Welcome back to Quarantine Bonsai News; I'm your host, Lydia Shea.
Hopefully this broadcast finds most of you with your first mow of the lawn completed; since, as per New York usual, the grass will only explode in growth from here to September. This really is an astonishing feat, considering we have to douse our bonsai in fertilizer to achieve similar growth rates. Please note; do not actually douse your bonsai, this was a humorous exaggeration. Once a week or every two weeks is plenty, and make sure it is at the right dilution. Any questions about how your should be fertilizing your bonsai, please contact us!
Everyone's trees should be outside, preferably in an area where they can get some mid-day shade, to get the good sunshine they need. We also recommend that their human spend at least ten minutes in said sunshine for similar, if slightly less chlorophyll producing, benefits to physical and mental health. This may not be an issue if you find one of your trees already in need of a trim; I spent an hour the other evening pruning. Now, keep in mind that most young trees, recently repotted trees, or early design stage trees, need to just be allowed to grow to produce maximum trunk thickening, root system recovery, and budding, etc. Those trees can be pruned back to shape in winter dormancy. If, however, you find your tree to be like my Chinese Elm, it absolutely needs thinning out before the two to five new shoots in every trunk-meets-branch crotch cause bulbous growth. Mine are a forest planting that I do not really want more height on and instead wish to cultivate foliage density; so I pruned each branch back to 2-3 leaves, cleaned out all unwanted advantageous shoots off the trunk, and it finally looks like little trees again instead of a bush. Any questions about your own trees, again, feel free to contact us.
With our plants outside, do keep an eye on them for any pest issues, but also be aware that pest controlling insects and small spiders may take up residence on your tree, and are very beneficial. If your tree starts to look poorly, please do some research and/or contact us right away so we can act quickly to hopefully cure the issue before it's too late.
On another note, we would like to again extend our gratitude to all types of essential workers, and to those exercising the social distancing mandates. Hang in there, everyone. Stay safe and be well.
This has been Quarantine Bonsai News! Tune in next time for the latest great curve ball this year is pitching us! My guess is frog plague... but if they deal with the mosquitoes, then hey, we're good!
Lydia Shea, signing off!
Hopefully this broadcast finds most of you with your first mow of the lawn completed; since, as per New York usual, the grass will only explode in growth from here to September. This really is an astonishing feat, considering we have to douse our bonsai in fertilizer to achieve similar growth rates. Please note; do not actually douse your bonsai, this was a humorous exaggeration. Once a week or every two weeks is plenty, and make sure it is at the right dilution. Any questions about how your should be fertilizing your bonsai, please contact us!
Everyone's trees should be outside, preferably in an area where they can get some mid-day shade, to get the good sunshine they need. We also recommend that their human spend at least ten minutes in said sunshine for similar, if slightly less chlorophyll producing, benefits to physical and mental health. This may not be an issue if you find one of your trees already in need of a trim; I spent an hour the other evening pruning. Now, keep in mind that most young trees, recently repotted trees, or early design stage trees, need to just be allowed to grow to produce maximum trunk thickening, root system recovery, and budding, etc. Those trees can be pruned back to shape in winter dormancy. If, however, you find your tree to be like my Chinese Elm, it absolutely needs thinning out before the two to five new shoots in every trunk-meets-branch crotch cause bulbous growth. Mine are a forest planting that I do not really want more height on and instead wish to cultivate foliage density; so I pruned each branch back to 2-3 leaves, cleaned out all unwanted advantageous shoots off the trunk, and it finally looks like little trees again instead of a bush. Any questions about your own trees, again, feel free to contact us.
With our plants outside, do keep an eye on them for any pest issues, but also be aware that pest controlling insects and small spiders may take up residence on your tree, and are very beneficial. If your tree starts to look poorly, please do some research and/or contact us right away so we can act quickly to hopefully cure the issue before it's too late.
On another note, we would like to again extend our gratitude to all types of essential workers, and to those exercising the social distancing mandates. Hang in there, everyone. Stay safe and be well.
This has been Quarantine Bonsai News! Tune in next time for the latest great curve ball this year is pitching us! My guess is frog plague... but if they deal with the mosquitoes, then hey, we're good!
Lydia Shea, signing off!