9PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE:

Every meeting we are honored to have a handful of new members joining our club, so, this year we are going to deliver a Circus focusing on topics that will kickstart new members and educate them on key topics to get started in bonsai.

Our club raffle continues to help new members procure books and materials that are imperative to their development in bonsai. Experienced members will find custom items and prints that are truly invaluable to their collection. Please be generous and creative with your donations. The raffle money has helped us procure an adjustable work stand, club stamp and two sets of tools that will be used at our meetings and annual show.

We are always looking for presenters at our monthly meetings. If you have information you'd like to share, please step forward. It can be an article you found online to a story of how you discovered an all new fertilizer or online store that has benefited your collection. Thanks for reading.

Please be sure to bring in your annual dues ASAP. This year we are bringing in multiple speakers and need to provide for their travel and costs

Michael Corbeille / President 4seasonsbonsai@gmail.com 248 250 3602

The Bonsai Circus is one of our club’s most popular events. The Circus has

something for everyone at every level of bonsai experience. Beginners will find

plenty of information on the basics of bonsai, from how to choose a bonsai at

a greenhouse to finding a pot that compliments your tree. Long-time members

can find unique subjects like heavy wiring and styling techniques presented by

experienced bonsai artists. Several presenters will be giving demonstrations on

a variety of topics – all simultaneously!

Subjects this year include: advanced styling, soil and substrates, repotting,

watering, and rock plantings for Beginners.

Members and guests can jump from one presentation to the next. Each

demonstration will be completely interactive, and these presentations move

quickly to allow everyone to enjoy at least 4-6 unique demonstrations. The

presenter will allow time for questions during or after their presentation.

You will not believe how much content will be shared in just a few hours. We are

truly aiming to tackle as many subjects without rushing our presenters. If you

are looking for a subject to be covered, or would like to be a presenter. Please

email or call us immediately. As always, bring in a tree for advice from the club.

CLUB RAFFLE WILL BE HELD THIS MEETING. BRING AN ITEM.

MARCH 24TH AT BORDINES NURSERY 12:30 MEETING SET UP (PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY)

1:00 EVENT DISCUSSION AND BONSAI UPDATES

1:15 CIRCUS BEGINS

3:30 CIRCUS ENDS.

3:40 TREE REVIEW AND RAFFLE.

BONSAI CIRCUS IS BACK

FOUR SEASONS BONSAI CLUBof MICHIGAN

MARCH 24th 2019 www.fourseasonsbonsai.com

http://www.bonsaiempire.com/basics/bonsai-care/calendar

It is common sense to work on a tree at a time when it is possible to obtain the best result, while interfering as little as possible with the plant’s natural activity. Causing stress to a plant will slow down its process of development instead of speeding it up, so timing your work is important!

It is very important to work on vigorous plants. Weak plants respond badly, and their survival may be put at risk. To boost the strength of a plant that you want to work on, you need to apply fertilizer in the previous year: nearly all species absorb and store up nutrients in order to use them during the following growth season.

Within a given year, plants go through various phases:

1. Winter dormancy

2. Revival and flowering

3. Producing new growth and fruit

4. A short period of summer dormancy

5. Consolidation of the new growth

Preparation for the winter dormancy.

The start points and lengths of the phases are very much dependent on variations in the photoperiod (the relationship between the length of the daytime and of night) and climate, which can alter the periods of rest or activity. For example, if there are very high temperatures, above 32–35°C, that last for more than a very brief spell, this will slow down or inhibit photosynthesis: the plant will then go into a period of dormancy that will not end until normal conditions have been re-established.

These are only rough guidelines, however. Geographical position and local microclimate are highly variable factors, so it is necessary to check the plant’s ability to adapt to the chosen location. Paying close attention to the biological cycle of plants to glean useful pointers and to choose the time and method of intervention is much more pertinent, and gives more accurate information than following tables of prescribed data.

Phase 1. During winter dormancy

Broadleaves are inactive during this period. The absence of leaves does not allow photosynthesis, and there is no activity in the organs. The part above ground has no need for either light or fertilizer. Stick only to routine maintenance, to avoid the possibility of infestation by parasites or fungus. The roots, on the other hand, need a certain amount of moisture in the soil to stay alive and not dry out. But take care not to over-water; otherwise you risk asphyxiating them. During this period, because of the low temperatures, water evaporates slowly and is not absorbed at all by the leaves. The soil dries so slowly that it is easy to forget to check it. This is a good period for a number of types of work on bonsai.

Repotting

Most bonsai can be repotted during the winter, but the best period for this is the weeks immediately prior to the early spring revival, when you judge that there is no longer a danger of intense cold that could damage the roots. If repotting a tree in the middle of winter, you need to remember to put it in a place where is safe from frost – although not in a heated room, because you do not want to stimulate premature growth.

Broadleaves are generally repotted after hosing down the root ball to clean it and leave the roots bare. This provides an opportunity to have a good look at all of the roots every two to three years. You therefore need to take advantage of it to improve them, by removing thicker ones so as to stimulate growth of finer ones which absorb nutrients dissolved in water. The improvements must concern either the buried roots, or those on the surface, and the nebari which should be attended to at each repotting.

Repotting conifers is more complicated and carries a slightly higher level of risk than that of broadleaves. It should never be done with bare roots; instead, part of the root ball must be kept intact. The fine roots of conifers generally have more trouble forming. To absorb food, they need mycorrhizas, which therefore need to be retained.old needles to allow more light to penetrate, to activate the dormant buds inside the tree and to sort through the terminal buds at the ends of the branches to leave just two of them.

TIME TO PREPARE YOURSELVES FOR THE SPRING!

The time available in late winter for repotting broadleaves is rather limited. Repotting must be suspended as soon as the first buds start to open. A second possibility for repotting arises in June, when the leaves from the first budding are mature. The period for repotting conifers is much longer and can extend right up to the point when the candles open for pines, or to the growth of new foliage for junipers: in practice, it can last from the first half of February until mid-June, depending on the microclimate of the location concerned. Cutting back the roots during repotting stimulates the plant to quickly produce new roots, new growth, and to repair its wounds: healing is very speedy in this period.

Other tasks for the dormant period

The winter dormancy is a good time for:

6 working on jin and shari (dead parts of branches or trunks

7 major work on deadwood on junipers, pines and Prunus

8 bending trunks and branches, small or large

9 treating deadwood with jin seal to prevent it from rotting

10 using jin seal as a preventative measure (dilute 1 part jin seal with 30 parts water) on trunks and major branches of broadleaves.

On pines, just before maintenance pruning and wire training, if it has not been done already, it is possible to remove the old needles to allow more light to penetrate, to activate the dormant buds inside the tree and to sort through the terminal buds at the ends of the branches to leave just two of them.

It is common sense to work on a tree at a time when it is possible to obtain the best result, while interfering as little as possible with the plant’s natural activity. Causing stress to a plant will slow down its process of development instead of speeding it up, so timing your work is important! This article is written by Bruno Mazza

BONSAI INSPIRATION - https://bonsaimirai.com

2019 OFFICERS, BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS

President.................Michael Corbeille mrcorbeille@gmail.com

Vice-President ........Lynn Irish ................................ lirish@wowway.com

Secretary ................Josh Barg ................................ rickmarsh@wowway.com

Treasurers ..............Beth Rubinstein (248)752-6258 bethrubins@gmail.com

Newsletter ...............Michael Corbeille mrcorbeille@gmail.com

Website ...................Cate Horn (248) 979-2254 smoknjoeonthego@gmail.com

Quartermaster .........Raoul Van Hecke ................................vanheckeplastering@gmail.com

Director, 2-Yr. Term .. John Stevens jalden123@aol.com

Director, 2-Yr. Term .. Chris Kehrig chris.kehrig@gm.com

Director, 2-Yr. Term .. Tom Kravchenko sirpanda@hotmail.com

Director, 1-Yr. Term .. Rick Bieniek richardbieniek@yahoo.com

Catering, 1-Yr. Term .Judy Muensch mexicomuench@aol.com

POSITIONS ARE OPEN. PLEASE EMAIL US IF YOU'D LIKE TO JOIN THE BOARD. EXPERIENCE ISN'T NECESSARY. JUST PASSION FOR BONSAI.

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THE MAJORITY OF OUR CLUB MEETINGS WILL BE HELD AT BORDINES NURSERY IN ROCHESTER HILLS. PLEASE CHECK THE NEWSLETTER AND FACEBOOK PAGE FOR ANY

LOCATION CHANGES AND TO CONFIRM OUR MEETING TIMES.

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