My Life Has Been "Bonsai-ed"

So this Labor Day, I was fortunate to get to spend some time at the Shrimp and Petroleum Festival in Morgan City, Louisiana. This festival is really one of my favorites and maybe that has to do with it being in my hometown.

If you want to watch what went on this weekend, you can see it here, on my Youtube page.

While shopping around the crafts, I stumbled upon a booth selling bonsai trees. I have seen this setup before, over the many years that I walked the festival crafts. I think the love of plants comes from my grandmother, my mother's mother. She was an avid gardener and a bit of a chemist and botanist. Plants were her thing and if she was alive today, I am sure she would be procuring any and every plant that sprouted from the Earth. That was just the way she was.

So in seeing these bonsai trees, I decided I had to finally have one. I got a Juniper bonsai and it looks like this.
So the Juniper bonsai is from the pine family and unlike what everyone believes, they are not in fact tiny trees. They are normal sized plants that are made to look tiny.

The Juniper is a hardy tree that is good in almost any climate as long as it doesn't freeze. They also require little watering, only when the soil is noticeably dry. They are pretty much the perfect plant for people who like to be their own designer. My bonsai has already been through the process of wiring so it is up to me to keep it looking its best. What that means is, is that I have to water it (like it is raining) fertilize it, pinch off undesired shoots, and re-pot when it gets bigger. It is a pretty simple process and it happens to be a very fun adventure. For those that don't have the luxury of pre-wired bonsais, you will have to guide your tiny tree in the direction you want it to grow. Getting that desired look is done through thick wires that wrap around the trunk and branches. You have to do that before winter because after that, the tree goes dormant.

And just in case you are wondering, bonsais are not an indoor plant. Okay, the tropical versions of a bonsai are but the ones you normally see aren't. Right now, my little Juniperus is sitting on my window sill in the sun but it will soon be transferred outside to live its days like a true tree. If you ever get the chance to purchase a bonsai, I say do it. They are wonderful to look at and are really cool to decorate. Mine has a tiny bridge on it with fake water underneath.

See you when the world revolves again...B



      JUNIPER BONSAI CARE INSTRUCTIONS:

• Re-pot: Every two or three years in early April. Sign to watch for include roots growing in circles in the bottom of the container or the soil level rising up out of the container.
• Soil: A bonsai soil that drains well with a pH of 5.0 to 6.5
• Fertilize: Miracid or Peters every tow to three weeks in spring and autumn. Switch brands to pick up trace elements your plants may be lacking.
• Prune: Continually pinch overgrown buds to encourage secondary branching. heavy branches can be removed in the spring and if necessary in the fall.
• Train: Anytime when warm. Remove all wire before winter.
• Insects: Maples are relatively pest resistant, although one occasionally encounters a chewing insect which should be removed by hand
• Insects/Diseases:  Spider mites and bagworms require immediate attention so hose off with water and then spray with Safer Soap. To prevent root-rot, drench the soil two or three-times-a-year with fungicide.
• Culture: Cuttings can be taken in early spring and kept moist in perlite. Most species grow very slowly.
• Watering: Do not over-water especially during the winter months as root-rot will kill the tree. Early morning watering is preferred and again if the tree dries out during the heat of the day.
• Light: Prefers full sun.
• Wintering: Junipers are very hardy, however, protect pots and roots in extreme temperatures.