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| Hi All http://weetrees.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=225 |
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| Author: | Lee108 [ 05 Jan 2010, 00:58 ] |
| Post subject: | Hi All |
Been into bonsai for quite a while now and over the last few years I've really got into satsuki, that led me to spend a month in Japan on a satsuki nursery. Hope you all had a great Christmas and i look forward to chatting soon! regards Lee |
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| Author: | PaulA [ 05 Jan 2010, 21:44 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Hi All |
Well done for taking the plunge. A month working in Japanese nuresry you lucky devil. I'd be happy to get a couple of weeks just walking round some of them. That'll never happen as I'm not into flying much. Managed Spain and Tunisia but have to say those flights were enough for me. We now all will know who to turn to for advice now  PaulA |
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| Author: | Lee108 [ 07 Jan 2010, 17:10 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Hi All |
Yes i was lucky and although it was hard work and the hours were long, it was very enjoyable! The general maintenance tasks on 'finished' trees are carried out around the same time as over here, but when working on trees in training the main thing that suprised me is that apart from feeding all year round and VERY heavily in the growing season, they are BRUTAL when pruning both branches and roots. Partly for the following reason - I was there in March 09 and temperatures (although cool at night) were around 18-24degC with high levels of humidty and in winter they still don't tend to experience hard frost, so under these conditions - say a branch that would take 3 years to develop can be developed in Japan in 12-18 months. It's not unusual for a satsuki cutting to grow 3-4 feet in height in it's first year! I can't do that in a greenhouse! regards Lee |
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| Author: | Lee108 [ 09 Jan 2010, 22:11 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Hi All |
The feed that was was used called 'Green King' and 'Fish Queen' - both Japanese fertilisers. These are both organic granular fertilisers and were mixed together 50/50 and placed in re-fillable teagbags and placed around the trees (these can be seen in the photograph). These teabags were changed around 4 times per year. Rape seed fertilisers were also used and replaced much at the same rate as over here. An expensive foliar fertiliser was also applied one a month. This was called GK365. Both Green King and GK365 are advertised in the most recent Bonsai Focus magazine on the inside cover. regards Lee |
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| Author: | Smithy [ 10 Jan 2010, 00:05 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Hi All |
Are they in pots under that covering . Have they got water running under the cover on the tables. |
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| Author: | Lee108 [ 10 Jan 2010, 00:39 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Hi All |
Smithy wrote: Are they in pots under that covering . Have they got water running under the cover on the tables. Nope the black covering is porous so it allows water to penetrate but help prevent weeds. It also keeps the fertiliser moist so it keeps doing it's job. All trees are planted in 100% kanuma - Apprently it took 3500 bags of kanuma to fill those beds! I had to water all the trees in pots around every 3 days. Lee |
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| Author: | Lee108 [ 10 Jan 2010, 14:02 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Hi All |
stymie wrote: I too use 100% Kanuma for potting my Satsukis. Some of us add some long strand sphagnum to that. Were any of those fertilisers formulated for lime hating plants? Although I too have used sphagnum moss in my mixes, while I in Japan I was told that under no circumstances should I use sphagnum moss in the Kanuma mix - only to top dress the surface to prevent dessication of the fine surface roots. The reason being that satsuki roots are 'lazy' and when they find what they like they won't extend and search for other food/ water sources and as a result poor root development. That's why we scattered fertilser around the edge of the pots rather than close to the trunk and tended to let satsuki go on the 'dry side' before watering in order to encourage good roots. The fertilisers that we used were general purpose, not especially formulated for lime hating plants or even for bonsai for that matter. I was told that special 'bonsai' fertilisers were a bit of a gimmic and apart from being over priced - even in Japan, equally good results can be achieved with alternatives and a good watering/ feeding regime. Lee |
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| Author: | PaulA [ 10 Jan 2010, 18:51 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Hi All |
The comments you make about feeding plus things I've read and seen in the last few days researching on the web are making me consider a redical change in the way I feed my trees this year. Jerry started it with his link to Walter Pall's article (in gen bonsai of topic > aggressive feeding) Jerry Norbury wrote: Here's the article from Walter Pall: http://walter-pall-bonsai.blogspot.com/ ... -myth.html All clearly indicate lots of water and feed so going to have to think about a plan for one or two of my developing trees to see what/if it makes a difference. Thanks for the additional brain fodder Lee... Paul |
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| Author: | PaulA [ 10 Jan 2010, 18:58 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Hi All |
p.s... I have one whole Satsukis, small but perfectly formed! Only purchased this year and have no idea what colour it is or what it'll actually look like  I want to repot and would like to go down the traditional route of potting in kanuma. Does anyone know of a supplier whole provides in small quantities?
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| Author: | Lee108 [ 10 Jan 2010, 19:11 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Hi All |
PaulA wrote: p.s... I have one whole Satsukis, small but perfectly formed! Only purchased this year and have no idea what colour it is or what it'll actually look like I want to repot and would like to go down the traditional route of potting in kanuma. Does anyone know of a supplier whole provides in small quantities?I know Greenwood Bonsai nursery supplies Kanuma in small quantities, why not give Corin a bell? I'm sure he'll be able to help. Lee |
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