Recent content by darrellw

Here is the link: http://www.bonsai4me.com/Basics/Basicscatlitter.htm

While I'm pretty sure you could be careful enough in applying Roundup to avoid damaging your tree (you have to get it on the foliage), I've found it pretty ineffective at killing it in my yard.

Yes, I sift. I mostly use recycled substrate for "pre-bonsai" stock (save the soil from repotting of more established trees, sift out the fines).

I've not used them myself, but know a local guy who does. He got the extra bottoms from where ever he got the pots. It was a local distributor, if I recall correctly.

I think they are all just different ways to achieve the same end. One nice think about the RootBuilder II is that you can unwrap the side piece when repotting, so you don't damage the roots. Also, if you go that way, see if you can get an extra base for each pot, then cut the side in half...

Is it shiny because it is covered in ice?

Hi Brian, Do you put the small wire alongside the thicker wire, or is it between the turns of the thicker wire? Hope that makes sense! -Darrell

Does the soil they are in now drain OK? The best thing to do would be careful with how wet they get this winter, and repot at the proper time in the spring. But if that isn't possible, or the soil is really, really bad, you might consider removing them from the pots, disturbing the roots as...

No, maybe this winter, but "life" seems to be keeping me plenty busy! Yes, the light yellow ones look off-white to me. -Darrell

Nice colors and shapes. I'm particularly fond of #2 and #4.

Does grafting white pine onto black pine roots help it grow well in warmer climates?

Yep, in the right conditions it grows like a weed. My parent's old house in Redding backed up to a ravine that was full of the stuff.

In my experience, San Jose will bulk up the trunk faster that Shimpaku or Procumbens. But unless you then graft new foliage, you have to deal with San Jose's tendency to have juvenile (needle) and scale foliage at the same time.

San Jose (Juniperus chinensis 'San Jose') Procumbens (Juniperus procumbens) Shimpaku (Juniperus chinensis 'Shimpaku')

Looking good! As always, your photos are superb. Can you share a bit about your set up (in particular, what you do for lighting)?