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Aloha and welcome to the fifth issue! This year the weather
was erratic and due to the weather (or customer requests)
we finally sent out all remaining plants that we had held
back. I am very pleased to report safe arrival of ALL
plants with many compliments on the quality of the plants
and our packing methods! Mahalo!
As we move into early summer, some of the northern states
can take their plants out during the day for superior growth outdoors while those
growing indoors near windows with supplemental lights notice
better seasonal growth. Journal contributing editor Jerry
Meislik continues with an essay on "defoliation" training techniques.
For this to be effective, the trees must be growing
strongly and we encourage everyone to try to get as good
growth as possible and to email for help early when plants
don't look well.
There is a growing appreciation of Dwarf Schefflera True
Indoor Bonsai with more interest by those who grow them alongside their outdoor bonsai when weather permits.
There seems to be more interest in growing small size bonsai
and greater interest and success in the more difficult but
attractive "1:10 Project" which uses shallow
saucer-pots that are ten times wider than they are deep.
Two years ago, as interest in training started increasing,
two 4LL8 Sumo and Roots were early "Intermediate Workshop
II" to up-pot them into 8" diameter x 2" deep pots. 4LL8
items are general results a year or so after completing the
Introductory Workshop Package. So "Workshop II" allows
customers who don't want to wait the year or so to
experience the next level of training and I am very pleased
that customers are successful. The plants were three to five
years old when we began.
But the 4LL8 Hawaiian Dragon was shifted into a 9" shallow
"1:10" saucer-pot that utilized our most advanced "wire
armature" technique. The strategy was to create larger
bonsai, but of the highest possible quality with very little
attention and maximum grow-out. The report begins at
www.fukubonsai.com/1a6k.html that shows the
development after two years. All three trees were are moved
into 12" diameter x 1 1/4" deep 1:10 Project saucer-pots.
Fast-track study group member Russ Mann (Montana) who
breezed through the three Introductory Workshop Packages,
had a month to bone-up on all written website materials
while we prepared our first 9" Premium 1:10 Conversion Kit
prototypes. Initially he had a hard time producing a
sketch to show he understood the concepts, but once he did,
we addressed the various challenges separately, and after he
understood the entire picture, he did a very
impressive report that will likely be the most detailed
explanation of 1:10 Sumo procedures!
Other fast-track study group member Ryan Chang (Hawaii) is
building a varied collection with more and larger
bonsai that will be grown outdoors throughout the year.
He's running humidity trials, setting up sifting
screens, and putting together potting media formulations as
he has access to similar bulk materials. He's
developing and documenting a folder for each of his trees
and shares the story and plans for one. Judging from
the creativity given to each tree, I have no doubt
that he will one day end up with one of the most varied
self-trained collections!
We welcome Travis Fargher of Long Beach, California as a
Journal contributing writer. Most traditional
temperate climate outdoor bonsai will not grow well in Long
Beach or Hawaii as its just too warm. So in warmer parts
of the country, Tropical and True Indoor Bonsai make a lot
of sense to grow outdoors whenever night temperatures are
above 55°F and brought in and protected indoors when night
temperatures are colder. Travis brings both indoor and
outdoor bonsai experience and both large and small bonsai.
He took on as his first challenge a similar 1:10 Sumo and he
sailed through it and made it seem easy. He's lining
up projects that have a higher degree of difficulty and will
share one per month.
TROPICAL BONSAI HAVE UNIQUE
ROOT SYSTEMS and other traits that make them very different
from traditional temperate climate outdoor bonsai. They
grow a lot faster and can grow anywhere in the United States
as indoors are generally kept between 60°F and 80°F with
either heating or air conditioning. At Fuku-Bonsai
they grow outdoors year around because our natural
temperature range is about 55°F to 85°F so our plants can be
grown outdoors when night temperatures are above 55°F.
Some customers place them outside during warm days and bring
them in when lower night temperatures are expected. So I'm delighted
that Ryan, Travis and others who have experience with traditional
outdoor bonsai are exploring the training of tropical forms
of bonsai!
TRUE INDOOR BONSAI is destined to become the most popular
American bonsai that can be grown successfully by anyone,
anywhere who can grow houseplants. While most will
enjoy one or two bonsai and happy to maintain and enjoy
them, I hope they enjoy reading how True Indoor Bonsai
are trained. They make great gifts. We produce
the highest quality available and are happy to assist.
We want to
create True Indoor Bonsai teachers in every state and region
and to supply them with Introductory Workshop Packages with
quantity discounts and teaching aids. We are also beginning
to expand our product lines and will be accepting a few
additional Fuku-Bonsai Authorized Retailer and invite
inquiries if interested.
E KOMO MAI . . .
come discover the serenity of nature, the beauty of bonsai,
and the spirit of Hawaii! |
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