Articles And Stories: Pieces of Bonsai: Posts

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by John BoyceResolving Drainage issues
Jan 26th: Start by removing all moss, leaves and other detritus from the top of the soil. These things can cause the soil to shed water rather than absorb it. Next, make holes in the soil 1/2" to 2" in size depending on the size of the pot. Start by making a cone shaped hole with a sharp chopstick, gradually making it into a cylinder shape all the way to the bottom of the pot. Fill with well-draining soil with lots of pumice in it...  read more »
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by John BoyceSometimes you just have to take a chance.
Jan 20th: In styling a tree of any kind, you take a look at the branches in relation to the trunk. Decide which you wish to keep. To make sure of your decision, cover the branches with a small towel or some paper before you cut them off. If this is too much, cover just a portion of the branch or branches. With this decision made you can better tell how high the tree should be. Then, if the tree does not do anything for you, lean it to one side or the other to give it movement...  read more »
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by John BoyceBonsai, some pointers for your journey.
Jan 20th: You can find trees trained in different styles meticulously cared for and yet they do not look like their species. Sometimes trees are forced into styles that are contrary to the way that the trees grow naturally. A lot of this has to do with the essence of bonsai, and this is the most important part of bonsai. A bonsai is not a tree trained out of its configuration. We start doing bonsai with the basic rules, a branch to each side at different levels and some in back...  read more »
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by John BoyceGetting Ready for Winter
Nov 21st: Pieces of Bonsai - December As I write this the rains have not yet started, but I hope they will soon. The Maples have all turned nice colors for you, and maybe the only tree left with foliage is the beech or maybe a stubborn elm or zelkova. Deciduous oaks could be hanging on, too. If you want to remove dead leaves, pull back gently on them, and they should release. If they do not, do not pull on the leaf, but cut it off, leaving a tiny bit of petiole on...  read more »
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by John BoyceFall work on Pines, maples and others
Oct 23rd: Pieces of Bonsai - November 2005 November begins the year for bonsai, and here are some things that should be done: Pines-make sure your tree is always healthy before doing the following: Removing pine needles-On small trees pluck out single needles one at a time, leaving the sheath on. If you have no luck at doing this, then cut off the needles. For larger trees you want the long branches to bud back further...  read more »
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by John BoyceFall Maintenance and tips for Pines, maples etc
Sep 27th: Pieces of Bonsai - October 2005 Now that Autumn is here, we can begin real work on the trees. The white pines have already had the needles cut off, and we can begin on the black pines. In this case either pluck the needles off or cut them off like the white pines. Then plucking black pine needles they should be pulled off in an upward mobement that is in the direction the branch is growing. The cork bark pine is done just the opposite...  read more »
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by John BoycePieces of Bonsai - September 2005
Aug 20th: If you drive up to the high Sierras and walk around in the forest, you will see natural jin and shari on many of the trees. These are caused by natural events and can look spectacular. By natural events I mean disease, insects, wind, rain, snow, landslides & snow pack. All of these things leave a rough piece of damage that does not heal over nicely. The result is jin and shari.You will also see jin and shari on the seashore where the winds are very strong and kill the living trees by desiccation and perhaps make them more vulnerable to disease...  read more »
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by John BoycePeices of Bonsai
Nov 1st: November is the time to finish up black pine needle removal - if you have not done it so far. Heavy pruning and cut back can be done safely now. Copper wire is best used on black pines because it holds, especially on heavy branches. Aluminum just does not have the strength to hold a pine. Really severe bends are accomplished by applying well soak raffia before applying wire or to bend with the down wire...  read more »
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by John BoycePeices of Bonsai
Aug 1st: If you have not been watching your wires in July you better watch them in August. The second growth period begins somewhere in late July or middle of August depending on the weather, and also when you put the wire in the first place. Sometimes wire must be removed in three months or less and if the branch or trunk has not lignified, it will not stay in place and so must be re-done at once before you lose the shape you want...  read more »
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