What’s your latest Bonsai related purchase?

[rustygarden]

Got this monster Japanese maple from a friend who collected it years ago.
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You will need to show updates on this . I would like to see what you will do to it .

 

[Paradox]

Fine, I'll call it a "slightly less cold frame."

I have some Japanese maples for the first time that are on the edge of my zone.

I'm in Maine, I don't think a regular cold frame will stay in the temperature ranges I'll need. I don't have a garage or other structure to use.

It's not like I'm planning on heating this thing to 80°... Maybe 40° at the roots; still researching.

yes I know you are in Maine and I know it gets cold there. I have family that live in the Lewiston area.

I think 40 degrees at the roots could be dangerous for your trees. You want it colder than that. Maples can certainly stand at least down to freezing and probably also below freezing.
The number I most see quoted for them for low temperatures is 20 degrees.

You said your cold frame is up against your house. You didn't say what the walls of the cold frame are made of but I would place the maples and anything that might be a bit more sensitive to the cold tight up against the foundation in the middle of the cold frame. It should be a bit warmer there than the edges. I would also invest in some temperature monitors. I use these that have blue tooth capability and I can read them on my phone. They have been the best thing I have found that has held up to being outside. I've tried cheaper systems that have an inside display and the outside sensors just don't seem to hold up. I have one of these hanging under my benches outside and they seem to work great so far. They read temperature, humidity and give you the dew point. I would stick one of these in between your pots and you'll be able to monitor the temperatures. If the temperatures get below 25 or so then Id think about applying heat but I wouldn't let it get above 35 if you can. If you go up to 40, it will probably push your trees out of dormancy prematurely and then you'll really have problems.

If/when it snows, it will be your best friend. Snow is a great insulator.

The coldest my cold frame ever got was 27 degrees when the temperatures went down to 20.



LINK:

Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

 

[Cajunrider]

It's not a purchase yet but I am thinking of an enclosed trailer. Any recommendations?

 

[GreenGrowTheRushes]

Yesterday saw me lug this home:

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uh, did you bring enough for everyone in class?

 

[GreenGrowTheRushes]

Nursery stock from the big box store because it's marked down, A Lot. And, because it's my birthday month, I am going to a workshop this wknd, 10/12

 

[leatherback]

uh, did you bring enough for everyone in class?

Nah
Were just 45 or so.

I asked my club who wanted some before I drove off, and most of them were not for me. I kept maybe 10 at the time. Still have 5 around, growing out further.

 

[Maiden69]

I've been waiting to move (and for Brent to restock this) to buy a replacement for my Oriental Sweetgum, finally Brent restock. Although I was looking for a few 4" pots he only has 1 gal at this time. I also bought a "small leaf/small seed" momiji, in a 2 3/4" pot, which is bigger than most 1 gal I have received from MrMaple!

Liquidambar O.


JM momiji - This one is straight as a light pole... rare for a tree from Brent, but larger than expected. I think I can air layer a few trees our of it next year. Tree looks kinda pale... hopefully not entering fall because it is 90 degrees here.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Technically these today.

Thor

This Japanese maple...and I see a possibly perfectly placed drop branch for a cascade. It's...caught my curiosity more than anything.



And technically...I don't pay for this until Andrew is feeling better. He's under the weather.

A Stone Monkey pot

 

[WIlliam_Butler_Yeets]

grabbed some plastic training pots off amazon, but thinking the holes in the bottom might be too big, maybe i can cut some window screen material and toss it in the bottom (that's a quarter for size reference)

 

[badatusernames]

One plant, one gallon size

I have a couple of white flower Josephines from Evergreen as well, and those have been taking off to the sky like nobody's business - got them in '22 and they really do thicken pretty quickly. One is probably 8+' tall right now, I had cut the leader back to make it about a foot and a half at the end of last year to give an idea as to how they can grow.

You really do need to be on top of your fungicide with these.

Looking to see some red flowers as well as white next year - and they really do smell like cinnamon!

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Some book learning.

 

[rockm]

Koyo pot from Matt Ouwinga. Final home for a collected winged elm. @Cadillactaste, Love the Stonemonkey pot. I was looking at the Bull Terrier/graffiti pot in the same series as the one you got, but it was sold at the show he went to a few months back.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Koyo pot from Matt Ouwinga. Final home for a collected winged elm. @Cadillactaste, Love the Stonemonkey pot. I was looking at the Bull Terrier/graffiti pot in the same series as the one you got, but it was sold at the show he went to a few months back.

Oh that one was sooooo cool! Sorry you missed out. Love his work. He's making me a commissioned pot beginning of the year for...this Asian jasmine. I love all his work and can't decide on details. So I'm leaving it in his hands. Thanks...farm gal in me. The barbed wire had me at hello. So much detail.

That's a pretty sweet Koyo though.

 

[rockm]

Oh that one was sooooo cool! Sorry you missed out. Love his work. He's making me a commissioned pot beginning of the year for...this Asian jasmine. I love all his work and can't decide on details. So I'm leaving it in his hands. Thanks...farm gal in me. The barbed wire had me at hello. So much detail.

That's a pretty sweet Koyo though.
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That bard wire/wood pot was lurking around on my "want list." Very well done with a lot of detail.

 

[Darth Masiah]

grabbed some plastic training pots off amazon, but thinking the holes in the bottom might be too big, maybe i can cut some window screen material and toss it in the bottom (that's a quarter for size reference)

a roll of plastic mesh drywall tape goes a looooong way.

 

[WIlliam_Butler_Yeets]

a roll of plastic mesh drywall tape goes a looooong way.

oh that's a good idea, i didn't know there was such a thing

 

[Cadillactaste]

That bard wire/wood pot was lurking around on my "want list." Very well done with a lot of detail.

We've got taste that run along the same lines it appears on some things. Yes...extremely detailed on that particular one. Did you see his wooden one?

You just can't take the farm gal outta me. I was raised early years on my grandparents farm...so it resonates with me. Only fitting a yamadori deciduous with...nicks and cranny scars.

Won't lie...this one caught my eye. But...the other stole my heart.

 

[JackHammer]

oh that's a good idea, i didn't know there was such a thing

I have been using placemats as mesh. Easy to cut and super sturdy.

 

[JackHammer]

I picked up an additional led for my basement grow setup. My tropicals keep growing all winter long, too bad the scale grows too. By April, everything is sticky and gross. Other than that, I like the second growing season.

 

[Paradox]

I picked up an additional led for my basement grow setup. My tropicals keep growing all winter long, too bad the scale grows too. By April, everything is sticky and gross. Other than that, I like the second growing season.

Indoor safe scale spray:
32 oz spray bottle from home depot or lowes
One cup rubbing alcohol
1/8 cup dishwashing liquid
Fill the to half with water
Spray every two weeks for 2 months

Or just take a cue tip and rub rubbing alcohol on the scale

Or just remove by hand