Shaklee Corporation: Providing a healthier life for everyone and a better life for anyone. Health, Wellness, Nature, Opportunity

Shaklee Corporation: Providing a healthier life for everyone and a better life for anyone. Health, Wellness, Nature, Opportunity

Propagate a Bonsai from Cuttings

You might want to propagate ( reproduce) a cutting since it is faster than growing from a seed. The nice thing is that plants that are produced from cuttings will have the same characteristics as the parent plant. What you do is cut small parts from the parent plant and put them into soil mix specially formulated for growing cuttings. You will need seed trays or pots Bonsai Pots a chopstick, suitable soil, scissors, sharp knife, treezers, and rooting powder. Bonsai Tools Wire The soil needs to be free-draining and grandular to promote growth of roots. Bonsai Humidity Trays Click here for fertilizer
When propagating woody plants, the two types are softwood and hardwood.Cuttings (from softwood, or semi-ripe) are taken in late spring or early summer. Cuttings from hardwood are taken in the autumn. If you want to take a cutting from a broad-leaf tree, take a cutting that has several nodes. Be sure to remove the lowest leaves and the growing tip. Remove two-thirds of each leaf if the leaves are large so as to reduce water loss. Use a sharp scissors. This will reduce water loss and increase survival.

To propagate conifers you will need to take heel cuttings. To do this pull down on the shoots until they detach. The heel is the small hardwood material from the branch that comes off with the shoot. Reduce the amount of foliage but leave some foliage as the cuttings will die without any foliage.

Put some soil mix (a gritty mixture which is more than used for seeds) in a seed tray. Use a stick or a chopstick and insert the cuttings into the soil mix. The cutting should be inserted about 1/3rd of their length-make it firm by hand. When finished, water and spray with fungicide to protect from fungi. Place in a shady cool place and cover to keep humidity in. Bonsai Humidity Trays

Akadama is a good Japanese potting soil to use if you would rather use this than a commercial compost. Akadama is really good for root production. Bonsai Soils

Bonsai Boy of NY  You can order here or on any link you see on this blog. Thank you.

I hope you got something out of this blog. Thank you for visiting!

Bonsai Soils to Keep Your Bonsai Happy

Hi, thank you for visiting my bonsai tree blog. If you are interested in purchasing a bonsai tree or accessories. Just click on a link pertaining to bonsai in this site and it will direct you to an online bonsai store.

In this blog I would like to discuss bonsai soils or potting mix.Bonsai SoilsAlthough almost any type of soil can be used to grow bonsai you will find that it is best to use a good quality soil or potting mix designed especially for bonsai.  You will want to maintain good health and vitality of the tree. Soil for bonsai can be a mixture of two or more ingredients or just one ingredient. For mixing and potting processes it is important that the soil is dry. When repotting, if the soil is wet it is difficult to work into and around the root system. You want the roots to be in good contact with the soil at all times because the function of the soil is to hold enough nutrients, water and air for the roots to absorb. You don't want the soil to store too much water as that will cause root rot. As you can see this is a very delicate operation but not difficult. Its just a matter of gaining the knowledge to repot a bonsai correctly. When the texture of the soil is free-draining, excess water can then freely drain away and that is what you want. Soil that drains freely is one of the most important components in the success of growing a bonsai. The root system needs to breathe so the soil mixture must be open with as many air spaces as possible around the granules of soil. The soil also must partly secure the tree in the pot which means it must be firm enough to accomplish this. The soil itself is not enough to secure the bonsai completely so a standard procedure used to stop the tree from moving around is to tie it into the pot with wire, using the holes in the base of the pot. This also helps in the formation of a good root system. There are various types of soils that can be used for bonsai culture. It would be helpful to purchase a book on caring for bonsai trees so you don't miss any important steps.Click here  The type of tree determines the type of soil or mixture needed, for example, azaleas need acid soil. Akadama (acid soil) is a soil imported from Japan and are available from bonsai suppliers. This bonsai soil is a general-purpose clay granule soil which is suitable for most  bonsai. This is just one of many soils that are available. Bonsai Soils

Thanks again for visiting my blog.     kathywheatley@live.com

The style of Twin Trunk called SOKAN

Hi, would you like to grow a twin-trunk style bonsai tree? Really, really cool. Well, in this blog I will explain how to do that. The twin-trunk style is a popular arrangement of two bonsai trees. When two seeds germinate near each other they naturally graft into one joined at the base. They are two plants that grow and combine by natural grafting and combine at the base. They are very, very intriguing. There are two ways of growing a twin trunk tree and that is to plant two or more trees very closely together or start a plant that has two or more trunks together already. If there are more than two trunks then you need to remove the other trunks. You will need to make a decision as to which trunks to remove depending on the shape and the position of the trunks on the tree. Just select the pair of trunks that looks most balanced in appearance to you. Recommended Indoor Bonsai Trees

Now the easiest way to start is to purchase a twin-stemmed plant from a nursery and make it into a bonsai. But if you have two trees to work with then tie the trees tightly together at the base with raffia or grafting tape, that way they will graft together as they grow. It's best not to tie with wire because it has no flexibility and the union can be ugly. Be sure to check the union regularly during the early process to see that it is going according to plan. Make sure you use two plants that are of the same species or variety. You want the color and leaf shape to be the same. Also, make sure the two trunks are different sizes. One should be taller and thicker than the other. It will give it a more interesting look. Ok, now when thinking about the viewing the angle of this style you need to consider arranging the smaller trunk alongside the main trunk and slightly to the rear or to the front. This will give it a much better appearance.

Here are steps to create your twin trunk bonsai.

1. Remove the tree from its pot and rake away the surface soil so that the base of the trunk and roots show. Cut out excess lower shoots so a clear tree image is formed.

2. So that the desired shape shows, you need to clear away excess internal shoots and minor branches.

3. Once you prune and style, the finished tree is completed.

The best tools needed are:

Rake
Branch cutters
Scissors
Pot
Mesh
Wire cutters
Pliers
Wire
Soil
Scoop
Chopsticks

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These can be bought at bonai tree stores such as Bonsai Boy of NY Check the bonsai stores on this blog and you will find that you will have everything you need to grow a bonsai tree or purchase one that is already started and instructions on how to maintain it. Click here

Bonsai Technique Sharimiki

Recommended Indoor Bonsai Trees

      In my previous post I discussed how to create jin on a bonsai branch. In this post I will discuss how to create sharimiki or shari  which complements jin. Sharimiki is created by stripping bark off part of the trunk. Natural sharimiki is when a tree may have been struck by lightning and part of the bark has been removed. The type of trees this is commonly seen on is junipers and pines. The basic tools needed to create sharimiki are electricians pliers and a gardening knife, however bonsai specialist tools will make the job easier. Bonsai Tools & Wire 

     As like creating jin the best time to creat sharimiki is in the summer when the flow of sap is greatest which makes it easier to strip the bark from the trunk of the tree. Be careful not to strip too much off the trunk as the tree depends on its bark to survive. When creating sharimiki keep in mind that you are working towards making it look natural so think about how it would look in nature such as how lightning strikes a trunk of a tree and which direction a branch would have fallen. Also you can study trees in nature that have gone through trauma. Relate what you have observed when creating sharimiki. When the sharamiki is complete you will need to wait for the exposed heartwood to dry and then treat the areas with a lime/sulpher solution to bleach and preserve the exposed wood. The color will be yellow at first, fade to white and then to a natural gray. For books on bonsai Click here

     To begin creating sharimiki you need to mark the position on the trunk with a pen. The next step is to cut into the bark to the heartwood and peel back the bark from the trunk using the tip of the knife. You want to create the sharimiki so it will link to the jin or jins (bark striped off the branch). You will see hair-like fibers on the surface of the heartwood - you can burn these off with a small flame. Once the sharimiki and jin are complete the tree appears much more aged or mature. The effect you want, so pat your self on the back.

Creating Jin in Bonsai

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   Creating jin is the art of  removing bark from a branch of a bonsai tree. The purpose is to give it an aged look. In nature you may see a dead branch of a tree that has been exposed to wind, rain, and bleached by the sun which eventually turns the barkless branch to a white-silvery color. This is the effect you want to create on your bonsai tree branch or branches. In nature jins are often seen on oaks, conifer, junipers and pines. Jin does not appear often on deciduous trees. (trees that lose their leaves seasonally)

     To creat a jin on a conifer, leave a stump several inches long when pruning a branch so it can be converted into a jin. Summer is the best time to do this because the sap moves the most during this season and makes it easier to remove the bark. Once you have made the jin let it dry in the sun and then apply a coat of lime/sulphur to bleach and preserve the wood. Reapply once or twice a year in the summer, doing this maintains the weather resistance of the jin. You can use a fine sandpaper to smooth and carve to refine it. This will help give it a more natural look. It's important to make sure the jin is in proportion with the other branches that have foliage.

     To start the jin, pick a branch you want to create the jin on. Remove all the foliage on the branch using branch cutters and scissors. Bonsai Tools & Wire Start at the base of the branch with a sharp knife and cut through the bark. The cut must go all around and through to the heartwood. Take the tip of the knife and cut into the bark through the heartwood from the trunk to the branch tip. Using jin pliers squeeze and twist the bark from the heartwood. Remove all the bark from the branch.  Once this is done you will see how the jin is taking shape and has a natural occurring look. To give a more natural and ragged look you can split and tear back the branch using branch cutters and pliers. Bonsai Tools & Wire It only takes a few minutes to create a weathered, natural looking jin using simple tools and it's your creative work!

                              

Wiring a Bonsai Tree

Wiring a bonsai tree is a technique used to give it a specific shape and style. You can bend and change the position of the branches by wrapping bonsai wire around them. You can position the branches to fill in spaces or wire in a downward or horizontal position to give a more mature look. It will take several weeks or a few months for the branches to stay in that position. The type of wire is important because the type of metal in the wire can be poisonous to the tree so you would need to find out what type of wire to use with the specific species of tree you have. The two basic types of wire used are copper and aluminum. Aluminum wire is easier to use for the beginner. Check with a bonsai store or an online bonsai store. Bonsai Tools & Wire

There are different thicknesses of wire available for bonsai trees. It takes 3 to 4 different thicknesses of wire to start with. Reels of wire are available in 1mm, 1 1/2mm, 2 1/2, 4mm, and goes up to 8mm. When you wire the branch or trunk the wire needs to be 1/3rd the thickness. Bonsai Tools & Wire

Most bonsai trees can be wired any time of the year. You don't want the wire to cut into the branch while it is growing so you need to check it often especially during growing season.

To start wiring you can cut the right length of wire which should be a little longer than what you need or you can wire straight from the reel. Start wrapping the wire around the base of the trunk working your way up at a 45 degree angle to a branch and wrap at the same degree angle along the branch. Wrap the trunk and primary branches first and then the secondary branches. Once you are finished wiring you can slowly and carefully bend the branches. Be careful not to break and do not change the position once you have it in place. 

When you are finished, fertilize Fertilizers and place in a proper place such as the shade. Keep an eye on the tree and remove the wire when it is time. You will need to use wire cutters Bonsai Tools & Wire

It's not good to unwind the wire. It is easier to remove by cutting the wire at every turn.

Click here for books on bonsai.