Yearly Archives: 2024

Outdoor:This is a time to be preparing for the coming winter.  Decide where and how you will protect your trees; mulch bed, cold storage house, cold greenhouse, etc. Acquire any needed materials now so that you are not caught without needed supplies when it is time to store the trees. Keep trees outdoors on cool fall nights.  Do not bring winter-hardy trees indoors. Adjust watering to the changing temperatures. The soil is likely to stay damp longer on cool, and in particular cloudy, days. Fertilization with a very low…

It has been a month since we completed the Bonsai Show at Morton Arboretum during the Destination Asia Festival.  Most of the bills have been finalized, awards prepared and presented, and so it seems a good time to reflect on the show, what went right and what can be improved for 2025.  The ShowWe had 22 members bring a total of 58 trees to the show.  Thirty-six trees were included in the judging and twenty-two were categorized as Trees in Training.  I always enjoy talking to the people viewing the…

This article will cover the techniques that I use for late fall maintenance on my double flush pines such as Japanese Red and Black Pines. You may want to consider adapting this to your circumstances depending on the tree and the stage of development/ramification it is in. Do not perform this technique on trees that are in a weakened state or that are not healthy. In early September the new buds that have formed at the tips of the candles should be reduced to two buds. I try to pick…

Yuzu is a type of winter-hardy Japanese citrus tree (read more about It in this article: https://prairiestatebonsai.com/tree-of-the-month-march-2023/). It is very similar to lemon trees. Since the plants are so rare and impossible to purchase in the USA, I decided to grow my own! I purchased a Yuzu fruit imported from Japan at the local Japanese supermarket. I sliced it open and began to extract the seeds.  Having read an article online previously on how to grow citrus from seeds, I did a test of completely removing the skin of the…

Dear Members,Our general meeting on August 7, 2024, was both informative and engaging. We had the pleasure of witnessing a captivating demonstration by Jennifer Price, who skillfully planted Chinese Elm trees on a feather rock. Larry Magee assisted her, meticulously preparing various elements, including gluing the rocks onto a round ceramic pot. The result was nothing short of impressive, with Jennifer expertly explaining each step of the process. We had a great turnout from PSBS members, and the arrangement was later raffled off. The raffle also included a petrified…

Koto Hime Japanese Maple Photo by International BONSAI Koto Hime Japanese maple originated in Saitama Prefecture in Japan. The foliage is generally light green and is crinkled along the edges. Of all the maple cultivars Koto Hime Japanese maple has the smallest foliage. The leaves of Koto Hime Japanese maple are closely spaced which means that there is an abundance of adventitious vegetative buds, even on old wood. This is an excellent characteristic for drastic pruning thick trunks and branches for developing or remodeling bonsai.Most maples have an opposite leaf…

THINGS TO DO THIS MONTH Outdoor & Indoor:Watering is still a critical job at this time of year. Trees can dry very quickly on hot days. The roots can be damaged or even killed when the soil stays dry for too long, which can have devastating effects on your tree. Now is the time to switch to a low nitrogen fertilizer. The soil should be moist before the fertilizer is applied. Now is the time when trees prepare themselves for winter. Trunks and branches will thicken as materials are…

Keaki (Japanese Elm aka Zelkova serrata)Keaki or Zelkova serrata (Japanese: 欅 (ケヤキ) is a species of the genus Zelkovanative to Japan, Korea, eastern China and Taiwan. It is often grown as an ornamental tree and used in bonsai. There are two varieties, Zelkova serrata var. serratain Japan and mainland eastern Asia, and Zelkova serrata var. tarokoensis (Hayata) Li on Taiwan which differs from the type in its smaller leaves with less deeply cut serration on the margins.A medium-sized deciduous tree usually grows to 30 m (98 ft) tall. It is characterized by a short trunk dividing into many upright and erect spreading stems forming a broad, round-topped head. The tree grows rapidly when young though the…

Dear Members,The club picnic held on Sunday, June 30, 2024, at Cantigny Park was a delightful event attended by many of our members. We enjoyed excellent weather, delicious grilled food, and the company of fellow bonsai enthusiasts. Our guest artist, Chris Baker, the Bonsai Curator at the Chicago Botanic Garden, styled a Black Pine which was raffled off. Chris also generously shared his expertise with members, offering valuable advice on their trees.The general meeting on July 10, 2024, was highly informative. It focused on preparing our trees for the…

Outdoor: The most important thing is to water the trees. The second most important is water. Heat and drought can have a significant effect on our bonsai. A tree in a bonsai pot can dry out surprisingly fast in the sun. Check the trees as often as possible and water them thoroughly whenever you water them. Spraying water onto the foliage late in the afternoon can help cool the foliage and container and reduce water loss. Reduce or suspend fertilization. If you are not seeing new growth in your trees,…