Walter Pall's new book.

[Vance Wood]

I have not written anything in the book other than a foreword. The author has purchased a real lot of my old photographs from a photo stock co0mpany. Therefore it is a Walter Pall picture book.
I have carefully studied the text. I am in full agreement with about 50 % of the statements, in somewhat agreement with 30 % and not in agreement with about 20 % of the staements.
The book is an eye opener for every seasoned bonsai person. Fundamentalists should avoid it as they only will get very angry. I can only recommend this for every serious advancef bonsai person with an open mind. You don't have to accept everything in the book. But it will make you think.
I will be in the USA in four weeks. I will have a few copies of the book with me for sale. If you want it I can sign it.

I would love that. Where will you be and how much do I have to mortgage the house for to pay for it (Just joking)? But I do want the book.

 

[Walter Pall]

I will be at Nature's Way Nursery in Harrisburg from September 30 to October 2, in Boulder, Colo from October 4 to 5 and at Hidden Gardens near Chicago from October 7 to 9. The book will be priced like at Amazon.

 

[Vance Wood]

I will be at Nature's Way Nursery in Harrisburg from September 30 to October 2, in Boulder, Colo from October 4 to 5 and at Hidden Gardens near Chicago from October 7 to 9. The book will be priced like at Amazon.

Thank You. I might be able to meet you in Harrisburg. We are planing a trip to Philidelphia in September.

 

[armetisius]

I only got it yesterday and have torn through it. To put it simply:
I am not impressed.

 

[Waldo Street Pottery]

Meh.....bought a @hometeamrocker pot instead....heheheee....
View attachment 115902

Thanks for everyone's input....hehehee......

Thanks Lance, you rock! Now I can go buy Walter's book! Walter, how can I get one of my pots under one of your trees?!? #seriousquestion

 

[Walter Pall]

Thanks Lance, you rock! Now I can go buy Walter's book! Walter, how can I get one of my pots under one of your trees?!? #seriousquestion

If yu absolutely want to, send the pot to Nature's Way Nursery and I will get it there to bring it back to Germany in my hand luggage.

 

[coh]

I only got it yesterday and have torn through it. To put it simply:
I am not impressed.

Thanks for the thorough review Can you expand on this a bit?

Serious question - just who is Larry Morton, and does he even do bonsai? I've never heard of him before, and some quick web searching only reveals links related to this book. It's like he didn't exist before writing it.

 

[Paradox]

Walter, how can I get one of my pots under one of your trees?!? #seriousquestion

Make sure you send him a big pot.

 

[rockm]

http://weetrees.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=15321

 

[Starfox]

Done, reading that link and coupled with this thread convinced me to order it now.
Hopefully it will actually be delivered to my address not like the wetting agent I just received that some neighbour from a street I have never heard of brought around the other night as the delivery guy gave it to her.

 

[0soyoung]

does he even do bonsai?

What part of this do you not understand?

BS Ornamental Horticulture . Former owner of Landscape Consultants, Inc., and Preferred Trees Nursery. Larry Morton provides seasoned, proven professional advice on how you can care for your miniature trees.

I read the excerpt available on Amazon and was quite taken by the idea of measuring soil/root temps with a meat thermometer.
I also noted a typo: It is correctly stated that roots die at temperatures of 42C or more, which is 117F, not 170 as printed.

It looks like a very worthwhile book to me, even though it doesn't seem to present anything that cannot be found in open-access scholarly papers. The difference, IMHO, is two to three years of searching, reading, and note taking versus $60 and a leisurely, enjoyable read without having to cull through all the deep sciencey verbiage that ya'll likely don't relish.

 

[coh]

What part of this do you not understand?

Your snarky response is not helpful!

I'm trying to understand what his background is and how he is approaching this whole endeavor. Is he just basically regurgitating horticultural information and making assumptions about how it would apply to bonsai? Or has he actually worked enough with little trees to put this information into the proper perspective. Even Walter has said that he finds almost 50% of the information to be questionable or somewhat questionable, and we know his background.

 

[rockm]

Your snarky response is not helpful!

I'm trying to understand what his background is and how he is approaching this whole endeavor. Is he just basically regurgitating horticultural information and making assumptions about how it would apply to bonsai? Or has he actually worked enough with little trees to put this information into the proper perspective. Even Walter has said that he finds almost 50% of the information to be questionable or somewhat questionable, and we know his background.

He's done bonsai for a while and has done programs at clubs in the Carolinas
http://www.bonsaicarolina.org/2016-02 Newsletter (1).pdf

 

[armetisius]

I only got it yesterday and have torn through it. To put it simply:
I am not impressed.

I repeat -- I am not impressed.

Thanks for the thorough review Can you expand on this a bit? . . . who is Larry Morton, and does he even do bonsai? I've never heard of him before, and some quick web searching only reveals links related to this book. It's like he didn't exist before writing it.

Yes it is a quick read; yes it contains information on ornamental horticulture production.
And there is the rub. In all honesty it seems as though this book is a good set of lecture
notes on the subject that have been high lighted for the finals study session. There are no
footnotes; bibliography; sources cited; not even a curriculum vitae; merely statements.
Well arranged and progressive in the information level through each topic. But I abhor
"Take them or leave them." For the "challenged" among us I could see its use. Most every
point covered could be found on this board as stated above. Are there any Earth shattering
epiphanies? No. I spent a great deal of time in a state of mind that I'll call "duh big red truck".
Perhaps would be an excellent suggestion for all the newbe questioners. "Read this and call
me if he uses a word you don't understand."
2)
I don't know either.

 

[coh]

...There are no
footnotes; bibliography; sources cited; not even a curriculum vitae; merely statements.
Well arranged and progressive in the information level through each topic. But I abhor
"Take them or leave them."

Thanks - very insightful! It would be nice if there were some citations provided, so people could go back to the original source (if desired) for items that seen questionable.

 

[0soyoung]

Your snarky response is not helpful!

I'm trying to understand what his background is and how he is approaching this whole endeavor

He makes no claim/mention of 'doing bonsai'.

BS Ornamental Horticulture . Former owner of Landscape Consultants, Inc., and Preferred Trees Nursery. Larry Morton provides seasoned, proven professional advice on how you can care for your miniature trees.

We don't know when and where he got his BS in ornamental horticulture. When isn't too important as hes talking about stuff that was pretty well known by 1960.

I can only help if you can explain your confusion in slightly different terms. So, again, what do you not understand?

 

[Adair M]

I went to the UK bonsai site where they were discussing the book, and the topic of cut paste was discussed. Evidently the author is of the opinion that cut paste is not needed.

Oh, no... Not again! I fought that battle once!

 

[Vance Wood]

There is never an end to challenging traditional thought or in this case newly accepted thought.

 

[MichaelS]

Yeah!

Ha ha...You're a cracker!

 

[MichaelS]

Jesus, the post is ABOUT the book.

There's really no point is bitching about things you obviously have made up your mind about.

You seem only to post here to "correct" things you say are "wrong." I don't understand your logic. You criticize something you refuse to read and immediately discount because you don't agree or have a pre-formed idea set in concrete about your beliefs-- much like one of the fools here in the U.S. that protest the content of a movie, book, etc. without seeing it. It's an easy, lazy way to complain. You want context? read the book, for Chrissakes.

Ah Hallowww! This is a public forum....where people come on to discuss things.

If you don't want people to comment on your post like this below, or you are just looking for agreement, don't post it.

Sieving soil fines less than one eighth of an inch is necessary--NOT. Sieving soil hasn't been necessary for 50 years.

Always use Akadama--Nope, it's an unstable aggregate, high in finer clay particles that break down (unless it's the high fired stuff). It has no trace of organic material, but it isn't sterile as often claimed. It is used in Japan because of its aggregate structure, which can be replicated in the west with MANY different, less expensive and more suitable materials.

Organic fert cakes are da bomb--Not really. They Look fancy and they were the modern way to feed 50 years ago. Now they're just slow to work, ineffective overall and maggot magnets if you can keep the squirrels from stealing them.

Let tap water sit for a day to clear chlorine--Useless fear. If it's good enough for you to drink, it's good enough for bonsai. Chlorine is an essential element for plants and is required in relatively high amounts anyway.

Biostimulants, like vitamins, auxins, cytokinins and salicylic acids or other plant or animal extracts are beneficial. Uh-uh, nope...commonly available INDEPENDENT research haven't shown any support for the claims. I will quote here "Most biostimulant products independently tested were verified to have no beneficial effects on plant health. Testimonials don't count. Testimonials are advertisements...What works in field soil crops won't work in a bonsai substrate devoid of organic matter and microorganisms."

I asked you to post some examples and you did. What are we supposed to say after we read them, Nothing? or maybe ''Hmm interesting!''
JEZZUS! the reply is about what you say is in the book. I'm sorry I'm a bullshit hunter. My mission is to destroy bullshit wherever I see it. I do not want or need to buy or read the book. I already know what's in it thanks to you. Yes that's right, I'm bullshit man