Recent content by HB Smith

Wow. Really enjoy responding to your posts. You must be very knowledgeable.

Nice work with what you have. These trees as is can be a good beginning, but to take them to the next level you have to make a big cut above the first curve and regrow the upper trunk to develop some taper. Can also ground layer to improve the nebari (thinking of the elm). Be cautious when...

If we are comparing specific varieties of the same species within an identical environment you are correct. But Al, if I understand correctly, is referring to a specific genotype's response to differing environments. Temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizer, pot size, water (quality and...

Cakes are a lot easier to remove after decandling a pine as well as getting rid of during a top soil change as opposed to being washed deeper in the pot.

Who said you were invited?

Because you can more quickly create a $200 dollar tree. In regards to 'cutting' Akadama, you have to. I swear by the stuff but would NEVER use it straight. It would be like trying to grow in straight pine bark. I use it at a 33% concentration in my conifers and a 50% concentration in all...

Thank you for the kind words! Howard

From the real BonsaiSmiths I am Howard Smith; my wife is Sylvia Smith and we OWN a business called BonsaiSmiths. We are located in Dallas. We NEVER gave anybody including Brussel, permission to sell anything, anywhere including ebay under our name. I plan on talking to whoever is selling...

Our bonsai in the US never succumb to these maladies. British bonsai must have a piss poor Constitution.

Its a different way to put together a three point display with the main tree in the middle, the second tree with the same flow moving toward the main tree and the companion. The two trees (the main tree plus stand being the tallest) are usually conifer and deciduous of different sizes but close...

How about this one just up on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1390070&id=1438210901

Passive Aggressive (adj.) Of, relating to, or having a personality disorder characterized by habitual passive resistance to demands for adequate performance in occupational or social situations, as by procrastination, stubbornness, sullenness, and inefficiency. Passive aggressive behavior...

Buying finished trees gives the bonsai Jedi food and shelter. It's when you are doing a demo and push the tree too far for the sake of the demo that you have begun your journey to the dark side. Howard

FourMileMarc, Are you saying that if you put a good bonsai beside a bad bonsai you could not tell the difference? Should we eliminate judging from all competitive but less objective events? Let see... ice skating, diving, gymnastics, dancing? The Olympics would be pretty dull in my opinion...