bonsai help
 

hi all.

i know it would be logical to post this in the bonsai forum, but no one has posted there in 2days, and i need help as hastily as possible if anyone can!

my bonsai tree is in rather poor condition. the leaves, which seemed fine yesterday, look slightly withered now, and roots are growing out the top of the compost. a lot of roots! i think it definitely needs its roots pruning, but i have no idea how to do this! i have bonsai compost and specialist food, but dont know how to start! any advice or tips are appreciated, really dont want it to die-it doesnt look fancy, more like a small british hedge! but i do like it!

thanks!

danny :D

bonsai help
 

"danny22" wrote in message
...

hi all.

i know it would be logical to post this in the bonsai forum, but no one
has posted there in 2days, and i need help as hastily as possible if
anyone can!

my bonsai tree is in rather poor condition. the leaves, which seemed
fine yesterday, look slightly withered now, and roots are growing out
the top of the compost. a lot of roots! i think it definitely needs
its roots pruning, but i have no idea how to do this! i have bonsai
compost and specialist food, but dont know how to start! any advice or
tips are appreciated, really dont want it to die-it doesnt look fancy,
more like a small british hedge! but i do like it!

thanks!
danny :D

Option one : take it to a specialist shop (where you bought it ?) They will
give advice or do it for you

Option two Google is your friend :~) http://www.helpfulgardener.com/bonsai/

Jenny

bonsai help
 

On 22/2/08 22:54, in article , "danny22"
wrote:


hi all.

i know it would be logical to post this in the bonsai forum, but no one
has posted there in 2days, and i need help as hastily as possible if
anyone can!

my bonsai tree is in rather poor condition. the leaves, which seemed
fine yesterday, look slightly withered now, and roots are growing out
the top of the compost. a lot of roots! i think it definitely needs
its roots pruning, but i have no idea how to do this! i have bonsai
compost and specialist food, but dont know how to start! any advice or
tips are appreciated, really dont want it to die-it doesnt look fancy,
more like a small british hedge! but i do like it!


Danny, you do seem to be buying plants without any idea of how to look after
them! This is expensive for you and hard on the plants. I do advise you
most earnestly to *ask* about after-care before you buy in future. Either
ask someone who really knows, at the place you're buying from, or here but
before you buy.
As to your Bonsai tree, I know that they're not easy to maintain but I know,
too, that a lot of people make the mistake of treating them as houseplants
and keeping them indoors permanently. They're real trees and as such, need
to be kept outdoors in the conditions they would enjoy normally. I suggest
you search the internet to see if there's a Bonsai society or expert in your
area and that you then enlist their help.
--
Sacha
http://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
children.'

bonsai help
 

On 23 Feb, 10:45, Sacha wrote:
On 22/2/08 22:54, in article , "danny22"





wrote:

hi all.

i know it would be logical to post this in the bonsai forum, but no one
has posted there in 2days, and i need help as hastily as possible if
anyone can!

my bonsai tree is in rather poor condition. *the leaves, which seemed
fine yesterday, look slightly withered now, and roots are growing out
the top of the compost. a lot of roots! *i think it definitely needs
its roots pruning, but i have no idea how to do this! *i have bonsai
compost and specialist food, but dont know how to start! *any advice or
tips are appreciated, really dont want it to die-it doesnt look fancy,
more like a small british hedge! but i do like it!

Danny, you do seem to be buying plants without any idea of how to look after
them! *This is expensive for you and hard on the plants. I do advise you
most earnestly to *ask* about after-care before you buy in future. *Either
ask someone who really knows, at the place you're buying from, or here but
before you buy.
As to your Bonsai tree, I know that they're not easy to maintain but I know,
too, that a lot of people make the mistake of treating them as houseplants
and keeping them indoors permanently. *They're real trees and as such, need
to be kept outdoors in the conditions they would enjoy normally. *I suggest
you search the internet to see if there's a Bonsai society or expert in your
area and that you then enlist their help.
--
Sachahttp://www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our
children.'- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

As Sacha says they are trees or shrubs and should be given the growing
conditions they would get normaly, but not all are hardy outside in
the UK,
Quite a few varieties that are sold as Bonsi by the "Sheds" are not
frost hardy.
I would advise you to have a look in your local library at the books
on growing/keeping Bonsi they will have some and they will have plenty
of pictures showing you what to do and what tools you ned to use.
When you find a realy good book then go out and buy it for future use.
If the leaves are crisping then probably your tree has dried out at
some stage in the last week or so.
On my computer I have a great tool known as Google which is a great
wat to find information quickly, you just have to ask the right
question.
It took me less than 3 mins to find this site
http://www.bonsai4me.com/Basics/Basics_Repotting1.html
You will find part 2 shows you what to do.
David Hill
Abacus Nurseries

bonsai help
 

On Fri, 22 Feb 2008 22:54:01 +0000, danny22
wrote:


hi all.

i know it would be logical to post this in the bonsai forum, but no one
has posted there in 2days, and i need help as hastily as possible if
anyone can!

my bonsai tree is in rather poor condition. the leaves, which seemed
fine yesterday, look slightly withered now, and roots are growing out
the top of the compost. a lot of roots! i think it definitely needs
its roots pruning, but i have no idea how to do this! i have bonsai
compost and specialist food, but dont know how to start! any advice or
tips are appreciated, really dont want it to die-it doesnt look fancy,
more like a small british hedge! but i do like it!

thanks!

danny :D

Hi Danny
Can you tell us...
a. What variety of tree it is.
b. Whether it is an indoor or outdoor tree.
c. What height it is.
d. What diameter the pot is.

In the meantime it would not hurt to repot it as it is, in a bigger
pot, without disturbing the roots. Just take it ouf of the pot it's
in and put it in a shallow tray or pot, with enough soil to cover
those escaping roots.
Try spraying the foliage with water if you can. If you are in any
doubt about whether it should be in or outdoors, keep it in the
coolest place inside that you have, which is frost-free.
Nobody can give you proper advice without the answers to a. and b.
above.
Can you take it back to where you bought it. If they are any good
they should give you the best advice.

Pam in Bristol

Now is the time to deal with the rooting system. It does sound as if it is rather pot bound so it does need to be repotted.
1 remove from pot.
2 remove as mush soil as possible from the roots by washing with a fine jet of water and combing out some of the roots.
3 cut away about 1/3 of the roots all the way around the plant. If they are very long they can be shortened to refit within the same pot.
4 potting compost. Unless you want to specialise in growing bonsai, I suggest that you get a small bag of potting compost and some sharp sand. For every 2 scoops of compost add 1 scoop of sharp sand. Thoroughly mix and use this for repotting the tree.
5 gently water to make sure that the compost gets right into the rooting system.
6 GOOD LUCK