Recent content by xray360

You can use an organic/aggregate based mix. That will hold the most water, but you still want it open and draining. If you squeeze the soil when wet, it shouldn't clump together. You may not be able to go a week without watering in the summer, but setting up a portable sprinkler on a timer...

Try testing the pH of the water draining out of the hole after watering. Turface is usually acidic therefore it might not be a pH problem. I think it may be related to the fertilizer. Did it happen after switching to 15-30-15? I'd try using osmocote plus slow release which is sold at...

What fertilizer are you using for the tree?

Nursery trees use a good amount of pine bark with peat, and sand mostly. Drainage is important with most trees, and evergreens. Nursery mixes drain well when fresh but after a couple years they'll break down and stay too wet. By that time though the tree roots usually fill up the pot. General...

I had the same problem last year. Almost all the leafs were burnt on my maples. A book said not to get the leafs wet when you water. After following this they are much better. My deck gets up to 90+ degrees some days too. Try to avoid getting them wet during sunny days.

Looking forward to seeing how this comes out. It has a good trunk with a nice bend.

Yes this is helpful. I'm going to stop pinching this year. I did want to get some light into the branches which is why I pinched and pruned some of the unwanted growth such as under growth and growth growing up. I have been looking at points to cut back the lower branches. If available would...

Alright. I did think about that. I pictured something like this. The only thing is I have a jin, and if I did cut that top, there would be a hole at the top until it filled in. My plan is to let the top round off by pinching and shaping through time. I like the height it is. I thought about...

Yes I think I know what part you mean. If you could circle it in paint that would help. I would like to have a nice round top, but I do not think there is enough foliage coming out width wise to shape it yet. I think I would end up with a loly pop/pom pom top. The top still needs to be styled...

Thanks rob!

Update Summer 2014 Here is how the tree is shaping up. I only did some pinching and maintenance on the branch wiring this year. Check first post for when I first got the hinoki. That's Leo my sisters Yorkie staying with us for the summer. He doesn't like photos.

Wow. This tree really transformed into a more elegant shape. I have to check your older picture but I remember it was more strict with the left right left right foliage, now it's got some nice movement.

Impressive progress. Really shows the importance of getting good material with an interesting trunk.

Air layers removed. At the end of last summer I removed the air layer and hard pruned it. Here is the parent tree (in bonsai training pot) and air layer (clay flower pot) in the spring.

I don't have much experience with this but there is an article on bonsai4me that says you can repot them during the humid days in august. I did it with one of my junipers and it's still alive. The top looks very healthy still. When did you add the dead wood?