SHIMPAKU DEMO - The Columbus Bonsai Society

Columbus Bonsai Society
PO Box 1981
Columbus, OH 43216-1981
Questions to:
[email protected]
HTTP://Columbusbonsai.org
Regular Club meetings on
3rd Sunday of the month
Meetings Start at 2:00 pm
All are welcome to attend
CBS Board meets
1st Tuesday of the month
at 6:30 pm
SHIMPAKU DEMO
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FOR 4/2714
1:00
BONSAI BEE RETURNS
2:00 PROGRAM BEGINS WITH A SHORT
MEETING FOLLOWED BY JOSÉ’S DEMO
FOLLOWED BY THE BYOT JUNIPER SESSION
FOR MEMBERS WHO BRING THEIR OWN
TREES
4:00 PM MEETING ENDS.
April 2014 Newsletter
President
Mike Thornhill
“A Pinch of this….”
Tree Curator
Jeff Carr
Director Emeritus
José Cueto
st
1 Vice President
Ken Schultz
2nd Vice President
Denny Sackett
1 year Director
...After the 10,000th footstep yet a beginner….
Yes, we are meeting a week later this month due to Easter. But that did not
stop approximately 11 people to begin their adventures in bonsai. On April
12th at Oakland Nursery they took part in this year’s
Inside this issue:
Beginner’s Class. Let’s be sure to welcome them into
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Program Info
the world of bonsai when you see them. See you Sunday.
Ben William
2 year Director
RABBIT HOLE
4
TECHNIQUE
OF MONTH
6
LOOK AHEAD
7
Jack Smith
3 year Director
Mark Passerrello
Past President
Zack Clayton
Treasurer
BOOK OF THE 8
MONTH
Richard Gurevitz
Secretary
Sandy
Schoenfeld
Librarian
Beverlee Wilson
SHIMPAKU
REPRINT
11
Calendar of
Events
12
Web Master
Ed McCracken
Newsletter Editor
Richard Uhrick
Education
Tom Holcomb
Mark Passerrello
Bonsai=Perseverance
Rich Uhrick
See you on the 27th at
Franklin Park Conservatory.
Columbus Bonsai Society PO Box 1981 Columbus OH 43216-1981
[email protected]
www.ColumbusBonsai.org
Columbus Bonsai is a proud member of the American Bonsai Society and Bonsai Clubs International.
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COLUMBUS BONSAI SOCIETY
APRIL 2014
This Month’s Program— APRIL 27—SHIMPAKU DEMO
April 27 - Please remember that due to Easter falling on April 20 our meeting is the 4th Sunday of
April.
Bonsai Bee - The Bonsai Bee returns with Spring. Board members will be available from 1pm-2pm to
answer questions about your trees. They may assist you in repotting if you have the supplies. Mike
Thornhill will be offering bags of his soil mix through the sales area at this meeting.
Advanced Bonsai Techniques on J. chinesis "Shimpaku" - by Jose' Cueto - At 2 Jose' will take on
two projects involving "Shimpaku." One will be to create a Clump Style bonsai from three trees offered
by Tracy Freeland. Tracy acquired these plants a number of years ago and said that he has never been
satisfied with them. Jose' believes that together they will make a better bonsai - come see.
Franklin Park has a large specimen "Shimpaku" that has been around since Ameri-Flora. It has lost the
lower branch on the left side. Last fall board members acquired a "Shimpaku" whip from Ken Huth to
phoenix graft onto the primary tree. Come see how this is done.
Jose' has agreed to offer members critiques of bonsai that they bring to the meeting. Jose' has 40 years of
bonsai experience and is a well-known regional bonsai expert.
Sales- soil, pots, tools and wire will be available to address your spring repotting and styling needs.
The Columbus Bonsai Society
receives meeting space and other
support and assistance from Franklin
Park Conservatory and Oakland
Nurseries
DISCLAIMER
The Columbus Bonsai Society Newsletter, is
the intellectual property of the Columbus
Bonsai Society. All Rights Reserved. No part of
this publication may be reproduced in any form,
or by any means —electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording or otherwise —
without permission in writing from the Editor.
Rich Uhrick, Editor
[email protected]
UPCOMING PROGRAMS:
SEE PAGE 12 FOR MORE
DATES AND LISTINGS
COLUMBUS BONSAI SOCIETY
APRIL 2014
4
AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR PRESIDENT….
THE RABBIT HOLE
I
t appears that spring is finally here and not a moment too soon for my liking. As the weather warms
our trees begin to awaken from their winters sleep. Sap begins to flow, buds begin to swell and
needles start to change from their winter color to the greens of summer. Here in Ohio, Spring is prime
season to work on our bonsai that need repotting. The frequency of repotting varies depending on the
species and age of trees. Some ficus trees in my collection get repotted annually due to their rapid root
growth, while other trees may go several years between repotting. I often repot trees in development before
they need it for the sole purpose of putting them in a more appropriate pot. More often though it is because
the roots have developed to the point that they inhibit drainage in the pot and make watering difficult.
Using an appropriate bonsai soil during repotting is vital to the continued health and development of
your bonsai. There has been vigorous debate in the bonsai community in recent months regarding the use of
Turface as an ingredient in bonsai soil. Well known bonsai artist Michael Hagedorn takes the position that
“…this is one of the worst soil components you could ever use.” I will say now that I do not agree with his
assertion. I will freely admit that I am not a chemist, I don’t have a degree in horticulture and I have not
studied every soil amendment on the market. What I can say is that I have used Turface as an ingredient in
my bonsai soil for many years and it works well in my backyard. My soil mix consists of 50% aggregate
(Haydite or decomposed granite), 25% pine bark fines and 25% Turface. This mixture has served me well
over the years and I use it in all my trees. Again, this works for me in my backyard and works with my
watering regime. Mr. Hagedorn goes on to say that “…it produces some of the most anemic, thready root
systems that can be had for any money.” Again, this has not been my experience in my backyard. I have
included a picture of an Amur maple that I repotted this week; it has been growing in a bonsai pot in my soil
mix for the past two years. As you can see the root system is well developed. The pot was packed with roots
to the point that watering had become difficult, requiring holes to be punched into the root ball weekly with
a chopstick to allow for water penetration. Now, I agree that one tree does not show conclusively that
Turface will work in every situation. What it does show is that everyone has their own opinion as to what
works well for them in their backyard.
You may notice that I repeatedly refer to what works in my backyard or someone else’s backyard.
Why? Because this is what really matters to a bonsai artist. Climates vary, experience levels vary, in fact
there are more variables than I can articulate that contribute to successful bonsai cultivation. For this reason
I usually take definitive pronouncements from anyone with a certain level of disbelief. The books and the
rules and the blogs are a good place to start for beginners but nothing can take the place of experience in
your own backyard.
See you at the meeting
Mike
COLUMBUS BONSAI SOCIETY
APRIL 2014
HOW DO I CONTACT A BOARD MEMBER?
HERE’S HOW: BOARD MEMBER CONTACT LIST
Mike Thornhill [email protected]
Past President
Zack Clayton [email protected]
Tree Curator
Richard Gurevitz [email protected]
President
[email protected],
[email protected]
Jeff Carr
Director Emeritus
José Cueto
[email protected]
st
1 Vice President
Ken Schultz
[email protected]
2nd Vice President
Denny Sackett [email protected]
1 year Director
Ben William
2 year Director
Jack Smith
[email protected]
Treasurer
Secretary
Sandy Schoenfeld [email protected]
Librarian
Beverlee Wilson
[email protected]
Web Master
Ed McCracken [email protected]
Newsletter Editor
Richard Uhrick [email protected]
Education
[email protected]
3 year Director
Mark Passerrello
Tom Holcomb [email protected]
Mark Passerrello [email protected]
[email protected]
FROM THE CBS CARE GUIDE
USDA Hardiness Zones 5-6 (5 Northern Ohio, 6 Southern Ohio)
April - Mid Spring - 62/40
 This month, most deciduous will have buds swelling and leaves emerging. Be ready to repot if
needed.
 Repot pines and juniper this month, after the candles (pine buds) begin to swell.(
 Start balanced fertilization as new growth begins. Continue fertilization until mid summer.
 Spray to control pests that feed on fresh, early growth.
 This is a good month to take pine and juniper cuttings.
 Allow new deciduous growth to extend to 3 leaves or leaf pairs, and then cut back to 1-2 leaves or
leaf pairs. Continue through summer.
 Most non-tropical trees should be outdoors by the end of April.
 BEWARE: There always seems to be a late frost from April-May. Watch for frost advisories and
protect your trees by bringing them into a garage, basement, or by using a cloth netting. All new
growth is susceptible to frost damage.
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COLUMBUS BONSAI SOCIETY
APRIL 2014
6
Technique of the Month: Creating a Saikei With Boxwoods
A
month ago, we stopped at Strader
Nursery and I spotted some pots of
boxwood marked $5. I recalled
having a book at home that pictured
a project using boxwoods to create a
Then I had to go through several books, as it
was not in the one that I thought it was. Here is the
book and the page where the story appears.
saikei.
I ended up picking up four pots of them figuring
that would allow me to select suitable trees for this
project.
As you can see, each pot had a number of small
rooted cuttings in it, not a multi trunked bush.
I had these rocks but decided they would not do.
Therefore, I went to the Something Special Shoppe
on Old County Line Road in Westerville. After
sitting on the floor next to some tubs of rock bits, I
had selected $5.40 of rocks that would do.
I had bought muck from Wildwood Gardens last
fall. I used some to "glue" the rocks into their
position.
When I got home, I went and checked on pots that I
might use that I already own
These two seemed to be the right size. About 14"
across.
Here are the boxwoods being sorted for size and
shape to plant in the Saikei
Here is the final product after applying moss
that I collected in my yard. When I am sure the
trees are
growing
again, I will
start
working on
wiring and
styling.
Ken Schultz
COLUMBUS BONSAI SOCIETY
APRIL 2014
7
A LOOK AT THE MONTHS AHEAD
MAY 18 MAPLES IN MAY—FPC AT 1:00 PM In Education Building
Zack Clayton plans to demonstrate the use of Red Maples as bonsai from material he has collected and grown.
Zack will discuss leaf reduction and developing branch ramification.
JUN 15—OAKLAND WE STILL HAVE 6 SPACES LEFT
Adam Levigne, President of the Central Florida Bonsai Societies near Orlando will be our guest artist. They care
for the bonsai displayed at Epcot Center. Adam also is one of the primary carving experts at Wigert’s Bonsai Nursery in
Florida. A BYOT workshop will be conducted starting at 9 AM. Adam is not only a Ficus, and tropical plant expert but
he also works with Junipers, Elms and Maples. In the afternoon a Shohin Ficus workshop will be conducted. Adam will
be providing the plant material which he says is not “beginner” material.. Signup to continues in April.
Photo fro LCBS Bonsai
News March 2014
BUT MOST OF ALL….
COLUMBUS BONSAI SOCIETY
APRIL 2014
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Book of the Month: Successful Bonsai Growing
By Peter Adams
T
his s a smaller book, published in 1978 in Great Britain, where Peter
Adams practices bonsai. He has authored several bonsai related books
over the years. This book is only 95 pages and organized into five
chapters. These are 1. The Basic Styles and How to Develop Them, 2.
Sources for Bonsai Material and 3. The Bonsai Process, 4. Bonsai Data, 5.
Conclusion. In his Introduction, Adams says that this book is designed to clarify
bonsai for the beginner and to suggest techniques to produce a nice tree quickly.
The Basic Styles and How to Develop Them: Peter Adams organizes this
chapter into two sections; first the description of the style and the trees
that are typically used for them; then he discusses the techniques used to
develop they style. The styles covered are: Upright, Besom (broom),
Informal Upright, Leaning and Windswept, Cascade, Semi-Cascade,
Clasped to Stone and Groups. Groups include Twin Trunk, Clump and
Raft.
An example of the Style description; "Clasped to Stone" includes rootover rock and trees growing in a pocket on the stone. He says the style
frequently includes group plantings to represent this mountain tree style. He
warns that if you use Tufa rock it gives off lime and can kill Azaleas. The rock
should be placed in a flattish rock to give visual stability.
Under the technique section he notes that the material used to bind the
roots to the rock must rot and should not be plastic or wire. He recommends
using young new stock with long roots to begin this training. He notes that it will
take at least three years to develop the root clasping the rock style.
Sources of Bonsai Material: Seedlings, from sprouting to first bonsai work
is three years. In the second year root pruning and bud selection is
practiced. He doesn’t suggest potting until year 5 when the seedling
Photo from Amazon.com.uk
may have achieved sufficient caliper from being grown in the open
ground.
Cuttings, Adams lists fifteen types of material he uses to take cuttings. In England he takes his cuttings from mid-winter to early
spring. He covers his cuttings and mists them twice a day. After three days he lists with a fungicide. After a year treat as a
seedling.
Layering and Grafting, Adams says that a successful air layer will be ready to pot inside of two years. Grafts should be kept
moist for three months. After a year of active growth the remaining green portion of the donor tree can be removed.
Nursery Stock, Adams describes the process of initial styling/branch selection. He cautions to study and decide on bending before
because repeated bending into different positions will damage the cambium.
Collecting Natural Trees, Adams provides a ten step process following the caution to get permission to dig first. He trenches
around the tree to be collected the first year, then returns to collect it in the early spring of the next year.
The Bonsai Process: This chapter covers the nuts and bolts of successful bonsai care; Pruning, Leaf Cutting, Grooming,
Wiring, Aging, Trunk Shape, Trunk Texture, Rootage, Branching, Rootage, Branching, Scar Areas, Repotting, Soil, Pots
and Containers, Watering, Feeding, Placement, Diseases, Pests and Tools.
Bonsai Data: This chapter presents the particulars on seventeen of the more popular plants used for bonsai. The items
covered are those listed under chapter three.
Conclusion: This chapter lists four things you should never do and two that you should. The never items are; buying bonsai at
a store without an outdoor display especially at Christmas, chopped or neglected bonsai, cheap advertising, buy bonsai
seed kits. Do join a good club and do visit bonsai shows and exhibits.
Ken Schultz
COLUMBUS BONSAI SOCIETY
APRIL 2014
ROAD TRIP TO GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN ANYONE?
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COLUMBUS BONSAI SOCIETY
APRIL 2014
10
Tree of the Month: Juniperus sargentii, Shimpaku, Sargent Juniper,
Chinese Juniper.
T
his plant used to be considered a
Continue feeding on a monthly basis until the besubspecies as Juniperus chinensis
ginning of October. Alternatively, you may also use
var. sargentii and may still be deorganic fertilizer balls. Junipers prefer an alkaline
scribed as this in some old books.
soil so small amounts of agricultural lime may be
Shimpaku has softer foliage than most other juninecessary to this as a supplement.
pers, having the compressed scale foliage of the
Repotting: Repotting is best to do in early
mature specimen even as a young plant. Adult
spring after two years of being in the same pot for
leaves are diamond shaped and arranged in four
young plants less than 6 years old. Older plants can
ranks overlapping flat on the twigs like fish scales.
go 4 to 6 years between repotting. If the spring winIt is considerably softer than the Chinese juniper,
dow for repotting is missed then early fall is the
creating a more feathery appearance
next best time. As with any bonsai, age
with the rounded scales instead of the
is relevant to the time spent in that genimmature foliage on the Chinese junieral size pot. When radically changing
per. The bark is brown and shreds off
pot size or shape, repot as if it were a
in thin strips. Male and female cones
young plant for at least one repotting
occur on separate plants. The female
cycle. Remove the plant (and fibrous
cones are fleshy, violet brown and
rootball) from the container. Trim the
berrylike, about a 0.5 in (1.3 cm) in dirootball with a sharp pair of old scisameter. Care is similar to other juniper
sors, removing approximately 1/4-1/2
bonsai but some points are always in
inch of matted rootball from sides and
order for a care reminder.
bottom. At this point, you can rake out
Shimpaku is climate tolerant
the rest of the rootball gently if you
Photo from Flickr.com
from zones 3 to 9. This covers most of
wish. Replant into new or same pot usNorth America so it is one of the juniing a well-drained soil mix. Place newly
per bonsai first imagined by the public. They need
planted plant in a shaded area for approximately 3-4
to go dormant for some period during the winter
weeks and water regularly. After one month, start
and it is better to leave them outside most of the
feeding with liquid food. Pruning typically best to
year except for brief periods of indoor display.
do in spring and summer. When new growth
Shimpaku grow best in full sun to partialreaches about one inch in length pinch back by usshade. More than a half day of shade will cause the
ing thumb and fingers and plucking gently. Repeat
growth to be leggy and thin. The plant can have a
as necessary until mid-September. This improves
rather full ramification in the branch structure so
the foliage pads greatly.
this thin leggy growth will stand out poorly next to
a healthy specimen. If grown in partial shade,
~ ZAC
morning sun is preferred to afternoon sun.
Junipers will tolerate and benefit from drying out slightly between waterings. I usually handle
this by using a slightly coarser mix or not having as
much organic material in the mix as for the other
REPRINTED FROM
plants in my collection. Sieving out fine soil partiTHE FEBRUARY 2005
cles is particularly important for plants that like to
dry out a little. Junipers will tolerate high humidity
NEWSLETTER
and misting in hot weather may help maintain
health. Remember, misting is never a substitute for
watering.
Any balanced liquid fertilizer will work.
Feed at half to 1/4 the normal strength once or
twice monthly when new growth begins in spring.
COLUMBUS BONSAI SOCIETY
APRIL 2014
11
From the Circulation Desk of the C.B.S. Library
The CBS Library Materials List is now available in spreadsheet format on our CBS website's
Library Tab.
Users can Sort, Filter and Search the list. There are a few little buttons at the bottom of the
embedded spreadsheet that allow you to download the spreadsheet, or open a full page version in a
new window. Users can then email the librarian at [email protected] to request materials.
Another new feature is a column indicating if the Book has been reviewed and the information to
access the review. For instance “NL Feb. 2011 (Schultz)” would indicate that the review is in the
Newsletter, Feb 2011 issue, and Ken Schultz authored the review.
We hope this will make the collection more available to the membership. Let us know your
thoughts.
We have completed the Accession Process for all the Books in the Club’s Collection. All have a
Card and Pocket for ease of Check Out.
Beverlee Wilson, Librarian
John Young, Asst. Librarian
[email protected]
Memberships may be paid for more than one year at a time.
COLUMBUS BONSAI SOCIETY
APRIL 2014
12
Bonsai Here and Beyond the Outer belt
Unless otherwise noted, The Columbus Bonsai Society meets the third Sunday of every month at 2:00 pm .
Board Meetings are the first Tuesday of the month at 6:30 pm. The board meetings are open to members.
APR 25-27
APR 27
MAY 2-4
MAY 10
MAY 18
MAY 23-25
JUN 15
JUL 19-20
AUG 17
SEP 21
OCT 19
NOV 16
DEC 14
2014
Mid-Atlantic Bonsai Societies Spring Festival
SHIMPAKU CLUMP DEMO AND BRING YOUR OWN—FPC
Bonsai Festival at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum
World Bonsai Day
MAPLES IN MAY—FPC 1:00 PM IN EDUCATION PAVILLION
Annual Rendezvous at Brussels Bonsai
ADAM LEVIGNE WORKSHOP AND BYOT—OAKLAND
CBS 2014 ANNUAL SHOW—FPC
LITERATI WITH JOSÉ AND BYOT “FORMER WORKSHOP”—FPC
PICNIC—OAKLAND
PINE WORKSHOP WITH JULIAN ADAMS—FPC
BRANCH STRUCTURE—FPC
HOLIDAY DINNER
NOTE THAT THE APRIL MEETING IS ON THE 4TH SUNDAY DUE TO EASTER
FPC= FRANKLIN PARK CONSERVATORY
OAKLAND= OAKLAND NURSERY, COLUMBUS LOCATION