AusBonsai

Hi all

I've slowly been getting interested in bonsai, mostly because I like trees but don't have a long term place for a garden.

I have accumulated a couple of trees, some surviving others not doing so well.

Just curious to know how I could bonsai better. I have read some of the how to guides on this site but I don't really have the confidence to start.

My questions are; I have a maple (maybe Taiwan) that has lost all its leaves. It been trying to grow new buds but they always die. I have put it into a new pot but hasn't been much of a change. What is killing off the new growth?

I have some sort of conifer, brought from bunnings a few years back as a bonsai starter. It seems to have survived but doesn't seem to be growing. I've but it into a new pot but there hasn't been much improvement. I've been using bonsai potting mix and feeding with a liquid fret every month or so. Should I put this plant into a larger pot to increase the growth? If I want to advance the tree.

Last question, really want to do a raft type bonsai, can anyone recommend a raft friendly plant suitable for Mackay climate in North qld. I've googled weather here and apparently it is sub tropical, although I'm not fully convinced. Maybe more tropical. I have been thinking a she oak as I really like conifers but it has been difficult to source anything other than vegatbles, flowers and fern things from local nurseries.

Thanks for reading.

Hi Leela and welcome. Photos would help. Maples are deciduous and lose their leaves in winter. Scratch the bark and if it is green it is alive. As to your other questions what are the positions they are in and what is your watering regime ? They will help with answers. The trees need to be outside and if the are in bonsai pot usually need to be watered once a day in summer. Have you thought about trying figs or bougies, which will thrive in your area ?

Maybe the humidity up there is not suitable for maples, being that the soil is constantly moist. Without pics its hard to determine.

Figs, figs and more figs. You could get away with taking large hardwood cuttings off of mature ficus trees and making awesome rafts in a relatively small amount of time. TBH if youre only just getting started, Id skip maples/pines for now and get some figs into your possession. They are endemic to your area and will flourish, pretty much bullet proof in your climate.


HTH.

*bougy beat me to it.

Hi Leela...Not sure if you have already have but hope this helps...to find Bonsai Nurseries in Queensland you can click on the "Wiki" Tab in the top right tool bar, then scroll down to "Obtaining Bonsai" and then there should be a tab that says "Bonsai Nurseries in Australia"...Scroll down to Queensland.

You will need to click on the actual tab of the nursery that you select so that it will show you opening & closing times, address and phone number etc..

Here's the list that I found for you

Australian Bonsai Grower, 190 Hubner Road, Park Ridge, QLD
Brisbane Bonsai, Brisbane Bonsai Facebook Page for Details of quality Bonsai stock, QLD
Bonsai Northside Nursery, 15 Devine Court, Morayfield, Brisbane, QLD
Bonsai Place, 657 OLD GYMPIE RD, NARANGBA, QLD
Gray Dragon Bonsai - Brisbane, By Appointment only, Upper Kedron, Brisbane 4055. Daniel Gray ph. 0416885393, http://www.facebook.com/graydragonbonsai.brisbane
Red Dragon Bonsai, 238 Currumbin Creek Road, Currumbin, QLD
Robin Godfrey, Oxley, QLD 4075The Defined Garden Bonsai Studio, 66 Thomas Drive, Chevron Island, Qld 4217
Bee's Bonsai Tools, Brisbane, QLD 4000 ( Internet only, No shopfront) http://www.beesbonsai.com.au

Not sure how close you are to these nurseries so you may have to make a day trip or two...Give them a call and see if they have... or can source the stock that you want to work on

Really hope this helps..

I do have a couple of figs, one was a gift potbelly fig. they, along with the spiky thing, were the only things my parents didn't kill while i was living on the sunny coast.

It is a shame there doesn't really seem to be much north of the south east. maybe i can infiltrate one of the northern society bonsai groups.

my plants have been "unstyled" as i am sure you'll be able to work out.

i know its not the right forum but if someone could ID my unknowns i'd appreciate it

Sorry i forgot to add the conifier

Plants are all out doors currently getting direct sunlight most of the day. I water them when they are dry, usually twice a week.

Your maple is a Japanese Maple - not sure it will ever do very well up there, I struggled with them for years here in Brissy before I gave up on them. It seems quite healthy - all of them OK. Trident maple may do better - they do here. Your conifer is a juniper - not sure what type, and your unknown bunnings plant - was it sold as bonsai stock or are you having a go with it ? I am not sure of it. I feel you should be watering more than twice a week, especially in summer. If they are in a good mix that is free draining it is very hard to over water, usually newbies under water not understanding that if the rootball dries out completely the tree dies. Are you using seasol or fertilising ? I think your maple would benefit from more water and a feed.

I actually brought the maple as a trident, disappointing.

The bunnings plant was a gift, it is still in its original pot. I did repot it a couple of weeks back, into the same pot, as there was another plant in the same pot that was struggling. I do plan on buggering off that rock but it seems to be concreted to the pot.

I do feed once a month with a liquid fert. I have only just gotten my plants back when I moved to Mackay about 2 months ago.

As far as watering goes I was concerned about over doing it. The weather here in Mackay has been quite cool and wet. I do check the plants every other day and if they are damp I won't water. I certainly have had to water everyday when I lived further north and no doubt I will have to pay more attention once it warms up.

Thanks for the advice and bad news(maple)

Maple looks to be still alive but I reckon you will struggle with it up there. It may be fine to water twice a week at the moment.

The juniper looks unwell. Thirsty and hungry. I'ld put it in a bigger pot, even just a plastic one. Use a well drained mix. If going into a plastic pot just use a premium potting mix. A larger bonsai pot would need a bonsai mix for which there is lot of info on this forum that will probably just leave you confused, so probanly stick to a plastic pot and getting it healthy. Don't disturb the roots to much at this stage, just a slip pot. I would then clean out any dead or weak growth and get it growing strongly without trimming for atleast a year. Bit boring when you want to do something, but good practice for keeping plants healthy.

The other may be Gardenia radicans. Whatever it is it looks weak and hungry. Probably needs to be fed and watered more that it is at the moment. Again a plastic pot with premium potting mix will help it regain health and develop quicker.

Hi Leela and welcome
The used to be a Bonsai group in Cairns, and we have a few members from up that way so maybe they can chime in and let you know more of the local scene.

Re the trees.
Japanese Maple, will struggle anywhere north of Mid NSW. If you lived in the higher inland ares y9ou might have a chance. They will just slowly deteriorate and die off. It May survive in the ground though.

Procumbens Juniper i suspect. Hardy species and should be OK there. a clearer photo with a plain back ground will help.

Gardenia - Probably Ok there but looks quite sick

Re the health.
Watering 2 times a week no where near enough. In the wet sseason you will have trouble keeping them dry but thru winter they need water every day probably. They need to be in a well drained soil, and the soil must never dry out. Almost so then water again.
Use a stick or chopstick to check how dry it is them water if not damp.

Fert every 2 weeks will be better.

Ken

Hi leela. I have maple too. It has tip damage from the cold nights but is starting to grow again. You could try to use seasol very tiny amount every 2 days or so in water and see if that brings on new growth and increase the amount you feed the plant slowly every week. I used this trick on sick plants and it always brings them back. I'm not sure if anyone else has said this. But you need to water more then 2 times a week being close to the tropics and having your plants in full sun all day. They can get very dry. I hope this helps.

Sent from my Nexus 9 using Tapatalk

Thanks all.

More water and food, should be easy right?

I'm looking at ways to keep plants cool, had a quick Google and it seems light coloured porous pot does the trick. I'm thinking a light coloured unglazed terracotta??? Probably 2-4 litre size?? Just to try to improve the health of my plants.

Repotting in a good quality potting mix with 1/3 sand to improve drainage??

kcpoole wrote:Re the health.
Watering 2 times a week no where near enough. In the wet sseason you will have trouble keeping them dry but thru winter they need water every day probably. They need to be in a well drained soil, and the soil must never dry out. Almost so then water again.
Use a stick or chopstick to check how dry it is them water if not damp.
Ken

I totally get what you are saying Ken, but just to keep an open mind: I usually only water my stock twice a week in winter. They do very well and the only exception would possibly be the Eucalyptus stocks. The reason is all about conditions, as every backyard receives different conditions, and unfortunately the only rule of thumb is simply like you say - to only water when the soil is almost dry. If I watered my stock daily or even every 2nd day they would all be dead in 6 months. The only exception to this is if it is windy and we have had no cloud for the week, in which case I might water 3 times a week in winter. Even in summer I still only need to water 2 or 3 times a week as well.

If your stock is out in the open in full sun, then it would probably be more often, but again, for newbies it is always best to just water when the soil is almost dry. I forget about a consistent watering regime. I only water when the soil is almost dry.

For drainage, adding sand is good, (not beach sand because salt), but also the thicker the particles in the medium the better. Thicker particles (ie pebbles and small drainage rocks (can be bought from a bonsai shop)), is best because it adds more air flow to the mix to improve the drainage.

*EDIT* Please don't take offence to that Ken, I was just stating that the conditions in my backyard do not require daily watering, and yes, if I could move I certainly would.

Rory wrote: *EDIT* Please don't take offence to that Ken, I was just stating that the conditions in my backyard do not require daily watering, and yes, if I could move I certainly would.

LoL No worries as all our environments and soil are different.
I water Daily Year round regardless, and have no issues with that regimen for trees in full sun and or Semi shade.
The OP lives in Cairns and up there i sure would do the same.

I know there are posts about people up there and the only issue they have is keeping them dry enough in summer. Constant heat and humidity with frequent rain tends to keep the soil to wet

Ken