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Growing A Brush Cherry Bonsai In Your Garden

Aug 4

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The Brush Cherry can add wonderful color as well as interest to your garden. This evergreen shrub will enhance your gardening efforts by yielding puffy white flowers along with round berries all in contrast with it’s glossy leaves which can have a lovely red tint.

The Brush Cherry Bonsai is an evergreen shrub that loves a warm climate like that of it’s native Florida. They do grow best outdoors, but if you live in a cold climate and simply must have one, you can try growing one indoors provided that you can give it enough light. This shrub can grow to upwards of 35 feet in it’s natural state, but will reach a height of about 14″ as a Bonsai.

If you are thinking about planing a Brush Cherry in your garden, be sure that the winters will be mild. The tree does fine in hot weather but ideally should be grown in temperatures ranging from 46 to 68 degrees.

Plant your Brush Cherry Bonsai in a slightly acidic soil and be sure it gets plenty of water in summer months, but don’t over water it. You should give it enough so that the soil is moist, but not so much that there is standing water in the pot. Let the soil dry between waterings. Bonsais love humidity so you might want to mist your plant and use a humidity tray. The bonsai should be set on top of the humidity tray so that it collects water that drains from the freshly watered bonsai.

Fertilize your Brush Cherry Bonsai every two weeks during the summer and a couple of times over the winter. The best type of fertilizer to use is an organic liquid fertilizer such as a seaweed fertilizer or fish emulsion. If you use a chemical fertilizer make sure you dilute it to half strength.

Pruning should be done with care and kept to the summer months. Pinch the leaves with your fingers and try not to use sharp objects like sheers on your Bonsai. Your Bonsai should be wired during the active growing season. Don’t forget to prune the roots as well, the Brush Cherry can survive quite well even with a two thirds loss of roots so you can be a bit aggressive in this task, however you want to be sure not to prune them too much when repotting as this can cause a negative reaction.

Bonsais should be repotted every two years, and the Brush Cherry is no exception. Repotting should be done in early spring and the plant should be watered thoroughly and kept in the shade for several weeks after repotting to help the roots grow into the new pot.

Although it is fairly hardy, pests can be a problem with the Brush Cherry especially the Caribbean fruit fly, aphids, red spider mites, meal bugs, and scales. You should treat your Bonsai with organic pesticides and insecticides and be sure to inspect it regularly for pests and other disease.

To add the finishing touch to your beautiful Brush Cherry Bonsai, think about adding moss to the pot which will help improve moisture retention as well as add to the beauty of this fun garden plant.

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Avoid This Common Mistake That Can Kill Your Bonsai Tree

Aug 4

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Do you know what the most common cause of death for bonsai trees is? Believe it or not, it is improper watering.

Most people think that watering should be the simplest of matters when, in fact, for bonsai trees at least, it is the most important thing that you can do and not do it correctly can kill your tree. In fact, improper watering kills more bonsai’s than anything else.

Bonsai trees root in special soil that is rather porous and has quick drainage. For this reason the bonsai must be watered frequently, however, care must be taken to not overwater as standing water can cause fungus to grow and contribute to root rot.

Here’s some steps that you can take to avoid under watering or over watering your bonsai:

In order to determine if your bonsai needs water or not you must test the soil to see how moist it is. Touch the top of the soil with your finger and if it feels dry dig a little deeper to see how far the dryness extends. If you want a more precise method you can buy a moisture gauge which takes into the soil and will tell you what watering is needed.

It’s a good practice to set the container you’re bonsai is in into a buck of water so that water can be soaked up from the bottom about once every four weeks. let the water soak in for 20 minutes or so and then remove the pot. Be sure to always lift by the container and never by the trunk of the tree.

Your container should have a drainage hole in the bottom and a tray underneath to catch the excess water. If you find water pooling in the tray for too long you might want to make sure to remove the water so that it doesn’t collect from the roots causing rot and contributing to the buildup of mold.

When the bonsai is growing during the spring and summer you want to water daily making sure that water flows through the entire container and out the bottom but not so much that it is standing in water. You may actually have to water more than once a day depending on the soil in your climate as well as the species of tree. In the fall and winter when growth has slowed you will not need to water so much.

Some types of bonsai like flowering and deciduous trees need more water and other types such as conifers need a bit less. You’ll need to experiment to find out what the right amount of water for your bonsai is. Be on the lookout for wilting flowers and curled leaves which can indicate lack of water and adjust accordingly.

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Bonsai, Training Trees to be Small

Aug 2

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Bonsai, the ancient art of miniaturizing nature, Growing natural trees in a small way. Tree in pot. Sounds easy but when practiced one finds it much more difficult than usually thought. To grow healthy Bonsai trees all of its needs have to be met, from water, sun light, and fertilizers and pruning. Learning all this takes time and research, this time and effort will be well rewarded if implemented.

When starting out to grow your own bonsai trees it is highly recommended to use local native species. You can make a lot of educational mistakes that won’t cost you an arm and a leg. Many people start with tropical trees that can be grown inside in the winter in areas too cold for their survival. Tropical bonsai tend to be faster growing than the non tropical trees that usually need a cool or even a cold winter to mature.

Patience is the first and most important attribute that someone needs to grow bonsai. Many of the best trees can actually out live the grower. When the proper care and environment is created a Bonsai tree can live over one hundred years. Many of these specimen trees are handed down through generations. These trees can fetch thousands of dollars if they are ever sold.

Selecting the plant material that you want to use can vary from the tropical to the local trees, but can also include perennial plants like herbs and chrysanthemums. As these plants are not as long lived and also grow much faster will help you on your educational path.

Yes, Using herbs as bonsai has been done for centuries. Small leaves and a mature looking growth in one season can help in the learning process. When I was in Japan I was there for the chrysanthemum festival and on display were a number of different herbs as bonsai. The chrysanthemum on display had feature as intricate as full grown forests. The great thing about Bonsai as an art is to mimic nature in a smaller form. Have fun with what ever plant materials you want to use. Most of the original bonsai art was done with local and native plants.

Today the most sought after Bonsai trees are from Japan, China and Asia, as these trees have the images that people are looking for in the Art of Bonsai. If You seek out these trees be prepared to spend good money to get them. Most important is that as a Bonsai enthusiast getting started is the first step.

The great thing about using herbs and other perennials is that you will get faster growth and you will learn more. The more you try to do the better skills you will develop. And if you make a mistakes with a perennial you have not lost a long lived tree. Bonsai can be very rewarding and may teach you a few things in the process. Seek out the help you will need from the many that have gone before you, their knowledge is priceless.

Joe Kennedy is a successful online marketer and pro skier. Certified coach. Founder Positive Impact International and a Success coach at http://tinyurl.com/zmr9h
Joe can be reached at www.jerseygardener.blogspot.com

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The Tips To Bonsai Pruning

Jul 31

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The act of bonsai pruning is actually more tiring than it seems. In integrity, bonsai pruning is akin to diagram by connecting dots. You have to pursue a pre-intended conduit and you’ll end with the chosen smooth. The quantity of preparation made before bonsai pruning however is what bonsai enthusiasts should primarily focus on. Tools for Bonsai Pruning Before you get into the act of bonsai pruning, make positive of course that you have all the required tools. Bonsai Shears – These are a special kind of scissors designed for bonsai edge or pruning. There are assorted designs of bonsai shears so make solid that you hold right what you want. Concave Branch Cutter – This particular bonsai pruning tool will be used for ejection of brushwood, which is sometimes necessary to acquire a particular affect. The great thing about hollow area scissors is that they can effectively cut off branches with the least quantity of injury or sorrow to the bonsai ranking. Wire and Wire Cutters – Wire is used for repotting and molding the bonsai hide into the desired nature. You will of course must wire shears to simplify wire callous. Miscellaneous Tools – As your facts of bonsai pruning grows, your tool set will grow in proportion as well. In time, you might find manually needing other tools such as burrow hook, lump cutters, soil sieves, and torso benders. Wiring before Bonsai Pruning The chief objective of bonsai wiring is effectively to tailor or style the workshop into a favored influence. To place it in a simpler framework, think of a bonsai workshop as an instance of fabric and wiring is what will help you make an outline from it to make an amazing looking outfit. Wiring however can also help in permanently stabilizing or maintaining direction of certain parts of the bonsai factory. There are two kinds of wires that you can work with for your bonsai deposit. Copper is preferred by some because it’s more lasting. Copper wires, however, expect frequent monitoring. If you neglect to safeguard its stage regularly, copper wires can place too much demands on your bonsai factory and end causing scarring. Your jiffy selections is aluminum wires. Although aluminum wires are excluding tough than copper wires, they are however more bendable and need fewer monitoring. In the episode that you do disregard to overseer your bonsai’s wiring, aluminum wires won’t basis as sorrowful results to your yard the way copper wires do.

Want to find out about tulip care and dutch tulip? Get tips from the Planting Tulips website.

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The Bonsai Braided Money Plant Tree

Jul 30

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Bonsai trees can be a great hobby and a wonderful way to add interest to your garden or inside your home. They take a minimal of care and the ability to train and prune them can be a great creative outlet. Not all bonsai trees are the same and there are many different types of trees that can be interesting to grow. A favorite for bonsai enthusiasts is the braided money plant tree as it is easy to grow and makes a great indoor plant.

The braided bonsai money plant tree, also known as Pachira aquatica, is a miniature tree characterized by multiple intertwining trunks. Each tree is actually four to five separate trees with their trunks braided together. Its size varies anywhere from 10-18 inches tall. (Full-grown money plant trees can reach 7 feet tall.) The tree is topped with large, bright green leaves that form a tuft at the tip of each stem.

The braided bonsai money plant tree is usually given as a gift, as it is reputed to bring good luck. Generally, the more leaves the money tree has, the better! While it is common to find money trees with five to six leaves on each stem, it is quite rare to find one with seven leaves. Like a four-leaf clover, a money plant tree with a seven-leaf stem is considered to bring incredibly good fortune.

The braided bonsai money plant tree is also a mainstay in feng shui. Feng shui practitioners believe that the braided bonsai creates positive energy for any room that it placed in. According to this belief, you should place your money tree in the “financial” part of your home or office. Each new leaf of the tree will then bring added financial blessing and success.

The Pachira aquatica is an easy bonsai to grow; it is ideal for indoor cultivation. Unlike other bonsai, it is quite hardy. It can thrive for many years with minimal care. It is tolerant of both low light conditions and dryness. All you will need is a little bit of soil to hold the roots. Other than that, brief exposure to sunlight and weekly watering will be enough to make the plant thrive.

The amount of water you give your plant is critical and one common mistake that many beginning plant owners make is over watering. This can actually kill your plant! You want to be sure to water so that the soil is moist but you don’t want to put so much in so that there is standing water in the planter.

If you are a bonsai beginner, the braided bonsai can be ideal for you! (And the added luck couldn’t hurt.) Even if the braided bonsai money plant tree you acquire seems to have damaged leaves, don’t worry. Those leaves will drop off and beautiful leaves will sprout up in their place. Enjoy both your tree and your newfound luck!

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Bonsai Brings Out The Artist In You

Jul 29

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Bonsai trees are created from standard types of tress. Many believe they are some special dwarf species and that’s just not true. The small size of the tree is the result of careful pruning of the branches and the roots.
Growing and creating bonsai is a wonderful hobby. It takes up little space, is not demanding upon your time, is a creative outlet and can empower you with a wonderful feeling of accomplishment.
Many different trees are good subjects for bonsai, but maple is one of the favorites. Some say the easiest to work on are the green leafed types such as pure Japanese Maple (acer palmatum), and Trident Maple (a.buergerianum).
To be successful growing a bonsai tree you must develop some specialized knowledge. That includes soil preparation and watering, but careful pruning is foremost in successfully turning a tree in the work of art called bonsai.
Just like any artist, before you can create a work of art you must have a vision of what you wish to create. Most bonsai experts use a simple drawing to formulate their ideas. Others may use software designed for gardeners as the first step in the process. When you completed you design you are ready to plan the pruning techniques you will use to achieve your vision.
‘Finger pruning’ is the next step in creating the bonsai. Finger pruning conifers means pinching new growth to begin shaping the tree. The technique of finger pruning is simply supporting the tree or branch with one hand. You then take the unwanted new growth between the thumb and forefinger of your other hand. Now you just twist sharply to remove the growth, avoiding a harmful pull on the branch or tree.
It sounds simple but finger pruning takes some practice to do correctly. The first tree you grow should be considered your practice tree. Don’t attempt to build your skills on a valuable bonsai. You can learn by practicing on an ordinary small bush. You will know that you have mastered the technique when you can remove growth cleanly without tugging on the plant.
Finger pruning is not compatible with all plants. Deciduous trees, such as maples and Chinese elms, require scissor tip pruning. With these trees you must trim the unwanted new shoots back to your match your predetermined design or sketch.
Defoliation (leaf pruning) is another shaping skill you must acquire. It is done with some deciduous trees and bushes, such as ficus. Defoliation is usually done in mid-summer, using a fine pair of scissors to remove half the number of leaves while leaving the stems untouched.
You will quickly learn that shaping the tree to your desired look is why you are pruning leaves and branches.
Next you must consider root pruning. This type of pruning is done to maintain the basic health of the tree. It should be coordinated with your branch pruning schedule.
The growth of the roots is affected by your pruning of the branches and leaves. Heavy branch pruning slows the growth of the root system. In this case there are fewer leaves and branches, so the roots need to supply fewer nutrients and less moisture to the tree.
It is very important to examine the roots at least every two years. Depending upon the age, species and the size of the pot, some trees can become root bound. Roots naturally curve within the soil and container. They will start to curve inward when they meet the side of the pot. They will be pressed for space and have nowhere to go but up when the available space is occupied by more roots. That’s why root pruning is required.
Roots must be trimmed with very sharp scissors to prevent them from running out of growing space. It is recommended that you trim the roots to about two thirds of their current length. While you are doing this it is a good idea to eliminate a few older roots and a few of the younger roots. Just be sure you leave enough roots to support the tree.
Another way to avoid the tree becoming root bound is to transfer larger and older trees into larger pots.
The species of tree determines the proper pruning time. Full-sized trees of the same species can be used as a pruning guideline.
Some species need to be pruned at the beginning of growth season to stunt growth. Other species need to be pruned at the end of growing season to leave fewer roots, leaves, and branches prior to the dormant period.
With just a little skill and care you and your bonsai tree will share a happy and healthy life together.

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