this one though.

Very nice

 

[shohin_branches]

My mentor told me once that our trees rest in winter and so should we. That it's the best time to read about bonsai. I, of course said, "but that's why I have tropicals!"

But he has been doing bonsai longer than I've been alive so I'll try to take his advice. Time to re-read a good book

 

[August]

Putting it to the test!

 

[BrianBay9]

Putting it to the test!

Why do you want to protect your trees from the snow? Snow's a great insulator from bitter cold temps, and keeps your trees watered if the weather warms up again.

 

[19Mateo83]

Today it was raining, so I took a tree to work inside....

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I’m so glad you stuck around with us fidur, your trees always make me smile. Each one has its own unique personality to it.

 

[KindZone]

This Maple got repotted in fresh soil, added proper drainage to the pot, and tucked a rock under the roots.
Before…
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After


I also added a thread updating most of my potted trees on the forum here. Thanks for looking in !

 

[19Mateo83]

I bought another mikawa yatsubusa from mr maple to mess around with.

 

[KikurageOtomo]

Did the last couple of bonsai activities for the year. Took a big, unwelcome branch off one of my Ume. This one took a bit of beating and neglect from my initial year in bonsai, 2020: wire left on too long, apprehension to remove components that won't benefit the bonsai in the future. When this is due for a repot two springs from now it will very likely recieve a significant change in potting angle. Having Ume on the mind I also pulled the trigger on a Ume wall scroll for that void of space you see next to the existing one.

I also noticed my exposed root JBP had roots coming out the bottom of the pot so I went head and lowered the secondary pot level by another inch, roughly. I'm thinking about moving it to a proper pot next year, now that the soil level is essentially flush with the primary container.

 

[Carol 83]

Brought in the rest of the trops and got the crapes and azaleas in the garage. Frost/freeze warnings for Monday. Yesterday was 80.

 

[IzzyG]

With the pending 20F weather, decided it’s time to put everything under protection. Left them on dollies so I can wheel them out if it warms back out.

 

[Hartinez]

With the pending 20F weather, decided it’s time to put everything under protection. Left them on dollies so I can wheel them out if it warms back out.

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I’ve been seeing this more and more Izzy but I have to say, I don’t fully understand. Why worry about trees that routinely see sub zero temps in the winter, and in some cases much lower, just because a 20 degree forecast? So many of these species can handle 20F like it was a warm summer day.

 

[Lorax7]

Started prepping my deciduous trees with their “chain mail armor” so they can (hopefully) survive the annual winter battle with the barbarian hordes of squirrels and rabbits.

 

[Hartinez]

With the pending 20F weather, decided it’s time to put everything under protection. Left them on dollies so I can wheel them out if it warms back out.

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I suppose the fact that you have tens of thousands into the collection has something to do with it. Not worth the risk I’d imagine.

 

[Nybonsai12]

Soaking some seeds now so they hopefully start germinating late February. Arakawa, deshojo and ogurayama full moon. I find J. Maple pretty frustrating in general and only have two in my collection but uncommon fresh seed is uncommon fresh seed so we give it a go!

 

[August]

Why do you want to protect your trees from the snow? Snow's a great insulator from bitter cold temps, and keeps your trees watered if the weather warms up again.

You misunderstand! Im not afraid of snow, heck, I'll be shoveling it in there most of the time.

Here in Colorado we have sudden temp fluctuations and very cold, very dry winter winds. I would reckon that the wind is the number one cause of winter death / dieback here. Hence wind protection being my number one concern. The tarp won't be on all winter either, we get many days in the 50s. Of course those same nights we might dip into the mid 10's... so it's nice to have a setup I can open and close as needed. Plus most of my trees are still in leaf, and we have more warm weather coming next week.