newsletter

TIPS AND TECHNIQUES> In spite of blistering heat and insufficient rain, my bonsai garden looks good. So far, Japanese beetles have been missing this year and few other bugs have attacked the trees. I have been experimenting with a spray systemic (Ortho Systemic Insect Killer) for the nasty little aphid-like bugs that curl the leaves on my princess persimmons and a soil drench systemic (Bayer Tree and Shrub Protect and Feed) to deal with pine adelgids on the Zuisho. The Ortho seems to work well for a few weeks but needs to be reapplied periodically to keep the protection up to snuff. As for the Bayer systemic, it is applied as a liquid to the soil and is absorbed by the tree’s roots. This essential provides insecticidal protection from the inside (cambium, sap, and needles/leaves). Although not as easy to apply with a variety of pot sizes, the Bayer systemic seems to be quite effective and offers prophylactic protection for borers and tip moths. I have had some tip moth damage on small pine twigs this year and think that I may try an annual application of the systemic as a preventative. Although I’m not a fan of much preventative chemical usage, the damage from borers and tip moths is usually not reversible. In conjunction with a Volck oil spray, the Bayer product seems to be showing effectiveness against the adelgids. Attempts to control these pests through mechanical means (wire brush and high pressure water spray) have appeared very effective in the short run but do not solve the problem in the long run. I fear that the mechanical attacks remove the fuzzy white covering of the insect, rendering them less visible, but do not physically remove the insects from the tree.
There may be a few days left to prune satsuki azaleas without seriously affecting next year’s bloom. Seal cuts with glue (Titebond II or Elmer’s yellow carpenter’s glue) and healing will be greatly improved. The glue seems to prevent drying out and thus speeds healing and retards die back.
This is also a great time to wire azaleas. At this point in the growing season, they are less brittle and much easier to bend safely than during the winter dormant period when many other species are wired. It is important to be careful with larger limbs as azaleas are still very easy to snap if one is overly aggressive.
New needles should be hardening off on pines in the next few days. As soon as the color change indicates that needle maturity has occurred, one can begin fertilizing pine bonsai without fear of increasing needle length. Near the end of July, I switch from balanced fertilizer to very high phosphorus content fertilizer (high middle number in the analysis) to encourage strong budding for next year. What about the “other” pines, black pines, red, pines, and pitch pines? They should have been fertilized with balanced fertilizer since spring to build strength for shoot pruning. Now is the time to remove strong shoots on black pines and other members of this category. The entire new shoot is removed at the point form which it emerged back in the spring. After a couple of weeks of reorganization, small new buds will appear where the shoots were removed and eventually will produce a second crop of smaller needles before the end of this growing season.
Some of the deciduous species appreciate a little more shade during the very hot days we are likely to see in the next 6 weeks. If you notice the leaves losing a bit of their green color, try moving the tree to a shadier location. Often the color will return in a few days if too much sun and heat is the reason for the fading.

ADAMS BONSAI HAPPENINGS> The lecture obligations are a bit fewer during the summer and I appreciate the opportunity to catch up a bit. The number of students who wish to study/help in the bonsai garden has increased. I appreciate the help and they seem to benefit from the helping aspect. One student from California will spend five days here in July.
I’m actively trying to reduce the number of plants in my care so that I can properly attend to the ones I have. Too much of a good thing can be overwhelming. I enjoy the trees but don’t want to be overwhelmed by caring for them. In spite of that, I will be taking several hundred Zuisho cuttings in the next week or so.
After a lengthy period of unavailability, the famous Adams’ Bonsai Wire Safe will be available again. I have found an excellent craftsman who is willing to make them in reasonable quantities. There will be no significant changes in the design with exception of substituting high quality oak plywood for the raised panel back on the original model. They will sell for $125 each, still a bargain! Details will appear on my web site shortly.
Nice crops of dwarf stewartia, Japanese five needle pine, and black pine are coming from seed. After some early chipmonk problems, they are all doing well. Next spring they move to individual pots and become available for sale. . I enjoy taking the seedlings from the beginning and turning them onto nice small bonsai in 4-5 years.
I hope your summer is going well. Visitors are welcome if you wish to personally see what is happening in the bonsai garden. Julian