fredman
Masterpiece
Yes this is their year. I'm going to give them the special attention Bobby. I've cut them back hard and starting again. They'll be blinking soon...this or the beginning of next week....
Stand by plz...i'll be needing you
And so it begins again..
- Thread starter fredman
- Start date
Stand by plz...i'll be needing you
Hmmm... I wonder if it makes sense for there to be a “Southern Hemisphere” forum for you guys to use to converse since your seasons are opposite of ours. Not that I’m trying to discourage conversation, just organize it a bit?
fredman
Masterpiece
Yeah we have the AusBonsai forum that i'm part of.
Bonsai is all about seasons though...i'm sure you agree.
I don't see a need for any "organizing"...admin will do that, if needed
penumbra
Imperial Masterpiece
Spring is great, so full of hopes. After 40 years of landscaping I like the fall, probably my favorite season. But ask me in February and you will likely get a different answer.
Happy spring to all of you down under.
Happy spring to all of you down under.
Clicio
Masterpiece
I think it is well organized the way it is.
Why segregate? Why separate, divide?
It's easier to not follow the topic if it doesn't attract one's interest in my always humble opinion.
fredman
Masterpiece
Thank you mate. Autumn is definitely my favourite season. Spring is special to but autumn is where the optimum beauty is for me. I took this last year autumn...the river runs behind my house. It's beautiful all year, but autumn sort of rounds it off for me...it comes alive.
This I think is in the US. I would love to see this in real. Absolutely breath takingly beautiful.
fredman
Masterpiece
Yep i'm mulling over @Adair M out the blue comments also. I know for a fact he don't mean any malice by it....he's not that type.
Maybe he's just feeling a bit grumpy because we have spring creeping up on us...and on top of that, I have the audacity to show my crappy Southern trees...
fredman
Masterpiece
Fuschia 'beacon'. I dug this one about 7 years ago. Don't know how long it's been in the ground, but it's pretty old. They don't grow fast in this cold weather.
This is just when I dug it
I didn't give much attention to it over the time really. It grew so many shoots in the wrong places. Now and again I went back and removed most. The top started rotting also. It actually has some nice features now (it did that mostly by itself really)...a hole right through...luckily for me as the rain water drains through it.
I'll be giving it some special development attention from now on. Got it in better soil and i'll be paying attention to it's feeding needs. It's got some rolling over to do.
The roots were terrible (rotted) and had to cut much away....tough bugger. This thing has been through a lot weather wise.
It doesn't sit well in the pot, but it'll have to stay that way until it grows some roots. Had almost no roots left I could use to tie it to the pot. It's still a bit loose so i'll make a plan and put some more ties on to secure it better. The wife bought me the pot...for this tree she said...don't even know if it fits the tree...
This is just when I dug it
I didn't give much attention to it over the time really. It grew so many shoots in the wrong places. Now and again I went back and removed most. The top started rotting also. It actually has some nice features now (it did that mostly by itself really)...a hole right through...luckily for me as the rain water drains through it.
I'll be giving it some special development attention from now on. Got it in better soil and i'll be paying attention to it's feeding needs. It's got some rolling over to do.
The roots were terrible (rotted) and had to cut much away....tough bugger. This thing has been through a lot weather wise.
It doesn't sit well in the pot, but it'll have to stay that way until it grows some roots. Had almost no roots left I could use to tie it to the pot. It's still a bit loose so i'll make a plan and put some more ties on to secure it better. The wife bought me the pot...for this tree she said...don't even know if it fits the tree...
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fredman
Masterpiece
Also did this little maple. Only one so far that is budding. Nothing much..just a little petite palmatum.
This one is a Acer bloodgood. It's been part of a grouping a friend gave me 7 yrs ago. Once again I didn't give much attention to the grouping. Over winter I had a good look at it as I wanted to reposition it. I saw something interesting in one of the trees. It's a raft, but quite a peculiar one. I decided to take it out and make something of it. I'm not into groupings anyway.
It's still a stick (or sticks) but again almost no roots. I'll let it recover and this year before I decide where to. I like petite trees, so maybe i'll develop it that way...
This one is a Acer bloodgood. It's been part of a grouping a friend gave me 7 yrs ago. Once again I didn't give much attention to the grouping. Over winter I had a good look at it as I wanted to reposition it. I saw something interesting in one of the trees. It's a raft, but quite a peculiar one. I decided to take it out and make something of it. I'm not into groupings anyway.
It's still a stick (or sticks) but again almost no roots. I'll let it recover and this year before I decide where to. I like petite trees, so maybe i'll develop it that way...
fredman
Masterpiece
WoW...on another thread someone said to blend the sphagnum with water before putting on as a top dress. Man it works a treat. Didn't even had to pack it...it's a mush, so I just poured it on. It can be poured on as thin or thick you want that way....Fantastic idea, and so easy 
barrosinc
Masterpiece
I wouldn't worry... bonsainut has been working just fine for me
fredman
Masterpiece
Well today was a busy day. First I repotted this little ugly duckling...but it'll be nice one day. It's the first of the Sango kako maples that's starting to move.
Then I removed all the azaleas (in the first photos) I potted in the bigish flat pots last week, and repotted them in deeper azalea terracotta pots. They are actually in smaller pots that'll heat up faster and hopefully the roots will fill the pot better.
I also changed their soil. I mixed 60/40 kanuma with my bonsai mix.
Then I had some fun. This little Portulcaria has been growing in this shell for some 3 years now. I put it on top of another bigger pot and let the roots escape so it can grow bigger. The 3 trunks are fully fused now. I removed the roots that grew out the bottom and filled the shell with the fines from my bonsai mix. It'll stay in this shell until it fills it with new roots.
Also repotted the other Portulcaria multi trunk. It's also well fused by now.
Then I removed all the azaleas (in the first photos) I potted in the bigish flat pots last week, and repotted them in deeper azalea terracotta pots. They are actually in smaller pots that'll heat up faster and hopefully the roots will fill the pot better.
I also changed their soil. I mixed 60/40 kanuma with my bonsai mix.
Then I had some fun. This little Portulcaria has been growing in this shell for some 3 years now. I put it on top of another bigger pot and let the roots escape so it can grow bigger. The 3 trunks are fully fused now. I removed the roots that grew out the bottom and filled the shell with the fines from my bonsai mix. It'll stay in this shell until it fills it with new roots.
Also repotted the other Portulcaria multi trunk. It's also well fused by now.
leatherback
The Treedeemer
Aahh.. Can't wait to get my trees out of winterdormancy!
Another 7 months to go here!
Another 7 months to go here!
fredman
Masterpiece
Man I love this sport we call bonsai....especially this time of year. I decide on the day which is ready to repot. The excitement when I put on my cheapy magnified glasses and go look for buds that's swelling is addictive. Today I found 3 trees.
First was the Trident fusion experiment. I planted 9 seedlings (6 years ago) and tied them together with a rope. They grew like wildfire
Over the years I lifted them regularly, trimmed roots and replant again. Always tying them with something. The last 3 years it has been in a big flat plastic storage container (drilled full of holes) in the ground.
This winter I lifted it and removed all the top growth. It's completely fused in all the trunks...the centre trunk died some years ago. I cut the trunks at slightly different heights to steer the shoots into different angles. I'll put the container back in the ground later this spring.
Don't really know what to expect from it...it's an experiment, so i'll just roll with it and see how it goes.
Also did these two Sango kakos. It's been a few years in succession now that i've cut them back to nothing the next season. I just couldn't get shorter nodes from them. I did wire movement into the longer nodes in the past, but that looked to unnatural to me. This year i'm determined to get it right...I done my homework..and I won't be shy to approach the people that knows when the time comes
Ah, I have to warn you...they are both in intensive care atm
First was the Trident fusion experiment. I planted 9 seedlings (6 years ago) and tied them together with a rope. They grew like wildfire
Over the years I lifted them regularly, trimmed roots and replant again. Always tying them with something. The last 3 years it has been in a big flat plastic storage container (drilled full of holes) in the ground.
This winter I lifted it and removed all the top growth. It's completely fused in all the trunks...the centre trunk died some years ago. I cut the trunks at slightly different heights to steer the shoots into different angles. I'll put the container back in the ground later this spring.
Don't really know what to expect from it...it's an experiment, so i'll just roll with it and see how it goes.
Also did these two Sango kakos. It's been a few years in succession now that i've cut them back to nothing the next season. I just couldn't get shorter nodes from them. I did wire movement into the longer nodes in the past, but that looked to unnatural to me. This year i'm determined to get it right...I done my homework..and I won't be shy to approach the people that knows when the time comes
Ah, I have to warn you...they are both in intensive care atm
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leatherback
The Treedeemer
Do you repot as soon as you see swelling?
I am getting to a point where I either, for time management reasons, repot at any time in winter. Or for optimal response, once the first bud is open and you can actually see the leaves popping through.
Just a generic remark; It could be that many of us tend to repot on the early side
Respectfully disagree, this keeps the conversation going during otherwise-slow times up here in the north, and vice-versa I'm sure.
Fredman - how long have you found it to take for the trunks on your Ports to fuse? Also, I've never seen the zip-tied piece of metal used to guide branch growth before. I can imagine how/why it's used but could you share some more info on it?
Leo in N E Illinois
The Professor
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I for one, really enjoy seeing the threads from southern hemisphere, and the "true tropics" too. If it were not for our southern hemisphere members, our yearly "Flowers XXXX" thread would be nearly dead after July. Having our southern members, means I can see Ume, and other spring blooms twice a year. No need to segregate.
Clicio
Masterpiece
That's what I think also.
leatherback
The Treedeemer
It also means that when we go into the dark period of the year, we have to grit our teeth against these southerners having spring and summer. Not sure it is too much to bear!
BobbyLane
Imperial Masterpiece
Man I love this sport we call bonsai....especially this time of year. I decide on the day which is ready to repot. The excitement when I put on my cheapy magnified glasses and go look for buds that's swelling is addictive. Today I found 3 trees.
First was the Trident fusion experiment. I planted 9 seedlings (6 years ago) and tied them together with a rope. They grew like wildfire
View attachment 323238
Over the years I lifted them regularly, trimmed roots and replant again. Always tying them with something. The last 3 years it has been in a big flat plastic storage container (drilled full of holes) in the ground.
This winter I lifted it and removed all the top growth. It's completely fused in all the trunks...the centre trunk died some years ago. I cut the trunks at slightly different heights to steer the shoots into different angles. I'll put the container back in the ground later this spring.
Don't really know what to expect from it...it's an experiment, so i'll just roll with it and see how it goes.
View attachment 323239
Also did these two Sango kakos. It's been a few years in succession now that i've cut them back to nothing the next season. I just couldn't get shorter nodes from them. I did wire movement into the longer nodes in the past, but that looked to unnatural to me. This year i'm determined to get it right...I done my homework..and I won't be shy to approach the people that knows when the time comes
Ah, I have to warn you...they are both in intensive care atm
View attachment 323240
View attachment 323243
this chap looks like he knows a thing or two about the species
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