My Bonsai Diary June 2009

29th June, 2009

Rewired 2 Feet tall twin trunk jade bonsai. The older image can be seen here

The branch spead has bee minimised.

The top 3 branches has been repositioned.

One of the two anchoring wire has been removed.

27th June, 2009

Ahmedabad Bonsai Club members gathered at Parag Mehta's place & learned landscaping. Further it was an opportunity for eveyone to view his collection.

26th June, 2009

If you want to see images of Ficus Variety for making bonsai visit this link - http://www.cfgphoto.com/photos-ficus-fig.html

ramesh sinha ahmedabad bonsai club

Parag Mehta is in process of creating a great Ficus bonsai (Pipli). Its progression series can be viewed on his blog. We had worked on it when we had initially met. It is a 10 year old plant or maybe even more. In last 1 odd year it has responded well & in next 2 years it can be developed into a price winning bonsai from Ahmedabad.

23rd June, 2009

Checked http://www.cactuscollection.com for succulents & other forms of cactus. I think one can spend entire lifetime behind growing cactus & succulents & yet not manage to cover even 50% of the species available.

22nd June, 2009

Bhavnagar Bonsai Enthusiast had put up a bonsai exhibition recently. The picture of the same is available on Nileshbhai Orkut Profile http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#Album.aspx?uid=7235309261661736231&aid=1245363570. Enjoy. Some of them are really great bonsai.

19th June, 2009

Finally could figure out the creator of this fantastic Jade shown below - Jim Smith. His site is worth visiting. http://www.jimsmithbonsai.com/index.html. If case you are interested to know the price of Jade Bonsai first one was sold for 10,000 US$, second for 7000 US$ & third for 2000 US$. To view his creation, pl. visit his website.

18th June, 2009

Not having a space to work on plant is frustrating. So, here's an open invitation to all of you. If you got a Good Bonsai Material, i can train your plant. Just call me on 9924332267. I can travel to any part of Gujarat. So make most of me, till i do not shift to me house which is likely by March 2010.

14th June, 2009

Ahmedabad Bonsai Club monthly gathering on 14th June 2009 was a great Success.

We had a great gathering at Vanita's place and worked on good number of plants. Got opportunity to shape here two decade old Jade plants. One was styled as Informal Upright Bonsai & other one into Twin Trunk bonsai.

Ms. Tarala Parikh, an Octogenarian & Bonsai Master joined our club.

Preety had bought some pots from Mumbai & she was generous enough to share the same with other members of the club who bought out the entire collection of 75 exquisite bonsai pots .

" love is like flowing water, it's pure when it's flowing. It stinks when it stagnates"

12th June, 2009

Continued with working on Jade. Checked web to find crassulaceae varieties & came across this page. Worth visiting http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Crassulaceae/

Jade is a variety of succulents. To see great pictures of Succlent log on to http://www.thesucculentgarden.com

11th June, 2009, Thursday

I am currently working on Jade. This one has 3 Trunk, and 50+ Branch & sub branches. All Compressed in less than 10 Inches in Height. Styling was a big issue trunk & 79% of branches movement was not clearly visible.

So created bunch of sub branches at Branch level and tied them together post which a clear trunk movement was visible with 6-8 branches spread evenly in 360 degrees.

Challenge

The right trunk is highest, middle one is a smallest & left trunk is medium in height. A branch from right trunk had developed over the middle trunk because of which it could not grow. I wish to retain all 3 trunk & that a big challenge. Let's see what strikes me when I start styling it which can take couple of sessions. Rain is around the corner in Ahmedabad, hope it comes soon my bonsai are eagerly waiting for the same.

10th June, 2009, Wednesday

The big problem with Jade plant is, it snaps easily when you wire it. The ones i bought has many branches and reaching out to the inside branches is a problem & hence wiring is next to impossible. Today by accident I discovered that with bracketing I can achieve what you can do with wiring in Jade. I may not be the first one to use bracketing, but of may bonsai books, bonsai blogs & bonsai websites that I have read I didn't find a chapter on bracketing method hence I guess this is sort of a innovation.

Stapling - holding a branch with V/U shaped wire clip

Bracketing - holding 2 or more branches in a desired position with C shaped wire clip

9th June, 2009, Tuesday

I got the opportunity to visit Mecca of Bonsai in Gujarat i.e. at Jinabhai place at Valsad. Jinabhai thaught me bonsai, & I was floored by his collection & work. For some reason he stays away from fame but if you are in Bonsai, than whenever you get time, you should visit him.

7th June, 2009, Sunday

I bought 3 beautiful Jade plant, each with trunk diameter of 6 or more inches, which are planted in 12 Inch pots. The nursery owner use to trim the excess fall to make new Jade plants, because of which all of them have developed into umbrella style bonsai by accident.

I don't want to keep the same look, because the trunk is not visible. So I have decided to wire & give them a new shape over period of time. Each Jade has 50 or more branches & is less than 10 Inches tall, so it will take some time. The branches have become very stiff as well as jade by default is brittle so one has to be very careful. Each jade plant can take a week or more to wire, assuming i manage to give 1/2 to 1 hour a day.

I went with Bhaveshbhai, who bought a beautiful peeple tree. With little training & some time, it can be made a beautiful bonsai.

5th June, 2009, Friday

How to make Bougainvillea bloom

Do you know that Bougainvillea is a native of South America. It loves full sun, dry & arid conditions. To make the Bougainvillea bloow prune the branch tips, stop water for few days to make the plant believe that it is about to die. Than when you water it again, it will give you beautiful flower as if it is its last chance to propagate. For bonsai club of Ahmedabad - ramesh sinha

3rd June, 2009. Wednesday

The good thing about moving to a rented place is I am learning new thing about gardening in Ahmedabad, which i use to ignore while staying in a Penthouse. My new place is sandwiched between the floors, and has just 1 small balcony which gets few hours of direct sunlight.

Ideal condition to grow money plant in Ahmedabad is to keep it next to a Glass Window which gets Sunlight for few hours a day. Even if the window remains closed for most of the day, and if the room is air conditioned, it will grow beautifully. Just ensure that you don't over water it, restrict watering to twice a week.

2nd June, 2009, Tuesday - Mealybug

All of you are would be familiar with this pest it's called Mealybug. It produces white sugary powder which is meal for ants & hence named mealy bug. To know more about this pest check

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mealybug. Its population will grow in presence of ants, which protects them & in lieu of protection they feed ants.

As you guys know I am a great fan of Jade Plant. Check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jade_plant to know more about this plant

31st May, 2009, Sunday

Monthly meeting of Ahmedabad Bonsai Club was a big fiasco as few people many turned up for monthly bonsai meet.

Worked on Preeti's Jade plant which was 5/6 year old plant & had started to rot. We made 5 plants out of one Jade, and styled it in Slanting, Twin Trunk & Informal upright styles. While replanting Jade, I removed almost 95% of the leaves such that the shock is limited & it is forced to branch out.

30th May, 2009. Saturday

I had a 3 trunk jade plant which somehow didn't appeal me so removed one & made a twin trunk. The problem is both the trunk is of equal diameter and height. I am going to allow it to grow for sometime, and will review it later. Inspired by japanese rock garden, i tried to make a landscape in the pot for the first time - though it turned out to be very crude, i am sure with practice it will improve.

"Love is all about accepting a total stranger & giving him/her more importance than oneself"

ramesh sinha, ahmedabad bonsai club, www.tendertiger.com

29th May, 2009

Jade are the best plant to make a Bonsai in Ahmedabad. I have this small jade plant which was wired to develop into a informal upright style Bonsai. I had picked it up this February for Rs. 10 during Annual Horticulture Show in Ahmedabad. While removing the wire today i noticed that it can be developed into a Wind Swept Style. Post wiring the final product looks great, as there are 6 Branches on the left hand side & one on the right hand side. The right hand side branch I have kept because it is the first branch of the tree and has some ramification (sub branches). Will upload the picture of this plant in few day once re-wiring is complete.

I am yet to figure out as what is the best way to update a blog, so working on this diary format, where I hope to update it on regular basis. Data will be published in descending order. Ramesh Sinha, Bonsai Club of Ahmedabad

Japanese Rock Garden & Bonsai

Sorry, for not updating my bonsai blog for sometime. Cause I have shifted from my penthouse, to a rented house has a small balcony on temporary basis, i am unable to work on my bonsai. Most of them are now at Ahmedabad Bonsai Club members place, and cheerfully all of them have agreed to cooperate, for free! Also my back problem has aggravated to sciatica, and that has kept me immobile for almost a month now.

For last few days I am browsing Internet for Japanese Garden. It's also know as dry landscape or Zen Garden or Karesansui (in Japanese) . Just like bonsai, they say Japanese garden is never finished. It changes with season & time. There are various styles, just like in Bonsai but one that has attracted my attention is Japanese Rock Garden. It is basically a sand bed (which represents ocean) & rocks (which represents islands). Trees & Bonsai are optional in most of the case, however if you decide to use them, lesser the better.

The sand bed which comprised of Grave of 1 - 2 Cm in size max, has to be raked, such that is given an impression of flowing water body. Rocks of different size are placed individually or in Group such that overall a soothing scene is created.

You can google around to read more about Rock Garden,

I found great pics on http://www.phototravels.net/kyoto/zen-gardens-index.html

Japanese Garden is meant to be viewed from one angle & this is not always the case. Japanese Rock Garden are easy to maintain, but than it needs to be raked everyday or as frequently as you can.

I think if we combine Japanese Rock Garden, Bonsai & Suiseki it will make a killing combination as seen in the picture below. One of the Stones can also be used as a pedestal to keep a bonsai. If anyone of you is interested in making one, than I will be willing to work with them on this project.

Things to keep in mind, when making Japanese Rock Garden in Ahmedabad.

- A border of pebbles which separate the rock garden area. The pebbles colour should be in contrast to the gravel colour that is used in the rock garden pit.

- If plot area permits, create 5 islands should be there which should comprise of 2 Individual stones, 1 pair of 2 stones, 1 pair of 3 stones, 1 heart stone. Please keep in mind that rock denotes islands & gravel the ocean, accordingly keep proportion of rock & gravel same as land & ocean.

- Rock can be directly planted in gravel or on a slightly raised platform which can be covered with most or shrubs, never trees.

- Gravel needs to be raked to create a Serene picture & wakes of sea/ocean

- Rock Garden can be created in tray, terrace or as one part of a big garden

- Ideally rock garden should be fenced from 3 sides such that outsiders cannot view the same & creates a disturbance when somone is viewing the same.

- Rocks with sharp edges should be avoided

- Rocks wtih similar shape should avoided.

- When 2 or 3 rocks group is creted, they should complement each other

- Size of gravel can vary from 1/2 cm to 1.5 cm max, ideally pieces of Granites should be used

- Corase white sand if available is the best material for the gravel

- Fountain or pools cannot be created, gravely is methapor for the same

- Don't create something that nature cannot like Square, Circular, Star, Triange shaped garden or stones should be avoided

- Go for odd no. of stones in the japanese rock garden

- fimilarize yourself with few japanes terms that go with Rock Garden

- the aim is to greate a landscape in a small garden

- remember, less is more as per japanese rock garden master

reference article:

http://www.helpfulgardener.com/japanese/2003/design.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen_garden

http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/japanese-gardens.shtml

http://www.ehow.com/how_2081399_build-japanese-rock-garden.html

: ma - space

: wabi - one of a kind or spirit of something, solidarity

: sabi - ideal image of something, patina (e.g. moss covered rock, denoting aged rock)

: sumi - balance

: in & yo or yin & yang

ramesh sinha, ahmedabad bonsai club

Making Mame Bonsai in Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Reducing height of a Tree for making Mame Bonsai in Ahmedabad, Gujarat:
- I had a tree which was roughly 2 feet in height with no branches on first 1.5 feet of the trunk. It had a beautiful crown with 6/7 branches but the first 1.5 feet of the trunk was bare. In fustration to develop the branches throughout the Trunk...
- I chopped it by 1 Feet as a result of which it profusely branched out (10 -12 new nodes appeared in all) in the remaining 1 feet. I noted that though the new branches sprouted from as low as 2 inches from base of the trunk. Before you chop the tree it is important to have in mind the position where you want the branch to develop. I deliberately kept the height to 1 feet such that depending on how plant reacts, i can reduce the height further.
- Later I realised that only the top branches took the leads. Had I allowed the top branch buds to take the lead, the branches that had appeared at the base would have died.
- Important thing it to know that once branches go strong, if you prune them, then new branches will develop at branch level & not on the trunk, hence it was important that the bottom branch buds were preserved & they were given the chance to grow.
- So, I chopped the tree by another 6 inches such that the branches at the bottom of the trunk get enough opportunity to grow.
Hope this works and I am in a position to develop 4/6 branches in a 6 Inch Bonsai Tree. Pl. try this on you Bonsai & update me if it work.
Pl. comment on this article if you find it worthy by clicking on the comments link below.

Bonsai Basics - Chapter 1

Chapter 1 - Get your First Bonsai in Flat 10 Minutes.

Bonsai means a Miniature Tree in a Tray.

If you wonder as how a Tree can survive in Tray? here is the rational for the same.
Soil has minerals & nutrients that are essentials for any Tree's growth. When you water the plant, the minerals & nutrients present in soil dissolve in water. Because of the soil, the entire water does not drain out of the pot, but is retained in the pot in form of moisture. The bonsai tree roots absorbs this moisture & gets the basic raw material required to make food using photosynthesis. The moist soil keeps the Roots moist, which is required in most of the tree.

So technically speaking if you can give your Bonsai Tree required amount of water & necessary minerals/nutrients required without drying out the roots, the Bonsai Tree will still survive. To plant a tree you can choose various medium Stones, Bricks, Sand or Soil. As soil already has basic nutrients present, just watering will suffice. In other medium you will have to add nutrients along with water to make the bonsai tree survive.

Making your First Bonsai.
Buy an Adenium from the nursery which has nice caudex (10 inches in circumference). Google around to see picture of Adenium & what caudex means.
You can either remove the entire soil, & throw the plant in one corner of your Garden (in a semi shaded or shaded place). You will be surprised that the plant will survive for weeks without water & soil. That's not all, it will continue to give flowers.

Alternatively, you can plant this tree in a tray which contain just sand or pebbles or brick bites or mixture of above 3. And presto, you have your first bonsai ready.

So you have your first bonsai in a Tree, it obviously does not look like a Tree. We will have to style it like a Barber styles our hair. Bonsai Styles are covered in next Chapter.