Welcome to our next installment of “Tips Of The Week”.
This feature is for the benefit of visitors to this site, I would be happy to hear from you if there is
something you would like to see covered here in future weeks. Please direct your E-mail to
Paul@bonsaiofbrooklyn.com
Interested in past articles? There's a list at the
bottom of the page.
Remember that house heat is VERY
dry, so water more frequently. The use of Humidi-Grow trays in winter
is very helpful. If you don't know what they are, you'll find photos,
and a description of their use in the "Supplies" section in our product
catalog.
Interested in past articles? Click for your choice below.
#3-Planning a trimming schedule
#4-Trimming Japanese Maples (And other trees with opposing Buds)
#5-Trimming Chinese Elms (And other trees with alternating Buds)
#6-Trimming Conifers (Such as Pine, Juniper and Cypress)
#7-Improving Your Bonsai Skills
Now that winter is upon us, those of us that have only temperate bonsai
& live in cold climates don't have much to do. If you have subtropicals
it's a whole different ballgame. In climates where the lows are in
the 50's, your subtropicals will still do best outside. It's best to
know the lowest each species you have can take. If you're not sure,
I'll be happy to answer your E-mail. Watch for unusually low overnight
temperatures. If you're in an area where the temperatures are too low to keep
subtropicals outside in winter, there's another set of things you need
to remember. First, the further north you go, the shorter the days are,
and the shallower the angle of the sun is. In addition, there are many
overcast days in the colder climates. This can lead to problems for
many subtropicals. Remember, trees depend on light to function. If
your bonsai looks stressed in winter, it may be due to insufficient
light. You may want to consider artificial light (See Tip #11.) If you do, be careful.
The wrong type of light can do more harm than good. Incandescent (screw-in)
bulbs produce a LOT of heat. They not only dry the soil, they can burn
the leaves if too close. If far enough away so that the heat is not
a problem, their benefit is greatly reduced. The answer is fluorescent
lights. Full-spectrum bulbs such as "Spectralite" are ideal. The
next best thing is a fluorescent plant bulb. There are many brands.
They are better then regular fluorescent bulbs, but not nearly as good
as full-spectrum. Hang the fixtures about 6 to 12 inches above the
top of the bonsai. Keep the lights on for about 12 hours a day. A
timer is a good investment.