Page 47 - Ebook cây cảnh Art of Bonsai

Occasional tasks 47

Bleaching deadwood

Keep deadwood features clean and true to their natural state.
Mountain junipers are bleached by intense UV light, but
deadwood on lowland trees is dark and rotten. Aim to preserve
the character and beware of rotting that degrades the features.

Lime sulfur sterilizes and
colors the wood; it turns
white as it dries, so try not
to overdo it and create
unnatural-looking features

1 2
Carefully treated
deadwood features
Clean off the deadwood with a wire Apply dilute lime sulfur (three parts accentuate and
brush to remove soft fibers, dirt, and water to one part lime sulfur) to contrast with the
live vein
algae that build up in wet climates. deadwood with an acrylic brush. Be
Let newly created deadwood features careful: the solution stains everything
dry out before applying lime sulfur. it touches. Avoid dripping onto the pot.

Winter and summer plant protection
Many bonsai species are strong and resilient, but Bury pots in the ground or move to a greenhouse.
once in a pot they are in a new and more vulnerable Do not overheat dormant trees. Light frosts do not
environment. Life in a pot raises many issues, and affect most trees, but a deep, hard frost will.
sensitivity to soil temperatures is one of the biggest. ∙On trees left outside in snowfall, do not allow more
Wild mountain trees are protected by a covering of than 2in (5cm) of snow to set on the branches
insulating snow that keeps the soil temperature because the extra weight may damage them.
relatively high, but a pot subjected to freezing air will
soon have frozen soil—and expanding water particles Planning
cause root damage. Equally, in summer, dark heat- Make a plan for every tree and stick with it: there is
absorbing pots can increase soil temperatures to fatal no benefit in changing a valid design and setting
levels that then cause problems in the tree above and back development, although a lost branch may cause
make its roots susceptible to root-rotting pathogens. a redesign. Plan for the future throughout the year:

∙Protect trees from extreme air temperatures—below ∙Observe deciduous trees over winter and think
23°F (-5°C) and above 95°F (35°C). Delicate trees may about future design. Identify problems and solve
need protection below 40°F (5°C) and over 85°F (30°C). them at the correct time of year.
∙Use shade cloth to protect trees from intense heat in ∙Look for pots so they are ready for repotting season.
summer—but avoid overuse once these conditions Buy pots you love in anticipation of finding a tree.
pass or you will have leggy foliage and growth. ∙Keep your tools sharp and stock up supplies of soil,
∙Winter protection is mainly about soil temperature. wire, and other consumables.