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Dear Members,The general meeting on June 5, 2024, was a resounding success, particularly due to the engaging root-over-rock planting workshop conducted by Linda Camp. The event saw a commendable turnout from PSBS members, all eager to enhance their bonsai skills.Linda demonstrated step-by-step how to create a root-over-rock planting with a Chinese Elm tree. Various members followed along, preparing their own projects under her expert guidance.The raffle was a highlight, featuring a spruce tree styled by Mauro Stemberger and wired by Larry Magee and Mark Karczewski, along with a couple…

KINGSVILLE BOXWOOD Kingsville Boxwood Bonsai is popular among bonsai enthusiasts for its compact size and stunning appearance. However, it requires proper care and attention to thrive and maintain beauty. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the steps of caring for your Kingsville Boxwood Bonsai to ensure its longevity and health. It is a small evergreen shrub native to Japan and Korea, which makes it perfect for creating bonsai trees. Kingsville Boxwood Bonsai has a compact growth habit, with small, glossy green leaves perfect for shaping and styling.There…

Indoor: If possible, these trees will benefit significantly from summer outdoors. Ideally, they should have all been moved out by now, but there is still time if you have not already moved them out—water as needed. Watering will depend on the weather, the location of the trees (sunny or shady), the soil, the pot size, and other factors. In many cases, however, daily watering will be needed. Always check the moisture content of the soil before watering. Fertilization should continue. Check wires for tightness. Repotting may be done at…

Depending on when you are reading this, repotting season is just starting or is in full swing. The choice of which bonsai soil to use is an often hotly debated topic. This article is not meant to solve the question of what is the “best” bonsai soil/substrate, but rather meant to give newcomers to the hobby a basic understanding of the different options available and to partially explain why there are so many choices. The first thing to consider when choosing a bonsai soil is what species you are…

Dear Members,Our general meeting on May 15, 2024, featuring world-renowned Bonsai Master Mauro Stemberger, was a tremendous success, with a great turnout from both Prairie State and Midwest Bonsai Society members. In a remarkably short time, Mauro styled two trees: Larry Magee and Mark Karczewski assisted by wiring the spruce tree, while Mauro focused on styling and wiring the Scots pine. Both trees turned out exceptionally well.For the raffle, the first winner had the option to choose between the two trees and opted for the Scots Pine.I extend my…

Outdoor: Place trees in a maximum sunlight location. Make certain to water as often as needed. As the weather warms, the trees will need to be watered more frequently, often daily. Be sure to provide enough water at each watering to thoroughly saturate the soil. Fertilize regularly to keep the trees growing and to support the new growth. Pinch new growth as needed to increase the fullness of the foliage pads. Wire as needed, but be careful when working around the soft new growth as it is easily damaged. Keep…

Bonsai leaf reduction Just how much will leaf’s reduce in bonsai soil and a bonsai pot?These are both Dwarf Umbrella Trees/ Schefflera Arboricola from cuttings I was given a meeting a year and a half ago. Once rooted the cuttings on the left were planted in a 6” deep pot with potting soil, compost, and sand mixture. The plant on the right was potted in a 2” deep bonsai pot with bonsai soil from BC Bonsai. Significant reduction of leaf size and internodes can be seen on the plant…

Japanese Quince — (Choujubai) 長寿梅 / (Kusaboke) 草木瓜  Chouju 長寿 translating as longevity/long living and bai 梅 meaning Japanese plum (quince produce large seed pods similar to ume).  The Chaenomeles, commonly known as Flowering Quince or Japanese Quince, is a cherished species in bonsai cultivation known for its beautiful blossoms. Originating from East Asia, this species captivates bonsai enthusiasts with its exquisite flowers, ornamental fruits, and graceful form. The name of the plant genus has an interesting etymology. It is a reference to the shape of the fruit. Namely, the word Chaenomeles comes from…

Dear PSBS Members,I hope this letter finds you well and still basking in the camaraderie and knowledge shared at our recent General Meeting and Repotting Workshop. It was truly heartening to witness the collaboration and dedication among our members, especially in the nurturing and care of our beloved bonsai trees.I extend my sincere gratitude to Larry Magee for his insightful demonstration on repotting techniques, and to all those who participated in the workshop. Special thanks are also due to Linda Camp, Jim Beck, Phil Malhoit, and Larry Magee for…

 Once plants have leafed out it is time to start fertilizing. See the guide below that Larry Magee gave us last year and use a calendar to record when you fertilized and …  Wire cutting can happen very quickly during the spring, so check at least weekly.  The apex – it’s always growing much stronger than the rest of the tree and thus thickens much faster. Any place that you made sharp bends. The more the tissue is damaged, the more repair that is needed and that is where it…