Best laid plans...

A year ago last fall I visited New Orleans with my lovely bride and of course had to throw some bonsai into the trip so we visited an old friend Guy Guidry at his new digs.  I also met a few on-line friends for the first time at the shop- Jim Osbourne and Brian Gregoire....

And he was showing off this great pot from Dale Cochoy.  It happened to have a big sister that was on its way to me before I got a block away from the shop!  I already had a tree in mind for it.  A bald cypress clump I had purchased from Mark Goodman.

A quick "poor man's photo-shop"...

I really like the depth- It matches the thickness of the clump and BC want their roots cool and moist (they are swamp trees after all)... and the curves on this complement the curves of the buttressed base.

The texture and coloring is subtle and hints at a muddy bank/swamp without being distracting or too schtick-ey...

And there's nothing like an American pot for an American species and styled in an American flat-top style...

Unfortunately I got side tracked and by the time I got back to it the buds were too far advanced to risk a repot.  So back to it this year...

But first, I tried a quick video clip to give more detail:

Well... it looked good in the mock up anyway.  I need a good extra 4" (that's what she said) and Dales said he can't get any bigger on his pots. 

No, I can't just get a shoe horn and there is good base buttresses all the way to the edges of that root ball that need to stay to add stability to the image so I'm off to find other solutions.  Good cypress bonsai are all about those strong buttressed bases.  Knees are a good extra!  

So into a less-than-interesting mica pot for the time being and off to search for another likely candidate  for the drum pot amidst the 30 other big BCs I have...

On watering and soil mixes

"Along with the right to speak freely comes a responsibility to have a thick skin." -Jonathan Rauch

Making my annual post to the blog... (Okay, I SWEAR I'll post more this year.  New Year's Resolution)

So I was watching a Ryan Neil video last night and he made some interesting statements.  I picked up a lot of tidbits but in particular hit home:

Basically, he said as long as you know how to water it doesn't matter what kind of soil you use. Bonsai care does not have to be terribly complicated - as long as you are providing correct water and oxygen the tree will thrive.

This backs up what my old teacher Colin Lewis would say - "they're just potted plants..."

Bam.

This has been my contention for many years.

Sure I use a pretty much inorganic mix- lava and pumice.  And I've used mixes with organics in them.  And I even used straight Haydite/Turface.  Some of my best trees were in that mix but I paid a whole lot more attention to watering and feeding...

Those trees in sifted inorganic mixes often grow some serious roots.  And these mixes certainly mean you don't have to think about over-watering.   But they can also be unforgiving and may not be the best mix for the rank newcomer or the casual bonsa-ist with his new little juniper.  Having organic in your mix or even total "nursery mix" provides a more forgiving media while you learn what you are doing.  

I'll say it clearly.  Organic in your soil mix is not a sin.  Here come the pitchforks and torches.  Burn the heretic!

Watering is probably the most important basic task to master because it relates to so many other issues- nutrient delivery and uptake, oxygenation of the soil, all the microflora and fauna- and it is probably the most difficult task to learn.  What is our default response- looks dry?   Water more... which, except for the case of 100% inorganic leads to drowning of the roots and root rot. Many soils including inorganic "look dry" but in reality, just below the soil they are still abundantly wet. But miss a day in my climate with 100% and you have fried trees.  So you want to do it right!

Anyone that doesn't have that 100% inorganic mix- I teach/recommend the "chopstick" method - keep something wooden - a chopstick, toothpick, shishkabob skewer, whatever- in the pot all the way to the bottom.  Pull it out when you think its time to water.  Does it look damp?  If you hold it to your cheek, does it feel cool?  If so then wait a few to 12 hours and then check again.  When it is drying out then you can water again.  Eventually you'll get the rhythm down - this tree needs it every day.  This one- every second day and so forth.

I didn't invent it and I'll give the stink eye to anyone that says they did.  Its been around for years.

This is your tree "talking to you..."

This watering frequency will change with the season and as your organics breakdown.

These potting mixes are fine as long as you are able to satisfy the needs for water and oxygen in the soil.  They are not your "forever soil mix"... Over time you can change out the soil for a more advanced mix.

Note I said "over time"... Patience grasshopper...

Beating the hell out of your trees (or not)  is a peeve post for another day.

Junipers and the new Bonsai enthusiast...

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.  You will recognize them by their fruits.  Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  Matthew 7:15-16

I don't know how many people stumbled on bonsai because of this guy but I know it's a lot, including me.  I picked this picture for a reason which I'll explain later...

While really putting bonsai in the public eye what we got was a lot of this:

These trees are sometimes just-cut material stuck in the pot at worse, or at best, sold as trees that will do just fine on top of your TV or coffee table.  That van will be working some other section of the highway next month.  You're out $40-50 (or more) and he made a tidy profit on a $2 juniper and a $10 pot...

But back to the divine Mr. M...

There are internet sites with every bonsai tree in the KK movies...

http://www.bonsaiempire.com/blog/karate-kid-bonsai

Check it out and note:  NOT ONE of them looks like the atrocity above.  

That's because they were made by one of the California bonsaists, Roy Nagatoshi...

Also look- he's got a drawing of how the tree will look- Mr. Miyagi had a plan.

Defending "mallsai" some will try and say "it's Chinese style".  The should be pimp-slapped by every insulted penjing practitioner out there.  Even penjing has its own set of rules and styles...

But...we all have to start somewhere- you bought one of those "mallsai" anyway.  If it does survive because you were wise enough (or an idiot-savant like I was) to remove the glued-on rocks, you are left with a scrawny procumbens nana (or ginseng ficus, or sago...) styled in some atrocious manner (probably like a snake wearing an umbrella hat) in a garish glazed pot. You really can't do much with them style-wise because you (usually) have none of the good qualities pre-bonsai should have- a strong organized root base, trunk size, taper, movement, etc...

I figured mine was about a $4 juniper in a $15 Japanese production pot (1989 prices) with a price tag of $100... I suddenly figured out "Hey, I can do this on my own!!"  Mine eventually became a decent little cascade that lived for about 17 years until the great blizzard of 2005 that dumped 8" of snow on Galveston and then we had 75 degrees two days later...

As for Ginseng Ficus... they aren't so bad and HD will only scalp you for about $25- my Internet bonsai friend Adam Lavigne does a cool blog thing where he remakes one of those mallsai atrocities.  But Adam has been around the block a few times.  Worked a few trees here and there.

 http://adamaskwhy.com/2014/09/24/this-was-a-ginseng-ficus-now-stfu-about-them-not-being-good-bonsai-subjects/

We forgive you.  But you deserve better.

Bonsai is the ultimate fusion of art and horticulture.  So there is room for free lancing it but that's not carte blanche for "anything goes".  You still have to follow the unique horticulture and you still have to lend credence to the traditions of the art. And sometimes you miss the target.  "Mallsai" never hit the target.   They are what as known amongst us Bonsai Snobs as "shiite" and forever will remain so.

"But its my zen... it's my art so anything goes.  Rules don't count. There is no such thing as good and bad."

Well even old Bob had to study with an accomplished painter (William Alexander).  So Bob knew his technique, he worked with good materials and, while not "masterpieces", produced some decent looking paintings.   Even if you get a perm mallsai is still bad.

SO I said you deserve better- so what's "better"?

Colin Lewis in his book Art of Bonsai Design covers the characteristics of various bonsai species, including junipers.  I also happened to study with the guy for several years and he advised me "...stop mucking about making material that you will never get to or passing bad material off on somebody else..."   ... and he advised if I was going to "waste" time developing stock then do it right.

Each juniperus variety has a distinct growth habit and characteristics that make some better than others.  We work with all sorts of junipers for bonsai- nursery material and collected material.  Any variety that doesn't branch well, bud back, have a good growth habit (movement or taper) should simply be avoided because junipers take so long to develop into decent material anyway you simply shouldn't waste your time.  Variegated anything is always of Satan.  A variegated juniper always looks sick.

We're not going to get into things like grafting here but there are ways to correct shortcomings   But you can't make a silk purse from a rat's ass or something like that.  At some point you have to say this tree, variety, etc. sucks.  Someday I'll show you my tree I call my Rat's Ass..

Get the point?  All junipers are NOT created equal.  They all don't get a trophy so be like JH Harrison for crying out loud.  Google it, its trending NOW.

The pinnacle of course is the Japanese varieties "Juniperus Chinensis 'shimpaku' (kind of funny since shimpaku is just japanese for juniper) and Juniperus rigida.  Procumbens ("Sonare" in Japanese) is only rarely used.  Maybe we can learn something here.

What makes some better than others?  Foliage, Growth habit, Bark/trunk characteristics and unfortunately they don't always come on the same tree.

Foliage- not all foliage is created equal and basically you want good color, texture and the ability to form pads and organize growth...  These different characteristics lead to named varieties for a given species, i.e. kishu..  Brian covers it pretty well on his blog post:

https://nebaribonsai.wordpress.com/2012/09/23/more-on-differences-among-itoigawa-kishu-and-shimpaku-junipers/

The differences are obvious if you see them in person.  Itoigowa is a pleasure to touch. It's like comparing fine lace to a plastic doiley.  Kishu is not nearly so fine but has wonderful characteristics that make it a joy to design foliage with.  If nothing else you want the "shimpaku" variety rather than any plain old J.Chinensis.

But I'm broke you say?  I'm too cheap?  I can't collect, I can't purchase high end material, I can only get "nursery material"!  You'll never find shimpaku in a nursery but all is not lost. You just have to be a bit smarter.  And avoid the lying charlatans out there, especially if they are driving a bonsai van. Or working the flea market.  Or farmer's market...

I'm going to reveal one of my sources because I don't repackage nursery material, double or triple the price and then try and sell it. I think the saying is "I don't have a dog in this hunt."

I have a few rules- one is be honest.  I try and know what I'm selling and be as forthright about its condition as I can. And I try to progress the art.  

If I sell something as "bonsai stock" it's been "Vetted"- i.e., picked for bonsai character, should be in bonsai soil (unless it's collected or newly styled) and may even have some basic styling in a direction that will make a true bonsai one day.   

I've just upped the ante for all the bonsai nurseries out there.

So what is my solution I offer?

Liner stock.  You want younger material that is still bendable for an affordable price.  Trick is you can't buy just one from this place - but that's okay because you want the practice and you'll probably lose a few along the way.

www.linersource.com   

Sells shimpaku - high quality variety for a few dollars each.  They also sell staked procumbens so you can do something besides cascades! Actually they sell a LOT of cool stuff.

You'll have to buy a box at a time but see above^.  And if you order $250 worth you get the wholesale price.  But still a bargain without.

How cool is that?  

You can buy singles from me or one of the reputable purveyors of bonsai around- that already have a head start.  

Buy from someone that have bonsai that look like trees not trees that look like "bonsai".  You know umbrella's on a stick... snake trees... They'll also be able to offer you named varieties when you're ready to make that jump.  

Two junipers appear below.  One is from Liner Source.  The other is from an on-line seller at three times the Liner Source price and allegedly a named variety.  You can get all kinds of material from them marked up. All in crap soil.  Where is the value-added for hopeless material making it worth the mark-up?

The thing is, notice the juvenile growth, NOT generally noted in said named variety (Kishu) (and I just told you which one is which)

Ignoring the hot growth tip to the right, the foliage is pretty much the same.

Basically they are BOTH planted in a soil of sand and bark mulch.  AKA "Florida nursery mix"

You do the math.  Spend your hard earned bonsai-hobby dollar wisely.  Support the honest bonsai nurserymen who know their art and support you in your own journey.  Send the liars and thieves packing.



And don't buy into the "happy to be me", everyone gets a trophy mentality. "Or this is just how I do it..." Really, who are we to question centuries of an art form we didn't invent.  Learn about bonsai first.  There is good bonsai material and then there is shiite.

Mr. Miyagi: Inside you same place you karate come from.

Daniel: My karate comes from you.

Mr. Miyagi: Ah. Only root karate come from Miyagi. Just like bonsai choose own way grow because root strong you choose own way do karate same reason.

Daniel: I do it your way.

Mr. Miyagi: Hai. One day you do own way.

Since all the cool kids are doing it I figured I would fire my old blog back up and make it more bonsai related...  although I may rant on all sorts of things on here.  ;^)  

Just something to get this party started... An 11 tree American Hornbeam forest I got of Mark Goodman.  Fodder during the Superbowl game.  Started cleaning up old chops and wiring some of the heavier branches.  Till I called in to work anyway. <sigh>

I'm not a big fan of forests.  I respect the work that can go into them but too often they're just a repository for crappy bonsai material.  Unless they're of this magnitude:

BUT my sidekick/son Jason seems to like them so I'm brushing up on them.  Besides I have a huge supply of crappy elms, hackberries and the like.  Here's one we worked up last year, a $3 purchase from the HBS auction and a gnarly root cutting.

He wants to add more of the mature gnarly stock this year. We'll have an up dated pic soon.

Easy to be a consumer and the electronic clutter war continues

So I'm sitting with my son last night talking about a book I used to own that I lost in a flood- "The Guitar Handbook".

Really a good book if you want to learn to apply theory to your guitar playing plus a lot of other cool stuff.    I googled it and sure enough there it was on Amazon... Avoided the "People who bought this also looked at (or purchased) this..." at the bottom... but with all my shipping and payment info already in, 1 minute later Amazon is speeding it on its way to me.

Too easy...   maybe to celebrate I'll get rid of a few others on the bookshelf...

So now I'll get more Amazon suggestions in my email...  Seems like you can;t do ANYTHING without registering and getting a piece of e-trash. 
 
I've really learned to use that "unsubscribe" link this week hidden in the fine print at the bottom of those emails...  If I haven;t bought from them in 6 months or intend to in the next 6, bye bye!

 Later.

Blame it on your parents.

If they had only bought me the Atari before the price went down...

 

How my hippie parents turned me into a consumer

Mom swore by composting and hand-sewed clothes, but I longed for the comforts of Kraft singles and brand-name shoes

http://www.salon.com/life/real_families/index.html?story=/mwt/feature/2011/01/19/hippie_mom_daughter_confesses

Nothing like a few days off

Took a long weekend.  Got a pasture fenced, part of a goat shelter built, a few more square feet regained in the 5 pound sack known as my garage and something like 300 emails accumulated while I had my back turned.

So what does this say... hmm if I didn't even bother reading them why do I bother getting them- obviously life went on just fine.

The electronic clutter is a real mousetrap.  When I was out of work I spent about 9 months without a cell phone.  Mildly inconvenient but not a death sentence.  Okay, it sucks when you break down and have to hoof it to a store or something to borrow a phone... Didn't take long for the constant twitch to come back every time the alert goes off that something new came in.


After work hours- it is getting set to phone calls only.