It`s Springtime in the Rockies - Rocky Mountain Bonsai Society

R OCKY M OUNTAIN B ONSAI S OCIETY
Newsletter
April 1, 2012
Volume 43 Issue 4
It’s Springtime in the Rockies....
And what a better time to learn about Bonsai soils, re-potting and root pruning
from Darell Havener, one of our long-standing RMBS members. For those who
are not familiar with Darell, he’s been an RMBS member since 1989, was selected
as Artist of the Year in 2001, served as President of RMBS for 4 years and is a
Certified Arborist who specializes in creative pruning.
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Darell will be hosting our 1 Saturday Work Group session of 2012 on March 31
and will also be presenting the Long program at the April 3rd meeting and BOTH
with a focus on bonsai re-potting. During the April meeting Darell will provide a
demo and hands-on opportunities for newer RMBS members who have not done
much with root-pruning previously. Darell will also talk about bonsai soils, its
importance and what soil mixes he’s had success with over the years. We’re
looking forward to a great turnout at both events. See you there!!
Newsletter Highlights
Darell Havener
Pg. 1
President's Message Pg. 2
Bonsai Basics
Pg. 3
Visions of the American
West Convention
Pg. 5
Membership News
Pg. 5
Father’s Day Show
Pg. 6
Upcoming Meetings
Pg. 6
Our Advertisers
Pg. 8
And What About That Tetanus Shot???
One would probably never associate bonsai with the serious disease of tetanus.
However, as we embark on our spring re-potting we should not forget the many
small nicks, cuts and wounds we often get on our hands while working on our
trees and with our hands in soil during re-potting, we’re all potential candidates for
getting tetanus.
While the total number of cases of tetanus is relatively low in the U.S, about 30
percent of those infected with tetanus in the United States die. Death is more
likely in newborn infants of unimmunized mothers and patients over 50.
According to the Center for Disease Prevention and Control, everyone of all ages
needs protection from tetanus.
 Tetanus is a disease which can be fatal. It is caused by bacteria found in dust,
soil and manure. The bacterial spores live in the soil. When introducing the
bacteria to humans, they produce vegetative cells that release toxins called
tetanospasm, causing your muscles to contract in uncontrolled spasms and
creating seizures.
 Get a tetanus shot as recommended by your doctor every 10 years.
 Know that tetanus enters the body with a pinprick, cut, puncture wound, deep
scrape, burn, or other injuries that break the skin or mucous membrane.
WEB LINKs
www.rockymtnbonsai.org
 Determine if the object that caused the wound was dirty or clean. Any object
that has dirt, soil, spit or feces on it is dirty and will require either a tetanus shot or
tetanus booster unless you have recently had one.
Thanks to Terril Samuelson for suggesting this topic for the newsletter!!
www.bonsaitoolchest.com
www.bonsai2012.org
RMBS April Monthly Newsletter
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PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
April, 2012
Cherry Blossoms in Japan by
This is my favorite time of the year, springtime in Colorado! I always enjoy watching the first Darlene Kaplan
sign of spring and starting to “slowly” move my Bonsai out of my cold frame. I know when
to do this, by not only watching our weather change, but by listening to some of our more advanced Bonsai artists. I will
always remember Harold Sasaki’s saying about relocating Maple Bonsai to and from the cold frame: “They are like
children, put them to bed early and wake them up late”! My Maples are staying in the cold frame for a few more weeks.
Our first Saturday Study Group will be at Darell and Martha Havener’s Lakewood home on March 31st. Darell has a
beautiful collection of Bonsais and the best sprinkler/misting system I have seen. Maybe, just maybe I might put in
something similar on my courtyard. His is inspirational and I am sure my wife Kay will appreciate Darell’s inspiration when
I spend just a “little more” money on this hobby of mine :-)! I hope to see you at this Saturday Study Group. Bring one of
your trees to work on and enjoy sharing camaraderie and gain some insight from each other regarding what you may want
to consider doing this time of year with your Bonsai trees.
What a great turnout we had for our March monthly meeting! We had about 50 members attending and Dr. Sarada
Krishnan’s presentations about the new Bill Hosokawa Bonsai Pavilion and Tea Garden was great. I also enjoyed what
Ms. Julia Sherry, one of Denver Botanic Garden’s very passionate volunteers had to say about DBG and its importance
not only to Colorado, but internationally. It is the 5th most visited botanic gardens in the U.S. and it is only getting better.
Several members approached me during the meeting and committed one or two of their trees as a donation. Last week I
was delighted to hear from Dr. Krishnan that Larry Jackel accepted DBG’s offer of employment as its new Bonsai
Specialist! With Larry taking on this role you know the trees will be well cared for and OUR Botanic Gardens will quickly
receive international recognition for its collection of Bonsai trees.
This year will be a celebration of partnership; the Japanese word is – Kizuna – meaning bond and you will hear it more as
the Bosnia Pavilion opens in June. This is the centennial for the cherry blossom festival in our nation’s capital. In 1912,
an incredible gift of 3,000 cherry blossom trees was bestowed on Washington, DC by Tokyo, Japan. Rooted strongly and
surviving outside elements, the trees have withstood the test of time – and nearly a century later, the National Cherry
Blossom Festival is preparing for an unprecedented and once-in-a-lifetime celebration. It is so appropriate that the Bill
Hosokawa Bonsai Pavilion and Tea Garden will be opening this year and RMBS’ partnership with DBG has also withstood
the test of time.
I look forward to celebrating spring with you and hope to see you either on the 31st at our first outdoor event, or on
rd
Tuesday, April 3 at our next monthly meeting.
Kind regards,
Patrick Allen
(303) 905-6544
Email: [email protected]
RMBS April Monthly Newsletter
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BONSAI BASICS – REPOTTING BONSAI
Re-potting a bonsai tree, although not difficult, is sometimes an adventure as you never know what you are going to find
when you lift the plant out of its existing container.
Why should you re-pot bonsai?
Root Bound - The most obvious reason to repot your bonsai is because it has begun to outgrow its current container.
You may see roots rising to the surface, pushing through the corners or even cracking its current pot. You may also
notice a decline in the tree's growth. This occurs because the tree no longer has the space and nutrients it requires to
grow.
Declining Health - Failing health is the next most common reason it's necessary to re-pot your bonsai. If you find that
your bonsai's health continues to fail regardless of the care and maintenance it receives, this can be a sign of a poor soil
environment and a suffering root system. Re-potting the bonsai gives you an opportunity to inspect the roots, trim away
damaged areas and provide the bonsai with a freshly mixed, nutrient-rich soil environment.
Timing - Early spring is usually the best time to re-pot your bonsai. Re-potting just before the tree enters the growing
season allows the tree ample time to repair and establish itself before it re-enters its dormancy period. Since not every
bonsai tree responds well to springtime re-potting, it is important that you research the specifics of your bonsai to obtain
the best results. If your bonsai tree's health is failing, however, the bonsai will benefit from an immediate re-potting.
Schedule - Base your bonsai tree's re-potting on its individual needs, but follow a few general guidelines. Generally, a
healthy vigorously growing, young bonsai should be re-potted every one to two years. As a mature bonsai tree's vigor
begins to slow, you can re-pot it less frequently. Allow the bonsai tree to nearly fill its container between re-potting, unless
it encounters a health issue, such as root rot or infestation.
Preparations for Re-potting - What will you need?
Preparation & having everything you need gathered and readily at hand is key. Good preparation will turn repotting into a
pleasant 1-2 hour task rather than an all day affair! Here’s a check list of things that you should have handy or have
access to before you start re-potting your bonsai:
 Plastic Screening
 A variety of root cutting tools
 Wire for Tie-in to pot
 All-purpose shears (for removing fine roots)
 Wire Cutters
 Bonsai Root Cutter (for removing larger roots)
 Wire/Jin Pliers
 Pot(s)
 Bonsai Knife or Saw (for removing largest roots)
 Soil Scoop (or plastic cup, old coffee cup or your hand)
 Bonsai Soil
 Root Rake or Root Hook
 Root Knife
 Wooden Chopstick (just ask for them at your favorite
Chinese restaurant)
 Water
 Plastic tubing (available at most hardware stores)
 Shallow plastic bin/tub
 Root enhancement product like Dynagrow K-L-N or
SuperThrive (optional)
 Bonsai friends - Not only does repotting with other bonsai enthusiasts make the time fly, but other
enthusiasts can offer advice and are handy to have around in case your tree is very large and you require an
extra set of hands.
RMBS April Monthly Newsletter
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For bonsai beginners, the first re-potting may be from a nursery pot or in the case of a collected tree from burlap or plastic
wrap to a bonsai training pot. The second major instance is repotting the tree from its bonsai training pot to a true
“finished” bonsai pot. Last and most common for more senior bonsai artists is the maintenance repotting which occurs
about every 2-3 years.
From Nursery Pot/Collected Tree to Training Pot
Choose a suitable size training pot or container which will accommodate the root ball of your bonsai. Mica training pots
for bonsai are lightweight, reasonably priced and available at local garden centers who carry bonsai supplies or on-line.
However, suitable training containers do not always need to look like a bonsai pot or be fancy. You can make training
pots yourself or they can be purchased inexpensively. Wooden planter “boxes” can be constructed from plywood & 2x4’s.
16”-20” plastic flower pots & large plastic bins or buckets can be utilized. These can purchased from Wal-Mart, Home
Depot & local garden centers. Also, one should not overlook establishing relationships with friends and local vendors who
frequently discard large plastic buckets or containers and recycling their plastic containers for use as bonsai training pots.
From Training Pot to Finished Pot
Before lifting your tree out of the training pot, you will need to disconnect any wires that are holding the plant to the pot
and the wires that hold the drain screens.
Clip the wires from the bottom of the pot. Untwisting wire is not recommended as it increases the chance of damaging fine
healthy roots. Take a root knife and cut or scrape around the inside edge of the pot to loosen any roots that may be
holding on to the pot. If you don’t own a root knife, I’ve found that a sturdy plastic serrated knife works pretty well for this.
Then, gently tap the sides of the pot with the wood end of the root knife and gently hold the plant as you tip the pot upside
down. The plant should fall into your hands. If it doesn't, push your finger through the drain holes to make sure the old
wire isn't still holding.
If your bonsai is healthy, the next step is to clean off all of the old soil. This is best done with a root rake/hook and a
wooden chopstick. Some bonsai artists may also use a gentle wash with running water if disease was present in the old
soil.
If the tree is not very healthy then it should be picked with a root hook and any old dead roots should be removed. After
the root work, many bonsai experts advise to soak your bonsai in a mild solution of root or growth enhancer. You can
soak a plant between 20 minutes & up to 1-2 hours. Dyna-Gro K-L-N or Super Thrive mixed with water or one of Kathy
Shaner’s favorites, HB101 are among the products that assist in bonsai re-hydration and re-establishing roots.
In the new finish pot, you can cut & place clean drain screens and new wires in the drain holes. Your next goal is
determine how to secure the tree to the new pot so it will not move. If the pot has tie holes use these for your tie-down
wires. If the pot only has the two drain holes, then you can use a single large loop wire or if needed, use two loops in an
"X" pattern to secure the tree.
Next you are ready for soil. Through the soil in the pot, the tree must be able to obtain water, nutrients and gases in order
to grow. For this reason, a bonsai must be planted in a good quality bonsai soil. This article is not intended to delve into
the wide world of Bonsai soils. Suffice it to say that there is no single soil mix that is best for cultivating bonsai. Variables
such as local climate and rainfall, personal watering regimes and individual tree species all contribute to variations in
enthusiasts' soil mixes. Those who are new to bonsai should draw upon the experience & advice of other RMBS
members as they have a wealth of experience with a wide variety of species as well as a solid understanding of the
growing environment here in Colorado.
Once you’ve got your soil, make a mound of soil in the pot where the tree will be placed. Make it about as tall as the pot
is deep as it’s easier to push the plant down into this mound then it is to add soil under the plant later.
Now take your tree from the soaking solution and place it on the mound of soil and push in down gently. Pay close
attention to where the final soil height will be. You’ll want to determine if there is enough soil in the pot. If you buried the
roots right now would the tree base be displayed at the proper height? If not add more soil. You also will want to make
sure you are displaying the tree’s proper front (best side) and making sure that is the angle of the tree is good. If you are
happy then it is time to secure the tree in the pot.
There are a couple ways to secure a tree in the pot. First, if most of the soil has been removed it is best to thread the tiedown wires up through the plant. Now we will assume you have four ends, two "X" pattern tie-down wires. Take the two
RMBS April Monthly Newsletter
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ends of the first wire and come across the larger roots close to the base. In many cases you can use small pieces of
plastic tubing on the wire to protect the roots. Cross your wires to start the twist and use your wire pliers to snug it (not
too tight). Repeat with the other set of wires on the opposite side of the tree and gently twist them snug.
Another method of securing your tree is to use the "top ring" method. This method can be used on trees with tight root
balls or very delicate roots where the only strong roots are close to the base. This method will require slightly larger
diameter wire for your tie downs because when you twist them later, small diameter wire will break. First thread a thick
wire through a piece of plastic tubing and very loosely wrap it around the base of the tree and twist it together making a
ring, this will become your anchor. Now bring the tie down wires up through the bottom of the pot and loop them over and
around the ring, here is where the thicker wire will come into play. Once you have secured all of the tie down wires, using
your wire pliers, from the bottom of the pot, twist the first of the tie down wires to tighten, then the other(s). This will pull
the ring down tight and hold your tree in place. This sounds complicated but it is really quite easy once you grasp the
technique.
Double check the position & inclination of the tree. If you are happy with these, continue to add a little soil & using a
wooden chop sticks “poke” the soil down into the pot to fill any voids under the tree and between the roots. Repeat this
process until there seem to be no more voids. Now, check the wires once again, the tree should not move once you have
it tightened correctly. Continue filling in your soil mix to the desired height.
Now it is time for a good soaking! Water your tree thoroughly with cool water. The water should exit the drain holes.
That's it! Place your newly re-potted bonsai in a partly shaded area for the first 1-2 weeks to let it recover from the
transplanting. In about a month you can start a light fertilizing schedule.
RMBS M EMBERSHIP N EWS
RMBS would like to extend a hearty welcome to our newest RMBS members:
Marcus Manning, Denver, CO .
Harve Wolfe, Colorado Springs, CO
Plan to bring your check book to the April RMBS meeting and make your registration to Visions of the American West
official!
Also, we continue to look to our RMBS members to donate an item or two to the raffle and silent auction and to
volunteer to be a helper at the convention. We need lots more stuff....trees, pots, tools, books, etc. Also, we need
member volunteers to assist with the raffles, selling tickets, etc. Please see Tom Anglewicz or Florentina Cruz if you can
donate an item, your time, or both!!
RMBS April Monthly Newsletter
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U PCOMING M EETINGS A ND E VENTS
Dan Shobe will have some of the Expanded Shale at Daryl Havener's house for the Saturday Study Group spring
repotting session if anyone is interested in experimenting with an alternative to Turface. It is locally mined and has the
same water retention properties of Turface but in a mostly gray color. It is fired at 1800-2000 degrees F. and that makes it
frost proof. Dan is currently bringing a grain size of 3/16" or smaller (for deciduous, fine rooted trees) but should be able to
bring the 1/4" size (for pines and larger rooted trees). The going rate is $8 for 50lbs. which is half the cost of Turface!
Dan will bring a scale if you bring a container to fill. Dan said that he will bring this the expanded share to the April RMBS
meeting, too for those who are interested. Dan is using this material on several different plants including pinion pine,
viburnum, and a bird's nest spruce without any ill effects. He’s been using it “straight” with no additives other than
fertilizer to see just how it holds up. If anyone is interested in large scale amounts, Dan has the contact information for the
mine it's really inexpensive...around $60 per ton.
Corrections and Clarifications:
Please note the change to Todd Schafler’s address: 918 Zenobia Street, Denver, CO 80204
for the May 26th Saturday Study Group.
Annual Father’s Day Show – An Update from Bob Flier, Show Chairman
This is an exciting year for Rocky Mountain Bonsai!! We will host the international ABS/ BCI Convention this summer.
Also, we will see the expansion of the Denver Botanic Gardens, including a permanent Bonsai Exhibit. These activities will
kick off with our traditional Father’s Day Show from June 15 to 17 in Mitchell Hall. At the recent event at Echter’s, many
people came up to our booth and told us that they have a bonsai in their home (mostly plants that they bought from the
bonsai section of a nursery). The interest is great in our community and we can build on it. Let’s use our regular program
to introduce people to the art of bonsai. To do this, I would like to tailor our show this year to helping beginners get into
bonsai. I am working on a demonstration about how I got started in bonsai and how others might do the same without
spending a lot of money. Perhaps others might have ideas to help beginners (for example, where to find good materials
for bonsai or, perhaps, how to see a tree in a small plant and bring it out in a bonsai). Also, in addition to our fine masterclass trees, I would like to encourage some of our newer members to display their trees. Let’s show people that you don’t
have to be world-class artists to enjoy bonsai.
I hope all of you will give some thought to how you can help spread the joy of bonsai. And by the way, if you haven’t been
to the Post Office lately, stop in and check out the new set of Forever stamps that feature bonsai. I’m sure the USPS
planned this just to help us celebrate our great summer events in Denver 
Bob
DATE/TIME
DISPLAY/SHORT TOPIC
MEETING TOPIC
Saturday, MAR 31st
9:00am to 11:30am
RMBS Member’s
Backyard/Garden
Tuesday, APR 3rd
7:00pm to 9:00pm
Denver Botanic Gardens
Plant Society Building
1007 York Street
SATURDAY STUDY GROUP
SATURDAY STUDY GROUP
Darell Havener
9485 Lombardy Lane
Lakewood, CO 80215
BONSAI IN PROGRESS
by
PATRICK DECICCO
RMBS April Monthly Newsletter
REPOTTING
with
DARELL HAVENER
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Saturday, APR 28th
9:00am to 11:30am
RMBS Member’s
Backyard/Garden
Tuesday, MAY 1st
7:00pm to 9:00pm
Denver Botanic Gardens
Plant Society Building
1007 York Street
Saturday, MAY 26th
9:00am to 11:30am
RMBS Member’s
Backyard/Garden
Tuesday, JUNE 5th
7:00pm to 9:00pm
Denver Botanic Gardens
Plant Society Building
1007 York Street
Fri. – Sun., JUNE 15-17
Annual Father’s Day
Bonsai Show
SATURDAY STUDY GROUP
AT COLORADO BONSAI LTD
Harold Sasaki
12355 W. 34th Place
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
BONSAI IN PROGRESS &
POTS THAT BILL HAS
MADE
by
BILL SAMPLE
DOUGLAS FIR
with
HAROLD SASAKI
SATURDAY STUDY GROUP
Todd Schlafer
918 Zenobia Street,
Denver, CO 80204
BONSAI IN PROGRESS &
GETTING YOUR TREES
READY FOR THE SHOW
by
LES SIROKY
Denver Botanic Gardens
1007 York Street
Saturday, JUNE30th
9:00am to 11:30am
RMBS Member’s
Backyard/Garden
Tuesday, JULY 3rd
7:00pm to 9:00
COLLECTING TREES IN THE WILD
with
PATRICK DECICCO & ADAM
JOHNSON
SATURDAY STUDY GROUP
Larry Jackel
4517 S. Fairplay Court
Aurora, CO 80015
Denver Botanic Gardens
Plant Society Building
1007 York Street
Tuesday, AUGUST 7th
7:00pm to 9:00
Denver Botanic Gardens
Plant Society Building
1007 York Street
Saturday, AUGUST 25th
9:00am to 11:30am
RMBS Member’s
Backyard/Garden
RMBS April Monthly Newsletter
SATURDAY STUDY GROUP
Walter & Annie Buck
19044 E. Pinewood Drive
Aurora, CO 80016
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THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR ADVERTISERS
RMBS April Monthly Newsletter
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