Paul Pikel has a new video that explains how to style a Podocarpus bonsai. His pal Cosmo loves to watch him work especially when he’s preparing a tree he hopes to display at the Epcot Flower and Garden Show. Podocarpus is a common shrub in Florida so maybe you’ll want to try your hand at styling one of these too.
Click on the YouTube link below to watch.
If you are in Florida in November, come take a safari with Orlando Bonsai to the Melbourne Zoo. We are one of the vendors mentioned in the announcement the Brevard Zoo posted on their web site :
November 17 – 18 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bonsai Weekend, hosted by the Bonsai Society of Brevard, will be held November 17 – 18 in the Nyami Nyami River Lodge. Bonsai is the artistic miniaturization of trees, woody, or semi-woody plants shaped as trees, by growing them in small containers. The art of bonsai became a part of the Japanese culture when China invaded Japan in the 14th century and its popularity spread to the United States after World War II. The exhibit features more than 60 trees, demonstrations on how to care for bonsai, and vendors will also be on-site selling bonsai trees and related materials. This exhibit is free with Zoo admission and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We will be there in person selling our wares, admiring the bonsai displayed in the permanent exhibit and enjoying the special bonsai events and, of course, the animals and the zoo. Come join us!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The weather has been beautiful here for bonsai gardeners. Well, if you ignore the winds and rain from Hurricane Sandy. I hope the storm is not too harsh as it goes up the eastern seaboard. It’s knocked a few bonsai over here but no damage, thankfully. The temperature was actually cool this evening. The bonsai seem to be enjoying it too! Buds and pink flowers abound on my camellia, the Chinese hat plant is in bloom and some of the bougainvillea are still sporting flowers. All of the bonsai know that fall is here and winter is around the corner!
As always, be sure to look for updates on our Facebook page.
I always like to share information to help other people display their trees. Although a lot of work goes into styling and caring for the tree, it is the finishing touches that really make your tree stand out in a display. Some easy touches are adding a fresh top layer of soil mix, and cleaning the bonsai pot.
Surface soil prior to show
New Soil applied and the rimmed oiled
Here is the tree with just a quarter inch of new soil added and fresh moss. In order to bring out the great color of the pot I apply a thin layer of walnut oil. It has a nice satin finish compared to other oils.
The pot before oil applied
As you can see there is no depth to the pot and the color is a bit washed out.
Ready for show
What a difference! Just look how much better the color is. Even though the pot has a shine to it now, the oil will soak in and take the strong oil look away. With just a few minutes of effort the tree went from plain and ordinary to a real treasure.
At the KAWA Bonsai, Joy of Bonsai I noticed the accent plants that were displayed along with the bonsai. Many times they are over looked, but they add so much to a great display. The are normally only a few inches tall. Here are a few examples.
© 2024 - Orlando Bonsai.