Notes: This month you
need to prepare for the activities in forthcoming months. A large
calendar with spaces for each day of the month is excellent. Place it
where you can see it easily as a reminder of bonsai things to do. List
the things to do on the calendar and then follow through. By using a
calendar you can pace yourself to do all the necessary preliminary tasks
and you won't be overburdened during the very busy months of March,
April and May.
If you haven't applied a
dormant spray in late fall do so now. You can use either refined oil or
lime sulphur, on your evergreens and deciduous plants. Refined oil is
recommended for broad leafed evergreens and conifers (pines, juniper,
cedar) and is easier to use. Follow directions on the label and do not
exceed recommended formula. This is an excellent control for
over‑wintering pests and fungi.
Wash all containers that
were used in training and growing bonsai. Use a mild laundry detergent,
rinse thoroughly with clean water and then soak for 10 minutes in a
household bleach (not scented) solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts of
water. This is a strong solution so do use plastic gloves or a pair of
tongs when placing containers into the bleach solution and removing them
from the solution. This soaking sanitizes the container and will kill
any fungi which may have contaminated the container.
Prepare soil mixes for
your potting and re‑potting in the next few months. On nice warm days
you can re‑shape your deciduous trees with light pruning.
If you have wired any
bonsai in the late fall you should check to make certain the wires are
not too tight. Even though trees are dormant there is a certain amount
of growth that takes place. Remove the wires if you see signs of wire
damage to the bark.
Mid‑January is an
excellent time to graft fruiting trees and pines. This is a good method
of propagating plant material that does not readily strike roots from
cuttings or air layering. Seal the grafts and give protection from
freezing during the remainder of the winter.
Collect moss and store it
in a suitable location (cool shady area) in your garden for use in later
months for potting and re‑potting.
Photograph trees in winter
silhouette for later training. It is much easier to see the
structure of deciduous trees
without foliage. Use the photographs for re‑shaping or changing your
design during the growing season.
Plan collecting trips to
middle and south Georgia in February. Collect native trees in North
Georgia during March.
Cold winter winds can
cause soil in containers to dry out very quickly. Be certain to water
your trees after several windy days without any rain. To be certain,
check the soil in containers at least once each week.
TRANSPLANT/ROOT PRUNE:
If you missed root‑pruning and
transplanting your Chinese Quince (Oct.‑Dec.) you can do so this month
if normal bud activity begins.
BRANCH PRUNE:
Apple, Crape Myrtle, Maples, Pines ‑
black and white, Japanese Quince‑after flowering, Spruce, Sweetgum.
FERTILIZE:
Citrus in a greenhouse environment.
WIRE:
Cedar, Chamaecyparis ‑ Hinoki,
Cryptomeria, Fir, Pines ‑ all, Podacarpus, Spruce, Yew.
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