Bonsai blog

Hi Sheila ..
those pics. are interesting ... fascinating !

Who are they?
Will definitely have a go now, Sheila. Your collection really appeals to me. Thanks for posting.

I love the hawthorn - can I pick your brains please?

I have a yew grown from a seed which is bonsai-ing itself by default as it has been in the same pot for a number of years. its about eight years old. years. It is now in a normal 7" pot. I never intended to bonsai it but might as well carry on now - I don't know what to do about the pot and whether it needs root pruning and if so when. It has a nice little trunk and some of the roots are above the compost, with moss around. It looks quite attractive. Do you feed them and if so doesn't hat make them grow? and if you don't feed them why don't they die? So many questions!

Snoop . . . would that be Cruelty To P . . . Pots?! or what?

Thanks Terra, Tuesday and Stera!

Stera - it would be interesting to see a photo of your Yew tree. As it looks 'quite attractive' you probably don't need to do anything! There is no part of looking after bonsai that is essential apart from watering, and I only occasionally feed them when I remember (supposedly during the growing season). I root-prune some in the Spring (but have just root-pruned the Copper Beech, so again, no need to follow rules), and from time to time shape the branches. I sit down and look at the little trees at eye level, turning them to get a balance, and just snip bits here and there. Nothing to it :))

Wonderful (and large) collection Sheila and I love your pots as well.
Thank you for posting. I find them fascinating. I have never seriously tried.

i like the last picture, its very lovely bonsai Brian :-)

Klahanie - thank you, that's a very kind comment :)

Snoop - no, no, they are 'rescue plants' lol - I'm very gentle with them and don't force them with wire or anything unnatural!

Hi Junna - thanks, yes the Hawthorn is the star right now. Does someone called Brian grow these too?!

What is that red wee plant beside the beach (in the blue pot) Sheila? The Hawthorn is the star but I like the beach as well. Lovely shape and colour. What medium you grow then in Sheila? Do they need extra feeding?

Hi Klahanie - the beech is one of my favourites too - its horizontal habit seems to suit this "art". The little red plant is a Cotinus seedling: it has hardly grown at all, so I've concluded that it isn't a good subject for bonsai.

I grow these dwarf trees in very free-draining compost, potting compost with grit or vermiculite added, and cover the surface with grit to deter the squirrels. They need to be kept moist in dry spells but I don't feed them because the instructions for the different species are too complicated for my simple mind!

sorry for the mistakes Shiela, xxx

Thanks for your answer Sheila.

No worries Junna - we all make mistakes!

Hope you'll give it a try sometime, Klahanie :)

I like the Beech too Sheila, clever you, I can imagine this is quite therapeutic Sheila, am I right?

Thank you Gill. Yes, I think you have a point there . . . it is certainly quite restful, and marvellous for someone like me (with mild Chronic Fatigue) as I can 'garden' sitting down!

Exactly Sheila.............enjoy, this beautiful warm sunshine we have had lately is just fabulous isn't it?

:)))

Glad to see the little seedlings are doing well Sheila. I really must root prune mine in the spring :o)

Good to know that you're doing the same, Annie - it's fascinating, isn't it, but just so slow?!

I keep meaning to buy one of the mini Acers from Morrisons while they have got them in stock :o)

Lovey, Sheila - I love the hawthorn.

Thanks Susanne :)

Good idea Annie!