Indoor Bonsai

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To sum up the question we are answering here, we could ask ourselves:

Do indoor bonsai tree exist ?

As bonsai is Japanese for “tree in a pot”, and an indoor bonsai would be a tree in a pot inside your home or office, then yes, it does exist. However, the answer is not as simple. The problems are arising from the basic bonsai care you must provide to your indoor tree. It is very possible to maintain a bonsai tree indoor; however it will not thrive as it would in outside climate conditions.

Even if temperature is the same in your house, different factors will contribute to changing the conditions you will submit your bonsai tree to. A perfect spot in summer could be a deadly spot in winter. To close to a window could cause some unwanted temperature fluctuations, as temperature changes as the day progress.

An indoor bonsai care basic is that a constant temperature is ideal for a tree growing inside. But, temperature is not enough. Two other factors are essential, see crucial, to an indoor bonsai tree. The first being the light and the second being the humidity.

Light

When a tree grows outside, he is taking full advantage of the sun and it numerous reflections. Light is dispersing around the tree almost at a 360 degree radius. The best part of the sunlight is that is it moving on its own. As the sun moves in the sky, different parts of your tree are exposed to direct sunrays. Inside your home, light from the sun, is reduced, and sometime near to none.

Lack of light for a tree will have a few effects on him. Firstly, a tree is a phototropic being, meaning it search for the light. Have you ever see a sunflower plant turning it’s flower towards the sun ? This is phototropism. Trees and bonsai plant are doing the same to a lesser extent. When a branch lack lights, the branch will put an extra effort to grow quickly in order to reach the light faster. This will result in a leggy branch with long internodes thus killing the bonsai appearance of your tree. Small internodes in proportion to the rest of the tree are an essential part of a great looking bonsai.

The second effect of the lack of light is the growth vigour decrease the tree will suffer. For some, a slow growth rate is good for bonsai, no ? Yes, slow growth is good, but overall, the tree will weaken itself and will produce smaller branch, will produce less energy, and it will eventually result in leaf loss.

To fight the lack of light inside, we suggest placing your bonsai tree near a window, on a low table in a sunny room, as sunrays are entering the room in a downward position.

Humidity

The second crucial element is humidity. Bonsai trees have fewer roots and are usually in a small pot which means that have less surface to nourish them of water. Trees are also expelling water from their transpiration process. This is why maintaining a proper humidity level is essential to a bonsai survival.

Heating and electrical elements are contributing to dryness of the air. A television set could be a source of heat that would accelerate the transpiration of your tree and thus, increasing the humidity needs of your bonsai. This is why we suggest placing your indoor bonsai far away from any heat source.

A simple suggestion to maintain a proper humidity level is to keep a humidifier in your grow room. Or, if you don’t have a humidifier and want to save a few electrical dollars, you could mist your indoor bonsai with water a few times a day.

The most common species for indoor bonsai are species of tree originating from warmer climate region, such as tropical are semitropical region. Amongst the most popular, are Ficus Retusa, Ficus Religiosa, serissa, jade and Ligustrum Japonicum and Orange Jasmine species which you can find in our tropical tree seeds, section. It is always good to learn the indoor bonsai care tips for a specific species before adventuring yourself with it.

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Bonsai Tree Care

Far from a complete guide to bonsai care, this small how to care for bonsai guide will give pointers for some specific and important subjects. Bonsai tree are simply trees in pots. Trees are plants. So learning the basic about plants and horticulture will help you comprehend the “psychology” of your tree in a pot, see Bonsai.

Light

All plants need lights and each to a different degree. Trees are some of the most demanding plants in terms of light. Light helps the tree convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. The last two are essential to a plant in order to develop new cells and grow. Plants are phototropist organisms. It will grow following the direction of the light. The greatest example is the Sunflower. They are called sunflower because the flower always points toward the sun. Trees are not different; they need light and will look for light.

This is very important to understand when growing bonsai. Since Bonsaiists are trying to achieve small internodes and compact growth with their tree, the more sunlight the tree gets, the shorter the internodes are. It is easier to comprehend this if you think of the consequences of having insufficient light.

Tree will always look for light and when light is insufficient they will stretch themselves, thus growing longer internodes, resulting in a leggy bonsai. When maximum light is provided, the tree does not have to fight for light, plus it will have more energy to produce more buds, then more branching.

Watering

As previously said, plants are transforming water in glucose to be able grow. That is why it is important to have proper watering techniques. Watering any plant is pretty much the same. Bonsai have a few different needs that can be fulfill with proper techniques.

Since bonsai are in pots, hence have fewer roots and little soil to grow into, watering them frequently is important. In summer, the sun will heat the pot and will increase the rate at which water will evaporate, even before the bonsai tree satisfies its thirst.

However, watering too often is not good. It could cause root rot, fungus or other diseases. You need to verify every pot to see if you need to water them. There are few ways to do it. You can feel the soil with your fingers or with a wood stick. With smaller bonsai, you can also weight the pot. A dried soil will weigh less then a soil well watered.

When watering your tree, it is important to flood the soil even if you have to do it two or three times. That way you ensure that the soil will absorb the maximum of water. Growing bonsai in a soil that contains particles that absorb water is ideal.

Trimming

Aside from dormant period, trees are constantly growing. You need to maintain the shape of your bonsai, unless you are training it. The technique to trimming a tree depends on the type of tree. For deciduous tree, you are pruning your tree, and for evergreen you are pinching it. Those terms are pretty self explanatory.

When pruning, you need to have sharp tools in order to make a clean cut and accelerate the healing of the scars. Snipping unwanted branching and leaves is important. If you let some unwanted branches grow too big, and will create a swell and leave an ugly and unwanted scar when cut. Pinching is for evergreen. You will put a soft shoot between your index finger and your thumb to remove this new soft shoot. Even if fingers are the primary tool for pinching, some will use tweezers to remove the smaller shoots.

Trimming will help redirect the energy of the shoot into the rest of the plant. This will result in more ramifications below the pruned or pinched point. This method of energy balancing is used by bonsai masters, in order to induce growth on a weak side of a tree, it is called energy balancing.

Pests and diseases

This is a very hard subject to generalise principles on, since there are so many plants and different growing conditions.

The most common insects are aphids, spider mites, scale insects and mealybugs.

The easiest way to get rid of pests is to remove them by hand. But some are too small and sometimes there are too many. So, the most natural way to remove them is with a jet of water. If you decide to use a chemical solution, you should choose the less dangerous substance. Liquid dishwashing soap diluted in water will kill all soft-bodied insects. You should mix 2 tablespoons of soap into a gallon of water. After you have sprayed your plant, let the substance do its work for an hour, then carefully rinse your tree with water.

As for disease, it’s better to consult your local plant nursery as products are constantly changing, as some are new and some are remove from the market. Also, there are too many diseases to efficiently make a list of symptoms and treatments. The most common diseases are mainly caused by fungus, small mushrooms, and the solution is too apply a fungicide. Funguses are often present when the growing conditions are too humid.

Feeding and fertilizing

In terms of fertilizer, you have many choices. Many companies are offering organic and inorganic fertilizer. Organic fertilizers are mainly fish emulsions, while the inorganic are mainly salts that can be found in a liquid or solid form. Many fertilizer labels will advise to use a specific dose every two weeks. Many bonsai growers prefer to use a half strength solution weekly, or even twice a week during the growth season (summer).

It is important not to feed fertilizer to a sick or under stress tree. You should only apply fertilizer when a tree is fully healthy and thriving. You should also fertilize after you have watered and the soil is moist. This will ensure and help the soil absorb essential nutritive elements.

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MishoBonsai News

Spring is well underway in the northen hemisphere. My bonsai tree season as started and im almost finish reppoting the trees that needed some cleanup of the roots and a new pot. I also decided to take some cuttings of a few of my 4 years old larix laricina seedlings. These will be for a future bonsai group planting (Yose-ue) im hoping to do in a few years with the parent trees. I also taken a few cuttings of a Carpinus Koreana bonsai tree I now own for a few years.

One the tree seeds side of things, nothing much did really happenned. We are stock for many of the species and we are still looking to find a few gems of tree seeds.

As for the vegetable garden, Im planning on doing the same as usual, but this year, I will grow hot peppers. I boutgh 5 types of hot peppers, including the evil hot orange habanero. One surprise I hope to see this year are the "fooled you" jalapeno. They are suppose to be jalapeno looking peppers but without any heat. These could be well in a pickled jar recipe. I also got some Big Bomb hot peppers. The common element of all these species of hot pepper is "Early". I chose types of pepper that were early producer. The summer is not quite long enough to grow peppers from seeds if you dont start your plants indoor before the growing season. With early pepper seeds, I should be good to produce some mature plants before the end of the summer. I just planted some of those seeds last weekend, and have allready some a few green tips emerging from the soil.

This year will be a great year I believe as it cannot be worse for our bonsai tree then all the rain we got last summer, at least in our part of the world. Take care of your bonsai tree and have.

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May 1, 2009, Chinese Bonsai Exhibition

Changzhou will be held on May 1 this year to 18 in Jintan Garden Yao Tong Road in 2009, Changzhou China (Spring) Qishi Bonsai Exhibition Jintan Yao Tong Road Gardens is a cross-strait plants, bonsai, large stone platform, operates mainly in

Changzhou will be held on May 1 this year to 18 in Jintan Garden Yao Tong Road "in 2009, Changzhou China (Spring) Qishi Bonsai Exhibition"

Jintan Yao Tong Road Gardens is a cross-strait plants, bonsai, large stone platform, operates mainly in high-grade bonsai, garden tree, garden stone, stone room of the house such as gardening and landscape design materials and construction. Podocarpus Park has been known in Japan, including a Japanese Millennium Arhats one million yuan-denominated whole tree, although the value of money, but the customers who flocked to the consultation. Taiwan's really hodginsii Bonsai Garden in Yao Tong Road is a flourish, a Suzhou has spent 1.04 million yuan friends bought really hodginsii Bonsai 13. Yao Tong Garden Highway will be stone and bonsai garden, the tree into the courtyard, Stone received a symbiotic tree, walk different view of the good results and become well known for its rock garden centers.

At present, both sides of the strait, including Taiwan's Taipei, Kaohsiung, Changhua, and the mainland of Nanjing, Hangzhou, Hefei, Wuhan, Ningbo, Xuzhou, Weifang, Anqing, Suzhou, Wuxi, Changzhou, Zhenjiang, Anji, Wu Jiang, Yixing, Rugao, Jiangsu, Liyang, Jintan, such as more than 20 cities and counties bonsai plants gathered stones industry have access to Yao Tong Garden Highway.

In addition, the May 1, 2008, "the second Changzhou bonsai exhibition" Yao Tong Road in the Garden a success.

September 18, 2008 ~ 25 "across the Taiwan Strait in China Changzhou bonsai bonsai industry summit and exhibition" Yao Tong Road in the Garden was held, both sides of the strait attracted more than 500 guests, the entire event was a complete success.

November 25, 2008, "China Changzhou first Expo Garden Stone" Yao Tong Road in the Garden a success.

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Decades of dahlias: One gardener's obsession

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by Kym Pokorny, The Oregonian

Marv Bondarowicz/The OregonianDahlias come in all sizes, including the giant 'Pearson's Pride.'

Bob Bloomfield explains his devotion to dahlias simply: "They're beautiful."

There's no arguing that. Intricate swirls of petals arrange themselves in so many designs it takes 19 categories to classify them, those further divvied up into size and color. Don't think that intimidates Bloomfield. At 92, he's handled thousands of dahlias, won hundreds of ribbons and come up with about a dozen of his own varieties, several named after his wife, Myrtle, who is 93.

Marv Bondarowicz/The OregonianMyrtle Bloomfield followed her husband, Bob, into the world of dahlias. Otherwise, she says, "I'd be a widow."

Portland Dahlia Society Annual Auction and Sale

When: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday,
April 14
Where: Rose City Park United Methodist Church, 5830 N.E. Alameda St.
Information: Portland Dahlia Society, portlanddahlia.com; Teresa Bergman, 360-274-8292; Jeanette Benson, 503-649-4118

For most of the year, the two nonagenarians spend part of every day grubbing about in the garden, sharing the joy with people who are lucky enough to be neighbors or friends.

"People stop in to pick dahlias," says Myrtle, the creases around her eyes fanning out in a sweet smile. "We leave baskets of vegetables for people to take."

Larry Smith, a neighbor and immediate past president of the Portland Dahlia Society, testifies to the couple's generosity. He is, after all, one of the beneficiaries. Smith, who rides his bike more than he drives his car, was pedaling past the Bloomfields' house in Southeast Portland in the early '90s and noticed the dahlias.

"I sucked him in good," says Bob, his smile just as committed as his wife's.

Smith laughs. "Dahlia growers are junkies," he says. "Those who've been around awhile are pushers."

Marv Bondarowicz/The Oregonian'Christmas Star'

Marv Bondarowicz/The Oregonian'Glenbank Twinkle'

Not that it took much to entice Smith into a healthy dahlia addiction. He'd been entering vegetables into state and county fairs since 1962, when he was 11, and has more than 500 ribbons to his credit.

"I haven't missed a year at the fairs," he says, deservedly proud.

And though he doesn't do it for the dough, the winnings -- $350 at one fair -- help feed his habit. "It pays for fertilizer, tubers, other things."

Marv Bondarowicz/The Oregonian'April Dawn'

Marv Bondarowicz/The Oregonian'Spartacus'

Still, he's an amateur compared with Bob, who started growing dahlias in 1953, joined the dahlia society in 1956 and soon became a daunting foe in competitions.

"That was in the old days when they judged in black suits. They looked like pallbearers," says Bob, who also remembers buying tubers from the Netherlands for 12 to 13 cents apiece.

Good thing, too, since by 1963, 1,000 dahlias grew in the Bloomfields' backyard. More than you'd imagine ended up in competition.

"One time I rented a U-Haul to bring them all to the show," he says without embarrassment. "I'm still the laughingstock in the dahlia society."

Hardly. His accomplishments, including a stint as president in the '60s, earned him the American Dahlia Society Gold Medal 10 years ago, an honor Smith calls "the lifetime achievement in dahliadom."

"Every year Bob says, 'Nope, I'm out of it,'" Smith says. But Bob keeps on. Last year, with Myrtle's help, he raised 100 dahlias, their beauty just as irresistible as they were 56 years ago.

-- Kym Pokorny; kympokorny@news.oregonian.com

Marv Bondarowicz/The Oregonian'Bishop of Llandaff'

Marv Bondarowicz/The Oregonian'Pam Howden'

TIPS FOR GROWING DAHLIAS

Marv Bondarowicz/The OregonianDahlia tubers

• Plant tubers when soil temperature reaches 60 degrees. (Use a simple, inexpensive soil thermometer available at garden centers and home improvement stores). Generally, in low-lying areas in the Willamette Valley, this means early to mid-May, two to three weeks later at higher elevations.

• Annually add organic material such as well-aged compost to the soil.

• Add a handful of bone meal or blood meal to the planting hole.

• For stronger, more compact plants, pinch back to the terminal shoot when they get about a foot tall. At the same time, feed with a 5-10-10 fertilizer. Thereafter, use a liquid fertilizer once a month.

• Snip off dead blooms to keep plants flowering.

• Dig up tubers after plants die back or any time after they have been in the ground for at least 120 days. Store in vermiculite or cedar shavings.

• If you prefer to leave them in the ground, cut stalks back to 2 inches above ground level and insulate with compost or straw to prevent possible freezing of tubers

• Instead of mulch, Larry Smith covers cut-back stalks with a plastic grocery bag and holds it in place with a rubber band. Spread out the remainder of the bag around stalks, and anchor with soil or compost. Other options include foil or a tin can. These methods prevent rotting as well as freezing.

• For more extensive information, go to Swan Island Dahlias at dahlias.com or the Portland Dahlia Society at portlanddahlia.com.

SOURCES

• Swan Island Dahlias, Canby; dahlias.com, 503-266-7711, 800-410-6540; garden open Aug. 29-31 and Sept. 5-7

• Frey's Dahlias, Turner; freysdahlias.com, 503-743-3910, 866-878-7151; garden open mid-August to mid-October

• Cowlitz River Dahlias, Castle Rock, Wash.; dahlias4u.com, 360-274-8292 (information only); garden open mid-August to mid-October

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