Thursday, December 31, 2009

The Formal Bonsai Forest

formalforest1

Finished for now. Three years after planting. Masahiko Kimura styled this Ezo spruce (Picea Glehnii) planting with a high mountain stand of conifers in mind. You may also notice how Kimura enhanced the feeling of age by removing or jining about half of the limbs. Trees tend to shed limbs as they age. This is especially true of trees in forests where growth folows light.


formalforest2

An intermediate stage. One year after planting and two years before the top photo. It’s quite powerful at this stage, wires and all. Notice how all the trees are almost perfectly straight and vertical. The look isn’t completelly natural yet but still prety impresive.

formalforest3

Freshly planted. Kimura started with inexpensive, untrained trees. The placement of each tree is carefully thought out to create a natural feel. We will discuss some of the concepts behind placement in future posts. Read more!

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Pruning Tips

celtis2

This is a young deciduous tree before pruning. Notice that the tree’s energy moves primarily upward. It is forming a more or less inverted triangle. In order to control this growth and move the energy down, prune to form the tree into a triangle with tip pointing up.

The right part of the picture shows the same little tree a year or two later. Now your goal is to control growth and keep the tree’s basic shape by continuing to prune back vigorous upward growth and to eliminate unsightly and unhealthy growth. Read more!

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Literati bonsai with one branch

Kimbunjin

After: It’s ecentricity lies in its striking simplicity. It is a Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora).

kimbun2

Before. This bunjin clearly has some potential; especialy with its aged, elegant trunk and ample branching to chose from.

In conclusion: nature is a perfect art to work with. Read more!

Monday, December 28, 2009

Viewing Stone Exhibit at the National Museum

sui

This wonderfuly scenic suiseki is from the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum’s current calendar of events.

Read more!

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Roy Nagatoshi, Walter Pall, Shinji Suzuki, Isao Omachi & The Ichiban

omachi1
Isao Omachi using the Ichiban.
Read more!

Thursday, December 24, 2009

More Sweet Little Trees

pine

This little pine clump with its shagy too long needles, aged lichen covered trunks and funky almost too-small pot is near perfect in its imperfect naturalness. From Shohin Bonsai World, Nishinomia branch. For a detailed look at the ins and outs of pine bonsai, you might want to check out our Masters’ Series Pine book.

Read more!

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

So, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

In most areas of the country, snow is simply a part of winter. In the South, however, it may come once per year and most of the time that doesn’t stick to the ground. We had a really good snow this year though, and for some of my bonsai, it was their first time to deal with it. We got about 4 inches a few weeks ago,but it was gone by lunch. So here are some pictures of it:

snow_2009 109
Juniper in snow

Bonsai bench in snow
Bonsai bench in snow
Read more!

Repotting Bonsai Tonight

btonight1

This photo is from Bonsai Tonight’s first in a series of posts (five total with excelent photos) on repottng.

A clear thorough series on repotting

Jonas Dupuich (Bonsai Tonight) has one of the best visual and written instructions on repotting we’ve seen yet. If you haven’t done a lot of repotting (or even if you have) it will set you straight on details you may be overlooking. Check it out, it’s an excellent series on an excellent site.

Btonight2

It starts here with this Trident root-over-rock. Read more!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Green Workshop: Ugly Branches

uglybranches

These simple grafics show three solutions to three common branching problems. Read more!

Monday, December 21, 2009

A Holiday Greeting from Min Hsuan Lo

A_1

This perfectly ramified, wonderfuly balanced, natural beauty belongs to Min Hsuan Lo (Min is his family name) of Taiwan. I received it as an email greeting this morning.

Read more!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Bonsai Calendar Now 50 percent% off

CB9-2T

If you factor in our site wide sale…
…the discount is more than 50 percent. How much more depends upon your order (the larger your order, the bigger the discount). Calendars here

Last shiping day before the 25th of December
 The first is tomorrow (Monday the 21st of Decembder). Orders must be received by 11am Eastern time if you want them shipped tomorrow.

Our Japanese garden calendar is also 50 percent off


CG9-2T Read more!

Friday, December 18, 2009

Crafty Nick’s Crazy Cedar

cedar

You like unconventional? Crazy? How about daring and masterful? Notice how the color and design of the pot plays with the wild deadwood and the small touch of moss on the left mirrors the foliage. Just another bonsai from left fild by crafty old Nick Lenz, master left fielder, author, and preminent master of cedars, larches and other collected North American gems. This photo is from North American Bonsai (American Bonsai Society – compiled and edited by Martin Schmalenberg), now on sale at Stone Lantern.

Read more!

Repotting a trident maple: securing the tree in the pot

Part 4 of 5
Once the tree and pot are ready, it’s time to put them together. For starters, the pot gets a drainage layer of pumice. If the pot were much thiner or the climate warmer I might forego this step, but I’ve found my maples do well with it.

Pumice drainage layer
After spreading out the drainage layer, I add my decidous bonsai mix – mostly akadama with pumice, lava and charcoal. I typically form a mound in the center of the pot when I pour in the mix to help prevent air pockets from forming when the tree is set. If the base of the rootball is concave, this becomes particularly important.
Read more!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

A Sierra Juniper’s Eight Year Journey


After. January, 2009 at Bay Island Bonsai show “An Exhbit of Fine Bonsai.” If you go to Styling on Bonsai Boon you can see how Boon got from before (below) to here.

Another example of a formidable bonsai artist expertise

Read more!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Winter

Winter is an excellent time to make careful lists of the year’s bonsai blunders, stapling them to our New Year’s resolutions with a simlar intent to forget all about them when things begin growing again. More productvely, it is a good time to look for good or more appropriate pots for your trees. To dream of accent plants to assemble. To wonder about stands… and then to call up one of our wonderful stand makers and order what you’re wondering about.

Buy wire. Organize and sift soil. Remember what worked. Make notes. If you don’t have a bonsai yearbook, there’s a stocking stuffer for you. If you don’t snowboard, start. You can create a lot of shari on a slope in just a few hours. Otherwise stay home, turn up the heat, and make notes.

Given last weeks’ wintery blast, it might be a good time to buy new woolen hats and mitens too…
Read more!

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Repotting a trident maple: root-work


Part 3 of 5

I’ve seen it first-hand. Visting bonsai teachers come to town and whip trees into spectacular shape only to leave the trees’ owners with ticking time-bombs. Until a tree is in outstanding health, it’s a poor candidate for even the most basic bonsai tasks. Great bonsai work requires great health, and great health begins with the roots. If you hear otherwise, think twice before handing over the scissors.

All of this to say that repotting is serious business. Cuting too many roots can weaken or kill a tree – not cutting enough can lead to root rot or die back and prevent good nebari from developing. When done well, however, repotting can invigorate bonsai and give them the strength to recover from the most intensive styling techniques. That’s why repotting has always been among my favorite tasks. It’s an art unto itself, and it’s never failed to keep me interested.

Trident maple is best repoted in late winter or early spring. And while most deciduous trees are typically repotted before they leaf out, tridents can be repotted as long as the leaves are ruddy. Repoting this late can slow a tree down a bit, but if it’s in otherwise good health, it won’t skip a beat.

Root-work begins, in this case, with the botom of the rootball. To get to the bottom I have to tip the tree onto its side. After removing the tree from the pot I can see that the roots are loose where the sickle passed, but nice and compact on the other side. If I tip the rootball onto the side where the sickle passed, I can damage loose roots. Tipping the tree onto the untouched side can protect the rootball while I work on the base. This explains why I begin with the bottom of the rootball. If I start with the top or the sides, I’ll be exposing roots that could get damaged when I turn the tree onto its side.



Read more!

Monday, December 14, 2009

Fruiting Bonsai: A Mystery Persimmon

kaki

If you know the variety of this tiny fruited persimmon (Diospyros kaki), let me know. The photo is from Bonsai Today issue 39. When I first saw it, I figured ‘kaki’ was the variety, but no such luck. ‘Kaki’ just means persimmon in Japanese. Height 33″ (84cm).

Read more!

Friday, December 11, 2009

Winter Silhouettes at the National Arboretum

winter_tree3

More specifically at the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum (through Dec 20th)

Here’s what our good friends and colleagues at the NB&PM have to say about their Winter Silhouettes Exhibit: Winter is the best time to enjoy the true mastery of the art of bonsai by observing the “bare bones” of the trees. With no leaves, the structure of a deciduous bonsai reveals how well the artist has created his miniaturized version of nature. The bonsai curator has selected trees from the museum’s permanent collection for a formal display of these living artworks. Other trees from the permanent collection will be on view throughout the winter in the Chinese Pavilion and the Tropical Greenhouse. Free.

If you have a chance

…go! It’s a great collection and if you are a citizen of the US, it’s yours and it’s excellent, so you might as well enjoy it. And if you are not a citizen, we’d love to have you visit! Read more!

Thursday, December 10, 2009

A Cornucopia of Bonsai Art & Technique


Cornocopia 


This drawing by Kihara Susuma is from an article entitled ‘Exploring a Collected Needle Juniper’ that appears in Bonsai Today issue 98.

Read more!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Repotting a trident maple: removing the tree from the pot


Part 1 of 5

Preparing a trident maple for exhibit requires a lot of work. Fortunately, most of this work happens long in advance of the exhibit. Having developed what branches I could this summer, all that remains is a little clean-up and repotting.



Root-over-rock trident maple

Plucking spent leaves and removing extraneous branches doesn’t take long. Repotting, in this case, doesn’t take long either, though it must be done with care. I’ve owned this tree long enough to know that it needs repotting every year, but the work is usually straightforward.

Read more!

Monday, December 7, 2009

Ichiban #2: Research & Development

ichi 3

Before you make a decision on what might be one of your most important bonsai investments yet, you can do a little research by checking out Marco Invernizzi’s Ichiban site. In addition to being one of the most accomplished and influential Western bonsai artists, Marco is the designer of the Ichiban.

ichi 2

Read more!

Nick’s Poison Ivy


poisonivy 
Poison Ivy bonsai by Nick Lenz, who, in addition to be one of our most talented bonsai artists, is also a master of the unusual. This photo appears in Nick’s book, Bonsai from the Wild (Stone Lantern Publishing).
Read more!

Freezing weather and watering!


We’re having a week of overnight freezes here in Moldova, following a few days of bright sun and drying winds. The pots are—for once—drying out.

One of the most dangerous things about freezing weather for bonsai is dry soil. Pots breaking is truly a secondary concern. Bad root damage can occur if there is not water in the pot to insulate the roots when it freezes. Otherwise you get a double whammy—freeze dried roots.

So get out your hoses…or spot water with a can…and protect those roots. If you have frequent freezing in winter storage, then watering should be more frequent than you might think. Freezing has one other side effect…it dries out the soil.

In Japan, Mr. Suzuki would have us try to thaw out the bonsai each winter day a bit, so that we could water them. This is a bit contrary to what we hear in the west. But it makes sense.

Stay warm…
Read more!

Monday, November 23, 2009

How to Grow Bonsai Trees : Avoiding Common Problems with Bonsai Trees

Learn how to avoid common problems with bonsai tree growing, in this free video.

Expert: Mike Hansen

Bio: Mike Hansen, owner of Midwest Bonsai, has been growing, caring, selling, and instructing others in bonsai care for years. Mike is an expert bonsai master.

Duration : 0:2:16


Read more!

Acer sp. - Maple Bonsai



Finally I have come to talk about my most adorable bonsai specie which is Acer sp. or Maple, which is from the fallen leaves trees class. The land of this tree is the northern hemisphere, with a cold or moderate climate of Europe, America and continent of Asia.
Maple has a trunk type look and does not grow tall. It has a good characteristic when we talk of bonsai: it has an intensive branching. There appears 2 powerful branches from each node. Acer sp. like the sun in almost of all cases, except some species which would appreciate a little shadow, but generally speaking it needs sunlight. Best of all for a maple suits a moderate damp climate, with no over watering, over heating, with minimal protection of cold weather and excessive hot and dryness summer. For a good developing of bonsai you should introduce some nutriments when watering in spring and fall, especially good for this are low dissolving nutriments.
Read more!

Monday, November 16, 2009

How to talk girlfriend into a bonsai tree?

From emailing:

My friend wants his girlfriend to get a bonsai tree for their new home. How can he talk her into it?

He goes out and gets a bonsai tree for the house and waters it himself, but lets her admire it from time to time.
He could also bring her the beauty of bonsai, by showing her some amazing pictures of bonsai which he adors most of all or/and try to involve her to admire when he is working on it.
Read more!

Thursday, November 12, 2009

How to Make Your Own Bonsai Tree on Plants + Study

Plants + presents http://www.plantsplus.jp/



Plants Plus presents how to make your own Bonsai Tree. Enjoy!

(Japanese Version)
Duration : 0:7:11

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Wednesday, November 11, 2009

I’m trying to find an outdoor tree that looks like a bonsai and is about 4 feet tall. Any clue what it is?

From emailing:

I’ve seen some trees in the past that were in people’s front yards that were shaped to look like a much larger bonsai tree. I’ve been driving around and haven’t been able to see one.
Does anyone know what type of tree this is? I don’t think REAL bonsai trees grow that large, but I’m looking for a tree for my front yard about 4 feet tall that looks like a bonsai.
Any ideas, advice? Thanks for reading!

Sounds like a Japanese Maple to me. There are different varieties (growing to different sizes), but I think one of the smaller ones would fit the bill. You didn’t mention whether what you saw was evergreen or not. The Japanese Maple is not. I think they’re very pretty but have too much heavy shade to grow one. Look them up and see…. Read more!

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Bonsai Trees Video

Video montage of some beautiful Bonsai Trees.

Duration : 0:3:56

Read more!

Saturday, November 7, 2009

How do you grow a bonsai tree the right way?

From email:

I am trying to grow a bonsai tree but I don’t know when to trim the roots and the branches and how much to trim. If you can please give me some tips and advice I would really appreciate it.


Answer:
Make sure your bonsai tree gets at least 3 hours of sunlight every day. This is essential if you are growing your tree indoors.
Maleable wiring is used to give your bonsai tree the shape you want. For trimming and pruning, use a concave cutter — it’s a tool designed to prune the plant without leaving a stub. Shears, pliers, and branch bending jacks are other efective tools for pruning. Read more!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Do you have to soak bonsai tree seeds?

From emails:

I recently got my new bonsai tree seed, and I’ve heard you need to soak the seeds before you plant them. Is that true? I also will take any other advice anyone can give me, or websites with helpful information.

A bonsai tree is any type of tree pruned or manipulated to keep it small. I have never heard of such a thing as a bonsai tree seed? Sounds like someone trying to make a buck, suckered you in. You can buy a small bare root evergreen seedling from any good nursery and have a better head start on a bonsai tree. They will probably have a wide variety to offer too. Then go to the local library and get information on how to wire, prune and shape your little tree.

Read more!

Saturday, October 31, 2009

How to Grow Bonsai Tree: How to Care Your Bonsai Tree : Bonsai Maintenance

Maintaining a bonsai garden is fun and easy with these tips from a bonsai garden professional.



Bio: Mike Hansen, owner of Midwest Bonsai, has been growing, caring, selling, and instructing others in bonsai care for years. Mike is an expert bonsai master.
Duration : 0:3:40

Read more!

My bonsai tree, a Mimosa Acacia, doesn’t have a real trunk like it shows in the picture, is it supposed to?

From email:

I have been growing this bonsai tree for 5 months and all it has is small leaves. Not even real branches just branches that look like stems. What the leaves are growing on is just one thin stem.
Right now it is winter and I don’t know whether to put it away in a warm place, but there won’t be any sunlight or just keep it near the window with the window closed.
Is something wrong with my bonsai?


Answer:
How To Take Proper Care of Your Bonsai Tree...
During the Winter months – once nightly lows begin aproaching the 40 degree mark, it is time to bring your indoor bonsai inside. Do not change the location of your tree suddenly, the move should be done gradually over a period of several weeks. Bring it in for a few hours the first time, slowly increasing the time it spends indoors until it becomes aclimated to its new environment. The ideal indoor location is on a window sill facing south. A northern exposure will work, but it's necessary the use grow lights to provide sufficient light to keep your bonsai healthy. Four to six hours of sunlight per day should be enough to keep your bonsai tree healthy and happy
Watering Your Bonsai Tree – Watering of your bonsai must never be neglected. Apply water when the soil appears dry — never allow the soil to become completely dry. If your bonsai is receiving full sun, it may be necessary to water at least once a day. This schedule may vary with the pot size, type of soil and type of bonsai tree you own. Evaluate each tree’s water requirements and adjust your watering schedule to accomodate it. It is a good idea to use a moisture meter until you get to know the requirements of your bonsai tree. Watering should be done with a watering can or hose attachment which should dispense the water in a soft enough manner as not to disturb the soil. Water should be applied until it begins running out of the holes in the bottom of your pot. Read more!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Bonsai Tree Carving Demonstration

Graham Potter shows some basic bonsai carving techniques on a giant hornbeam.


Duration : 0:9:57


Read more!

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

My little keepsake azalea tree/ plant died is there anyway to bring it back to life?

From emailing:

I have it in a pot inside. Would it do better if I transplant it outdoors? Should I fretilize it or anything I know they like the acid based food.Help I have a purple thumb and I want so badly to have pretty plants and stuff! :)

First make sure if it is dead. Take a small branch and snap it. If it is dry it is dead if it bends instead of snaps in two then you might be able to save it. Please put it in the yard. Buy some root hormone, Walmart or Lowes use it according to directions, while you’re there buy some Miracid for acid loving plants.

http://www.acehardware.com/sm-miracid-soil-acidifier-plant-food-miracid-soil-acidifier-plant-food–pi-1335058.html

When you are ready to remove the plant from the pot be very careful. Check the roots to see if any of them are white and hairy, if they are then it’s still alive.

Use this link for care instructions.

http://www.gardenersnet.com/tree/azalea.htm

Read more!

Monday, October 26, 2009

Air Layering Resources

Bonsai Bark did a nice series in the past couple of months on air-layering. If you have mature yard trees, a well-developed branch you need to remove, or would like the chance to start over with your nebari, then air-layering is definitely something to look into. Here’s the links:

A Simple Air-layering Technique Part 1

A Simple Air-layering Technique Part 2

A Simple Air-layering Technique Part 3

Here’s an explanation of the process and why it works over at EverGreen Garden Works: What is Air Layering?

Some other resources:

Layering Techniques for Bonsai

Ground Layering at Bonsai4Me

Airlayering by the Texas Agriculture Extension Office

If you have any other resources about air layering and it’s relationship with bonsai, send me the links and I’ll add them to this post.

Read more!

How to Grow Bonsai Trees : How Often to Water your Bonsai Trees : Tips Watering Bonsai

Learn special watering instructions are needed to properly care for your bonsai tree, in this free video.


Expert: Mike Hansen

Bio: Mike Hansen, owner of Midwest Bonsai, has been growing, caring, selling, and instructing others in bonsai care for years. Mike is an expert bonsai master.

Duration : 0:0:54


Read more!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Can a bonsai tree be kept inside?

From emailing:

I am growing the tree from Jack Pine seeds. The booklet I bought said to grow it outdoors, but it said on the cover that it could be kept on a desk. I am just making sure I don’t kill the poor little tree.

Also, Can I just let it grow naturally? Sure, it wouldn’t technically be a bonsai tree, but I don’t like the idea of manipulating a bady tree just for some weird form of art.

Thank you.


"Bonsai" is translated "tree in a pot", so a bonsai can be made from nearly ANY species of tree. It is designed to be a miniature tree in nature. Some species can be kept inside and some MUST be kept outside. A Jack pine MUST be kept outside so it can go dormant in the winter. Where do you live? That is important to know.

Read more!

Monday, October 19, 2009

Bonsai Tree pictures

The word Bonsai is Japanese and literally translated it means planted in a container. Basically Bonsai is a collection of techniques to grow, train and care for a tree in order to shape it into a miniature but naturally and old looking tree. Throughout the ages Bonsai has evolved from plants being grown in containers into a well respected form of art.

Duration : 0:4:46


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Sunday, October 18, 2009

What is the best kind of bonsai tree should I get and why?

Looking to get a Bonsai tree. But what kind do i get and where should i get it? there are, Junipers, Ficus, Pines/Palms, and other Unique Trees.

Junipers cost less and won’t kill you if they die.

Read more!

Friday, October 16, 2009

Pollution free house with Natural Plants: Grow them and breathe freely

There are some natural plants which can fight pollution inside the house, which many people are not aware about. Instead they unnecessarily try to clean their houses using vacuum cleaners and cleaning solutions which are harmful and costly.

In spite of using these modern equipments we find we are not free from diseases, dirt and dust which contaminate the air around us.

When compared to the vacuum cleaners, plants do not make noise like them. Maintenance of a plant is very cheap but at the same time we will have to shed many dollars to maintain a vacuum cleaner...

The best way to control pollution at home is through these ten plants which can be bought.

1) Feston Rose Plant :

Lantana-camara

Feston rose plant

(Photo by parkseed)

A lovely and low maintenance indoor plant which can be considered is the Lantana camara or the Feston rose plant. The uniqueness of this plant is that it produces numerous flowers which have a variety of colors.

This plant has a tendency to endure blazing heat or heavy winds. It can survive even with less water and in salty conditions. The leaves of these plants give out a very pleasing and strong fragrance, which leaves the house smelling fresh and also removes impurities from the air.

2) The Devil’s ivy:

devils-ivy

Devil’s ivy

(Photo by jayjayc)

The other name for Devil’s ivy is the Golden Pathos and the scientific name is Epipiremnum Aureum. The leaves of the plant are very striking, they are marbled and the colors of the leaves are gold, which is true to the name of the plant. The Devil’s ivy is a very fine looking vine plant.

The plant flourishes and grows even if they are not taken care. The common air pollutants like the benzene, carbon monoxide and formaldehyde is controlled by this plant, it is the best natural way to purify the air around and in the house. The plant grows downward, so it is grows at its best when kept on a ridge. This plant should be consumed internally, even by the pet dog.

3) Phalaenopsis:

Phalaenopsis

Phalaenopsis

(Photo by mendelu)

This indoor plant has the most adorable flowers which are white and pink flowers. The leaves are fleshy which can be seen at the bottom of the plant and they are less in number also. The plant has a rhizome which almost looks like a stem.

This lovely plant should be kept inside the house under artificial light, because they cannot bear the light and the heat of the sun. The flowers add to the appearance of the place and the plant also purifies the air around the house. The plant is small in size, but the flowers are quite big and wonderful.

4) The English Ivy:

englishIvy

English Ivy

(Photo by eco-friendly-promos)

The scientific name for this plant is Hedera Helix. People who have pets at home are recommended to grow these plants because they have a capacity to remove pollutants like the fecal particles and formaldehyde aerosols. The house can be kept free from harmful contaminants.

The leaves of the English Ivy differ in shape, size and color for each plant because there are many species and they require a large space to grow and lot of care has to taken while growing these plants.

These plants can be grown in the bright sun but they should not be exposed to direct sunlight. The soil has to be quite dry or well drained to grow the English ivy and extra care has to be taken when growing them inside the house because they are poisonous.

5) The Parlor Ivy:

Parlor-ivy

Parlor Ivy

(Photo by mgonline)

The other name for Parlor Ivy is heartleaf Philodendron and the scientific name is Philodendron Scandens. They are very beautiful looking and also cleans the impure air inside the house. The leaves of these plants are heart shaped and dark green in color, that why they are names as heartleaf Philodendron. The leaves are so beautiful looking that they can captivate anyone looking at it.

These climbing plants are very easy to maintain and grow very easily. They filter the chemicals which are dangerous and unsafe inside the house and keep the air around fresh and clean to breathe.

6) The African Violets:

african-voilets

One of the most beautiful and lovely indoor plant are the African Violets. The scientific name for African violets is Saintpaulia. The Africa Violets have lovely violet flowers which make the plant look very attractive and appealing to the eye. This plant makes the house look pleasing and fresh also.

To grow this beautiful plant, a leaf cutting will do. They are available in many colors, sizes and shapes. They require only a certain amount of light and heat. These plants tend to get infected by the scale like plant eating insects called the pathetic mealy bugs, so great care has to be taken.

7) The Christmas cactus:

Christmas-Cactus

Christmas cactus

(Photo by bombippy)

This plant blossoms during Christmas, and is considered a Christmas gift. This plant doesn’t resemble the Christmas tree or a cactus.

The silky flowers blossom in different colors pink, violet, red, orange and purplish red. The leaves are sharp and look pointed and lobed. The Christmas cactus requires good light and water to survive. It has a Y shape cutting which makes it look beautiful and attractive also.

8) The Yellow Goddess:

the-yellow-goddess

The yellow flower which is found in the plant makes the plant look so attractive that we feel that it is blessed by the Goddess of the color yellow. The name is so significantly give to this plant.

The flower is shaped like a trumpet and the base of the flower is green in color, they look so striking that we feel like gazing at them. The size of the flower varies from very small to large ones according to the different hybrid.

After planting this plant, within six to seven weeks we can find the growth which looks like a beautiful bulb shape. This plant requires light but not the sunlight direct from the sun. This plant looks very attractive in the house because it looks very small but the lovely yellow flowers grow quite large.

9) The Garlic vine:

Mansoa-alliacea

The scientific name given to this plant is Mansoa alliacea. The specialty of this plant is that the leaves and the flowers when crushed give out a smell of the garlic and the onion. People who love onion and garlic can grow them.

This plant has got medicinal values. The garlic also consists of medicinal values to cure many health issues. The flowers, root and the leaves can be treated for many ailments like cold, sore throat, fever and breathing problems.

There is a myth among people that it is a good luck plant and sends away all the bad luck from the house. The flowers are bell shaped and lavender colored. The garlic vine is a plant which has good medicinal values and purifies the air around the house also.

10) The Peace Lily:

the-peace-lily

The peace lily

(Photo by movingtoanapartment)

The name given to this plant is very suitable because they have stunning white flowers. The color white is always considered as the color of peace and harmony. The scientific name of this plant is Spathiphyllum. The beautiful flower surrounds the axis and is round in shape.

The plant grows very easily and they have flowers which grow from the bottom of the plant which makes the plant look more beautiful. The flowers feel smooth and leathery.

This plant requires temperate or low light to grow well. The soil has to be wet or dampish and direct sunlight can be avoided to save the plant from sunburns. Another quality of this plant is that it removes the dangerous effects of toluene, xylene and benzene. These are easily found in the nail polish removers, paints used at home, solvent solutions and adhesives which we frequently used harmful things. These harmful pollutants are removed when we plant the Peace Lily at our houses to improve our health.

To retain the freshness and healthy environment, any of these ten plants can be bought and planted.

Read more!

Thursday, October 15, 2009

How to Grow Bonsai Trees : How to Make your Own Bonsai : Bonsai Lessons for Beginners

Just getting started in bonsai? This video with tips for beginners will help you learn how to grow bonsai trees.


Expert: Mike Hansen

Bio: Mike Hansen, owner of Midwest Bonsai, has been growing, caring, selling, and instructing others in bonsai care for years. Mike is an expert bonsai master.

Duration : 0:3:35


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can you grow a bonsai tree from another bonsai?

ok i have a bonsai tree but i would like to make a second one. its a ficus and i have had it for almost a year now so its about 4 years old but i dont know if it is possible to make a second tree with it. if you could help then please do. thanks!

You can propagate trees into bonsais either from standard or previously bonsaid trees, though you’ll likely have more vegetative growth from a plant like a Ficus that is not previously bonsaid. That said, many Ficus are fairly easy to propagate, usually I find the air layering technique to be the most succesful. Choose a reasonably mature piece of stem, either the previous year’s growth, or current years that’s a few months old. This involves making a cut an inch or so long on part of the stem, just lifting up some of the surface bark – it doesn’t need to be totally removed from the plant, though can be lifted, using something to keep it from sealing back up, like a little match stalk etc. You then start surrounding this part of the stem with something like sphagnum moss, and enclosing this by using some string tied around it. Adding some hormone rooting gel or powder will encourage rooting, before you cover it with moss.

Keep the sphagnum moist, enclosing within a tied down pieve of plastic, and you should start to see roots forming into it, from the Ficus stem. If the moss is too wet, it can cause some rotting, so beware of this.

When there is a good root system that’s formed, you can cut this piece of your plant away from the parent, using a sterilized knife, just below the area that is wanted, and immediately above your parent plant’s leaf buds, where it will subsequently grow shoots from.

Keep your new cutting enclosed in a polythene/plastic cover, to help preserve humidity levels, and plant into a well draining potting soil. Once more fully rooted, it can be fertilised, and managed as you would your other bonsai.

Otherwise you can propagate Ficus from seeds, produced by plants that flower and are pollinated – your current plant may not be at this stage at its current age. It doesn’t matter if the seed comes from a currently bonsaid plant or not, its genetic material will be the same, and it will grow according to the prevailing conditions.

Hope this helps.

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Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Garden for the Elderly

A garden for the elderly should seek to help to compensate for some of the problems that arrive as we get older, from lack of energy and mobility, to failing eyesight. With wide, paved areas, the garden uses a range of materials, and has a pergola, raised beds and a raised pool. The pond and many of the beds are edged with seating so that they can be enjoyed from close at hand. A bird bath, bird table and the inclusion of plants to attract bees and butterflies bring nature to the garden.

garden for the elderly

The things you should consider for a garden designed for elderly are mobility – a problem for some of those for whom the garden was designed; eye-sight may be poor for some garden users; and scent is particularly important for older people.

Wide paths provide access for wheel chairs and for people to walk side-by side. Gentle slopes rather than steps. There should also be lots of seating in both sun and shade.

Using strong and contrasting colors helps to overcome the problem older eyes have in adjusting to a move from an area of light to one in the shade.

When eye-sight or hearing is reduced, flowers which give off scent provide a lot of pleasure.

The paving was picked for its non slip and non-reflective properties. Changes in colour and materials arc used to herald clearly, for she less

well-sighted, that they are entering a new area. Seating surfaces in dark green are made from a recycled polystyrene waste material which is warm to the touch and relatively maintenance free. It does not absorb seater no can be quickly dried after rain.

The pergola provides a frame for climbers, and shade for the seating area below, from which the scent of the climbers can be enjoyed.

Raised beds and the raised pond bring the pleasures of plants and water up to a more accessible level to those walking, sitting or in wheel-chairs

Apart from providing a number of specimen plants with decorative leaf-shapes and autumn color, Barbara picked plants for their aromatic leaves or fragrant flowers. She chose bright colors that could be seen clearly by those with poorer sight. Orange and yellow have been used extensively. often side-by-side for vivid contrast

A mix of leaf and flower shapes and, colors allows each plant to be defined against the other. The silver leaves of a Eucalyptus gunnii overhang the pale yellow flowers of Achillea ‘Moonshine’.

The bright sunny colors of black-eyed Susan, Rudbeclsia fulgida, the yellow flowers of the lily ‘Connecticut King’ and bright orange marigolds also show up strongly against a green background.

Flowers in tones of a single color work well in a container. Here the small, soft pink flowers of Nemesia Carnival Series rise above the rim while the pendent deep pink flowers of the climbing Rhodochiton appear around the edges and trail clown to the ground

In these raised beds Barbara has used the two colors most easily seen by older eyes. The bright orange flowers of Rudbechia ‘Marmalade’ are elevated to eye-level creating a strong contrast against the paler yellow daisy-likeheads of the Argyranthemum ‘Jamaica Primrose’.

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