Kusamura Bonsai Club

April Work Schedule

	From A Year of Bonsai Tips by Jim Ransohoff
	Main Effort Get your plants ready for our annual April show! Clean your pots. If they have salt marks, rub them with a cloth wet with white vinegar or rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol to remove the stains. Just before the show, rub your unglazed pots with a little mineral oil. Moss--be certain that it is fresh and green. If you have a large pot, a mix of various mosses and lichens will give a more natural look. Also, it is not necessary to cover the entire pot with moss. Remove any moss that might be growing on the exposed roots or trunk. Trim--remove any unwanted growth such as growth that is below the branch or that stands straight up. Do some fine wiring as needed, but be certain it is neatly done. Stands--shine and repair as necessary. That should be enough to keep you busy this month--more next time!   Repotting. Continue what you started doing in March. By now you've been hard at work on this, haven't you? If you haven't repotted your maples, elms, and zelkovas, it's probably too late, as they have undoubtedly leafed out. But continue with the rest of the deciduous plants, then the evergreens, and then the pines. When you repot, it's a good time to consider the placement of the tree in the pot--the depth, proper front, and angle over the trunk. Remember, bonsai is an art form that is never completed, and we are always trying to improve our plants. Additionally, remember to cut off some of the green growth because in repotting, roots are cut off and the roots and tops of the plants should be in balance. If not, growth is greatly hindered. When watering in, it is advisable to use Super Thrive and then set the plant in full sun, but out of the wind, to help speed growth. Pinching. Review last year's notes on pinching. If you want to promote twigginess, pinching is essential, especially on maples. When the first set of leaves has appeared and the second set is visible, remove the second growth with tweezers or your fingers. However, if you wish to elongate a branch, leave the first and second sets of new leaves and pinch out the third set. On zelkovas, elms, etc., that have alternate sets of new leaves, hold off pinching until two sets of leaves have appeared. If your junipers have shown much growth, start pinching them in order to promote tertiary growth. Also, remember to remove all downward and upward growth in all plants. Feeding. This subject was covered last month, but I didn't mention to hold off any major fertilizing on deciduous plants until mid-May, or our trees will tend to develop large leaves and long internodes, which will inhibit fine branching. Watering.This is a tricky one--what's the weather like? All you can do is check your pots regularly and water them if they are dry just below the surface. If not, leave them alone. Too much water is as bad as too little. At least with too little water you can see the plant wilt. But with too much water, the first thing you notice is dieback that moves quickly. Fungus is the most probable cause. Fight this with Subdue. Defoliation. From April on, if the leaves on your deciduous plants are too large, you may cut them off, leaving some of the petiole. This should give you smaller leaves and shorter internodes. ONLY do this if your plant is very healthy. Miscellaneous Notes Do not allow excessive growth at the upper portion of your plant, or it will shade and weaken the lower branches. The critters are now coming out in force, so keep after them with Malathion, Diazanon, or your favorite insecticide, but use them in rotation. Also, fungi are coming, as the weather is warming and the water you use on your plants makes a perfect situation for them. Use Benomyl (benolate) for leaf fungus, and if root fungus is your problem, use Subdue. Root fungus is a major cause of death for bonsai. You will first notice branches dying, quite rapidly, and most often one decides that the plant needs more water--WRONG!!! If you notice your plant starting to die, remove it from the pot and check its roots. If they are black, or mostly so, with very few healthy white roots, you have root rot. Repot and heavily treat with Subdue, and your plant should shortly recover.

Last Updated April 8, 2001.

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