Last year I added a large pumice drainage layer to the bottom of my bonsai pot, to see what difference it would make to the root development of some of the Ginkgo bonsai trees. The soil mix used was medium to small graded Akadama with 25% Kiryu, mixed in with a layer of large pumice for (improved) drainage. The results were that the roots within the smaller grade Akadama / Kiryu mix were smaller and denser in formation, creating a very fibrous mat or root plate. Those growing towards the bottom of the pot within the larger pumice layer, were larger diameter roots, with even larger root tips. The health of the tree has been excellent, as previously the root development was all one and an even size. It is amazing to observe the changes to the roots – with only a minor change in soil – how healthy the overall root system is with a free draining mix.
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Repotting is nearly over for most species of trees now that Spring is finally here and hopefully all your trees are doing well. Lots of activity has been going on behind the scenes for everyone who owns a bonsai as it is a busy season ensuring that all your trees requiring repotting are carefully repotted. One of our Club members bought in a Korean Hornbeam to demonstrate his repotting technique and here are a few images of the process.
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1st place, PB Pussy Willow
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2nd place (joint), DA Crab Apple
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2nd place (joint), GS Acer
3rd place, SM English Elm
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10th anniversary of the Zen Bonsai Club and upcoming bonsai show in Neuville St Remy, north France. 22nd & 23rd April 2017
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This was a busy show. Visitors were streaming through the door constantly all day at Sutton’s Show. This is an excellent time of year to hold a show. All the trees are pushing hard, the foliage looks fresh or the buds are swelling and the trees looks full of promise.
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Ficus elastica are part of the Fig family which is extensive and very versatile for use as bonsai. There is a good article on Ma-Ke Bonsai on how to look after a Ficus elastica.
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One thing that caught my eye in some cases more than the tree was the bonsai pot whilst viewing bonsai in China. Some Chinese pots are certainly colourful and flamboyant and eye catching and hard to miss. I know a little of the history behind the ceramics of China and while researching I came across a great brief guide to pot terminology which is worth a look on Saruyama Bonsai. I also found an interesting article by Peter Tea Bonsai on a particular green Chinese Bonsai pot that he enjoyed.
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🎶 Happy Birthday to us 🎶
Terry Adams has been given life time membership
We can’t label this one as tree of the month because this month we had our annual meeting and a chat. But as usual at this time of year, lots of trees are looking great. So the majority of members could not resist bringing things in;
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Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, Oxfordshire
If you have not been to Blenheim Palace then add it to your visits this year, as it is a stunning place to go and have a fun day out with all the family and see trees. I recently went on a day out there with a friend for cream tea but got a chance to wander round the amazing grounds again as well as the Palace for the first time. I also got to check out the superb ancient and veteran trees for some bonsai inspiration. They are sculptured by time, weather, wildlife and man giving them so much character and amazing shapes they are a wonder to stand near and marvel at what they have lived through and continue to live through. Despite being there during a severe down pour and getting soaked through it was still great to walk around admiring nature and the living giants of the tree world here in Oxfordshire. So whatever the weather go out and find these ancient trees and see how you could use them to inspire your bonsai creations.
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Birmingham Botanical Gardens
If you are interested in trees then a good place to visit is the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, as they host a fabulous collection not only of specimen trees but also the National Bonsai Collection too. It is a good place for bonsai inspiration as well and within the grounds we came across a group planting of Paper Bark Maples (Acer griseum) and you could observe close up the flaky orange bark which is a key characteristic of the species. This was great as we had been able to buy a bonsai version earlier in the day at the Bonsai Boot Sale which was organised by the Friends of the National Bonsai Collection.
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