My year around bonsai work in the Inland Empire, CA

[bonhe]

I like to share with you one of the techniques I frequent use in growing season for pomegranate.
The young long new shoot goes upward.


the red arrows show that shoot. The yellow arrow shows old branch


That shoot is pulled down


by interlocking with other branch (yellow arrows show young shoot)


At the base of young shoot (the red arrow shows the old branch)


Bonhe

 

[JudyB]

wire without wire...

 

[bonhe]

wire without wire...

Yes, it is.
I spotted this phenomenon this morning and want to share with people here.
Below are pomegranates
There are a lot of new shoots emerging from the side getting the direct sunlight.


There are scatter shoots at the sides which do not receive direct sunlight.


Why? Learning point?
p/s: This is a straight forward question !
Bonhe

 

[bonhe]

I need to make a left side of this cork oak stronger.


I like to watch the new leaves of this oak.


My teacher gave me this olive today.

Its leaf is narrow and long (arrow) comparing to my other olives.


Bonhe

 

[bonhe]

I moved the BRT to the morning sun area on 4/3/17. Its buds started swelling up now.


Bonhe

 

[parhamr]

scatter shoots at the sides which do not receive direct sunlight

Because the cytokinin-to-auxin ratio is currently showing more cytokinins?

 

[bonhe]

Because the cytokinin-to-auxin ratio is currently showing more cytokinins?

Actually it is reversed. This side has more auxin than cytokinins. ;-)
Learning point:
- We should periodically rotate our bonsai, so that all aspects will get enough sunlight for good development.
- We should pruning the upper parts of the tree much more than the lower parts to create energy balance and healthiness for the lower part.
Bonhe

 

[bonhe]

I trimmed this cork elm this afternoon.
Before


After

Bonhe

 

[bonhe]

Some of bougainvillea are still in plastic containers. I will try to put them in bonsai pots this summer.
The small one


The medium one


This bract has a weird color type.


The big one. It is about 90 years old!!


Bonhe

 

[bonhe]

Does the bonsai need the anti-transpirant treatment in the hot, dry area?
While I was spraying the neem oil this morning, I suddenly thought about if neem oil could help reducing the dehydration for the plant, especially broad leaf trees. Most of the stomata are on the lower epidermis of the leaf (bottom of the leaf). If I spray oil on the upper part of the leaf, the oil can make a thin film and prevent the dehydration especially for the new young leaf. It is similar to the human skin when we apply skin lotion to help keeping the skin moisture. I don't want to apply the oil on the bottom of the leaf because it can block the stomata which can cause the problem for metabolism of the tree. It is alike to oily skin in the human. People with oily skin tends to have obstructed sweat glands to which cause sebaceous cysts!
I have been using neem oil for at least 7 years for all my plants.
This is Chojubai. It has been growing very well in my area. My teacher is very surprised that I am able to grow it here. I believe one of the factors is that I used neem oil on it)

Bonhe

 

[my nellie]

Does the bonsai need the anti-transpirant treatment in the hot, dry area?
While I was spraying the neem oil this morning, ... ...I have been using neem oil for at least 7 years for all my plants.
This is Chojubai. It has been growing very well in my area. My teacher is very surprised that I am able to grow it here. I believe one of the factors is that I used neem oil on it)

Do you mind me asking, are you using the Neem oil as a treatment when there is an infestation present or are you using it as preventive measure? Or perhaps both, case dependent?

 

[bonhe]

Do you mind me asking, are you using the Neem oil as a treatment when there is an infestation present or are you using it as preventive measure? Or perhaps both, case dependent?

Thanks for asking. I use it as a preventive measure.
Bonhe

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I believe one of the factors is that I used neem oil on it)

I use neem oil and pyrethrins liberally on my citrus and my bonsai (both organic). Until I did, some of my citrus did ok, and some died. I replaced four mature citrus trees and thought they had a disease. And then I started spraying neem oil and pyrethrins (with sulfur in the winter) and suddenly my citrus have EXPLODED with healthy growth. I have no idea why. I assume there was/is some insect pest that is doing major harm - that I cannot see or detect. Regardless of the cause, the outcome is amazing.

For me, this is most apparent in the winter and early spring. Once the new growth has hardened, I don't have problems.

 

[bonhe]

I use neem oil and pyrethrins liberally on my citrus and my bonsai (both organic). Until I did, some of my citrus did ok, and some died. I replaced four mature citrus trees and thought they had a disease. And then I started spraying neem oil and pyrethrins (with sulfur in the winter) and suddenly my citrus have EXPLODED with healthy growth. I have no idea why. I assume there was/is some insect pest that is doing major harm - that I cannot see or detect. Regardless of the cause, the outcome is amazing.

For me, this is most apparent in the winter and early spring. Once the new growth has hardened, I don't have problems.

I wonder if your citrus might have citrus leafminer which is common disease in California.
Bonhe

 

[bonhe]

I pruned this cork elm this afternoon. It was root cutting in 2010.
Its picture in 5/2010


It was fed with a lot of slow released chemical fertilizer and organic fertilizer pellets. I never changed its soil. This afternoon.
Before


after

Bonhe

 

[bonhe]

Bonsai hobby is good for the health, but it can cause some problems if one is not careful!
One of the problems is back pain.
One of the reasons of back pain is back position during watering!
The long water wand will eliminate a cause of back pain.
I love Haws brass water wand. I have been using it for over 3 years! Excellent tool not only for my back, but also for tree's health. I don't have to bend my back during watering.


I can aim the water right into the soil area which avoid the fungal infection for the tree.


p/s: I don't receive any commission from Haws.
Bonhe

 

[bonhe]

The temp was up to 90 F here in a few days. The bougainvillea are blooming.


I will put this one into the bonsai pot this year. I love its barks.



Bonhe

 

[bonhe]

BRT is on the go now.



This wing elm is for aml1014 !
I dug it out from my teacher's yard in 2010. It had only one root at that time. In 2/2012, I transplanted it into the current pot. It had a lot of fiber roots!!


This morning


after pruning.


Bonhe

 

[bonhe]

This is a grafted ume done 2 months ago.


Soil line grafting


At that time I planned to cut off the stock when scion was taken. But now, I decide to keep stock, too. I am curious to see what kind of flower the stock has.
After pruning


Chinese quince.
Before pruning


after


p/s: can not work in the garden any more. The temp starts rising up!!!

Bonhe

 

[aml1014]

BRT is on the go now.
View attachment 142143 View attachment 142142


This wing elm is for aml1014 !
I dug it out from my teacher's yard in 2010. It had only one root at that time. In 2/2012, I transplanted it into the current pot. It had a lot of fiber roots!!
View attachment 142146 View attachment 142145

This morning
View attachment 142147

after pruning.
View attachment 142148

Bonhe

Very nice progress on that guy!
I have a big elm I collected last spring and did a repot/first styling this spring. I'll need to get a pic of it for you. I love how fast elms progress.

Aaron