KingJades
Shohin
I have a question that seems pretty basic, but has puzzled me for a little bit. How do the individuals with a large collection of highly refined trees travel or be away from their trees for extended periods of time, for example of week of travel or weekends away for shows/exhibitions?
While working my apprenticeship at the US National Bonsai and Penjing Museum, I became accustomed to watering trees of this caliber and refinement level multiple times a day, depending on a wide range of conditions. The bigger focus was not how often I was actually watering, but the consistency in checking the trees to ensure that water was being delivered at the appropriate times. Sometimes the trees were still a little wet on the first check of the day, but I knew that the tree would be ready in about an hour. I would sweep back in an hour and then water that tree. As an employee there full time, I was basically at the tree's mercy on maintaining correct care and would change my work schedule around to accommodate longer or shorter time lengths between watering to maintain optimal care. On days I had off, another person would cover the trees and ensure great watering, catered to each tree's needs.
The best way to maintain trees at this level is probably to have someone overseeing the collection and watering as needed based on the conditions of that day. Are people maintaining collections of that level typically having someone essentially be on-site all day maintaining proper care while they are away?
I understand how it works with collections that maintain full-time staff or nurseries with employees, but how are some of the ways that it is working for someone who travels once a month or so and doesn't have employees that be readily tapped?
I would tag people with collections of that level, but I hope this just magically finds its way to them!
While working my apprenticeship at the US National Bonsai and Penjing Museum, I became accustomed to watering trees of this caliber and refinement level multiple times a day, depending on a wide range of conditions. The bigger focus was not how often I was actually watering, but the consistency in checking the trees to ensure that water was being delivered at the appropriate times. Sometimes the trees were still a little wet on the first check of the day, but I knew that the tree would be ready in about an hour. I would sweep back in an hour and then water that tree. As an employee there full time, I was basically at the tree's mercy on maintaining correct care and would change my work schedule around to accommodate longer or shorter time lengths between watering to maintain optimal care. On days I had off, another person would cover the trees and ensure great watering, catered to each tree's needs.
The best way to maintain trees at this level is probably to have someone overseeing the collection and watering as needed based on the conditions of that day. Are people maintaining collections of that level typically having someone essentially be on-site all day maintaining proper care while they are away?
I understand how it works with collections that maintain full-time staff or nurseries with employees, but how are some of the ways that it is working for someone who travels once a month or so and doesn't have employees that be readily tapped?
I would tag people with collections of that level, but I hope this just magically finds its way to them!
Last edited: