We are regularly considering the design and development of our trees. We ask ourselves if the branches are well placed, is the foliage healthy, have we got a good surface root structure and so on ? We tend to forget that these features of our trees can only be developed and improved on if the trees are in a good growing medium. It is through this medium that feeding roots multiply and are able to take up the nourishment that we give them, albeit sometimes irregularly.

Reg Bolton visited us to give us the benefit of his thirty years of bonsai growing experience. He has visited Japan on three occasions in his search for knowledge and admitted that much of his present day practices arise from learning from his past mistakes. He set out to remove some of the mystique of bonsai because as he put it "It`s all common sense really !" Showing an English elm as an example of bonsai care and attention he commented that left alone in it`s native environment the tree would probably die from Dutch elm disease but kept in the so-called foreign environment of a bonsai pot and well looked after, it would remain alive.

Growing medium recipes from bonsai books had many variations generally involving John Innes No2, grit and peat. Reg had grown his first maple in such a mixture and it had grown poorly. When transferred some years later to pure Akadama it grew vigorously. JI2 was no longer a reliable mixture. The original formula was not always adhered to and the source of the ingredients was often dubious. Peat could be a liability in a wet season becoming saturated and then waterlogged.

Experience had taught Reg to move on. Akadama provided a growing medium entirely under the control of the grower. Many bonsai enthusiasts were deterred from using Akadama by it`s early reputation of forming into a solid mass and that it was expensive. Reg considered that Akadama as a growing medium should now be considered as the first choice. Supplies of Akadama coming from Japan were of an improved quality and the price had reduced. When buying Akadama care should be taken to buy the grade that has two red bars on the pack.

Reg recommended always sieving using three sieve meshes. The course particles could be used as the bottom drainage layer, the medium particles would form the growing layer whilst the fine particles could be used as a cosmetic top dressing or for small trees. Any remaining dust was not wasted as it could be used in the mix for rock plantings. A glass jar was displayed showing the resulting layers. Using this layering technique provided a open mix resulting in considerable root growth. and the improved development of trees. Two other Japanese soils can be used Kiriu and Kanuma. For growing pines or junipers Reg mixed 30% Kiriu with the Akadama. Azaleas need an acid soil and Reg`s technique was to wash the roots to remove all soil and then repot into Kanuma giving a dose of a sequestered compound twice a year. Chopped sphagnum moss mixed into the top dressing helps to retain moisture. As root growth responds to temperature stability clay or ceramic pots are better than plastic bonsai pots. During winters such as the last one waterlogged soils can be avoided by tilting the pots to improve drainage.

Akadama can be reused after sieving and sterilising. Reg described his home made steriliser where he passed the steam output from a wallpaper stripper through a connection into the bottom of a plastic bucket.

Reg avoided using any chemical based feeds. For an organic feed he used "Maxicrop complete garden feed (555)" every Saturday or Sunday and "Chempak Fish Emulsion (522)" every Wednesday using a cap full to every gallon. Rape seed cake can be used by drilling and fixing into position with a wire peg. Reg recommended a fine watering rose for applying feed to the soil. "Maxicrop Seaweed rootgrowth stimulant" can be used immediately after repotting as it does not scorch the roots. This feed can be used to soak roots before potting. Feeding started when the buds swell and stopped when the leaves changed colour.

Watering was very important. Carrying it out last thing at night ensured that absorption was high when it was cool. Early morning watering could be used if the forecast was for a hot day. A small tray of Hortag granules could be useful to provide a suitable humid environment for small or temperature sensitive trees. Pines should be allowed to dry out between watering. Reg sprayed his trees with lime sulphur solution as a winter preparation.

The evening was a reminder to members that paying attention to the growing medium provided trees with a good start and with subsequent regular care and attention we could achieve the improved development that we are always seeking.

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Greenwood Gardens Trip
By Mick

Fifteen members of our Society travelled to the Greenwood Bonsai Studio in Nottingham, on Sunday 25th March 2001, for an "All-day workshop". We met at seven o'clock in the carpark of the Lightwater Leisure Centre, on the day that the clocks went forward one hour. This meant that in old time we had to get up at about four in the morning on a day that should have heralded the start of summer. It was cold and overcast.

Trevor, who had organised it, drove the sixteen-seat minibus very enthusiastically along the M3, M25, and M1 such that we arrived just before ten o'clock, even after stopping for fifteen minutes at a service station to "stretch our legs". Despite the bitterly cold easterly wind, we were greeted very warmly by the Tomlinsons, Harry and Corin at the gate and Petra a little later. The coffee pot was hot and ready waiting for us in the workshop.

After a brief explanation of the various alternatives available for the days work, Corin then lead the group around the display benches in the gardens for us to choose trees to work on. The choices were a "Japanese Deshojo Maple", a "Heavy trunk Large Chinese Juniper", a "Group / Slab Planting", a "Hinoki Cyprus" and a "Snake Bark Maple", for various prices ranging from £30 to £65. For the more adventurous there were also some VERY large "Dwarf Japanese Cryptomeria" (dwarf meaning compact, not size) and a three tree "Japanese White Pine Landscape" for £120 and £70 respectively.
My choice was for a three tree "Western Hemlock" (Tsuga Heterophylla) in a matt brown oval dish with all potting compost, wire, coffee, instruction and advice for £35. Whilst Harry and Corin were most attentive and gave us their undivided attention we did most of the work. Later I also selected a young grafted Japanese White Pine For £10, on which I started the basic wiring in preparation for future work at home.

In the afternoon Petra Engelke Tomlinson showed us around her Pottery Studio and explained her ceramic techniques. Harry and Petra also showed us around their own superb collection of Bonsai displayed in a heavily fortified corral.

The journey home took longer because of stop-go traffic, and in part I guess because of the added weight of our trees. Certainly there was a lot less legroom on the return. However, in spite of the cold, it was a tremendous day out and whenever I look at these additions to my bonsai collection I will remember the day we ventured north. Greenwood Gardens is well worth a visit.
Our thanks go to Trevor (who must have been knackered by the time HE got home) for organising it, and to Harry, Corin, and Petra for their expertise and hospitality.

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Next Meeting. 12th June 2001

"Creating & Displaying Mame"
Gillian Taylor-Duxbury

An authority on miniature trees
Bring yours along!