The Bonsai Primer: Recent e-mails

Recent e-mails

In this section of the Primer, I intend to post a few e-mails as a sort of FAQ.

From: IlhanUK@aol.com
To: bonsaiprimer@hotmail.com
Subject: Jin + Shari
Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 18:48:55 EST

Hello my name is hakan I have a chinese elm and have striped a part of the trunk that is a large root that sticks out the soil and try to make it look like it has been rotting by carving the inside to make it look hollow. the only thing is that the wood it a fresh woody colour, should i use a polish or some colouring to make it look old and as if the wood has been eaten on the inside to gice it the hollow affect.

thank you for your time and help.

regards hakan

Hi Hakan
I wouldn't worry aboout colouring the wood, as although it might look a bit bright now, it will soon darken down. Any chemicals you put on it may harm the tree, and the only thing I would recommend is the bonsai 'Lime sulphur' mix, which if anything will make it whiter.
Allen

Hi ya I own a Chinese Elm tree, I live in Buckinghamshire. Last year I kept the tree indoors, this year i gradually brought her outside, and the tree grew very well. I water her only when the soil starts to feel dry, I leave it to the rain to care of her daily (rains alot here). My question is what do i do when the frost and especially the snow starts, I dont have a green house. My bonsai lives outside on a balcony, with a 3ft wall surronding. Hope this info helps.? I would be eternally gratefull if you can help me befor the winter really kicks in. Yours faithfully.. Rosa (My e-mail: Rosa76@hotmail .com

Hi Rosa

I live in Essex and my Chinese Elms will stay outside overwinter. They'll probably lose their leaves, but that's natural for an Elm. If the weather stays frosty for a few days I'll put it in a clear plasic bag to keep the wind off it.
Allen

From: "Frank Ascione" <fjascione@yahoo.com>
To: <bonsaiprimer@hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 15 Dec 2001 18:47:31 -0500

i am having trouble locating fungicide for seedlings in stratification
someone recomended bionide will any other fungicide work
i live in florida this is for a baobab tree seeds
thanks frank

Hi Frank

Interesting one this, got me thinking!.

OK so here goes, I'm a bit puzzled as to why treat seeds with a fungicide. Most seeds have evolved to cope with fungal/viral attacks, as well as (in some cases) passing through the gut of an animal.

Stratification will usually cause any fungal spoors to go dormant, it's when the seed cracks and the shoots/roots appear that trouble may start.

Whenever I've started seeds, i've usually treated them with a copper based fungicide, a 'Bordeaux' mixture, favoured by wine growers, however any good fungicide will do.

Hope this helps

Allen