Next Meeting is November 17, 1:00 at the Melbourne Public Library on Fee Avenue

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1 November 2018 Volume 19, Number 11 Next Meeting is November 17, 1:00 at the Melbourne Public Library on Fee Avenue President s Message By Barb Hiser I have a FaceBook friend in the northeast, and she and I were texting about bonsai recently. We both began our bonsai journey about 5-6 years ago, and compared the many ways we have learned the art of bonsai. I have spoken often about our BSOB club meetings and the variety of activities, speakers, and learning opportunities we have in the area. She, on the other hand, lives in a very rural community. The closest club meeting is at 7 pm at night and it s nearly 2 hours away along some country roads! Needless to say, she has never attended. She is self-taught, using the Internet, books, blogs, and forums to learn. She has never had the luxury of attending a major show, or participating in a workshop with a big name. In many respects, I often feel that she is far ahead of me in her grasp of bonsai concepts; she has some amazing trees and she has that quality that I lack: PATIENCE! She recently embarked on a 10-year project she saw on the Internet. HOLY COW.. If my trunk hasn t bulked up in a few yrs, I m frustrated! Of course, we have very different stock to work on: hers is mostly deciduous while mine is mostly tropical. I came to the realization while talking with her today, that the most important thing about our club is our members. I know that sounds trite but here s what hit me: we have some big names in our club.members that are respected internationally and nationally, and members that are always there to do what needs to be done. That quality of member could set us up for real failure, if you think about it. Here s why: when our members come to the meetings no matter their skill level or name recognition, they check their egos at the door. And here s the feminist side of me: because bonsai is predominately male in America, which means a lot of testosterone. 1

2 I feel incredibly blessed to have these big names in our meetings, and have their willingness to help us all, no matter the task, from the novice to the expert. In my opinion, that is a true gift that this club has been given. We have all seen the political horrors that can occur when egos are too big, or when we no longer appreciate what this club and this journey is about. It should be and is about the trees, and each of us having the opportunity to progress along our own journey no matter how simple or complex. I thank each and every one of you for that opportunity. In this Issue: Picnic Wrap Up November Meeting workshop - Podocarpus Newsletter Editor position open Upcoming Events From the Editor Dennis Reilly I built a display stand for my patio. I used pressure-treated lumber and stairway stringers to construct it. My friend had a Hammer Drill which made the wood screw process a lot easier. It s simple, sturdy, inexpensive and sustainable outdoors. It was designed for smaller trees but could be also designed for bigger pots. 2

3 Comment [DR1]: UPCOMING EVENTS! Monthly meeting 11/17/18- Our own Dr. Reggie Perdue will be working on a large podocarpus. If you have a podocarpus you would like help with, bring it in and he will help (time permitting). Winter Silhouette Bonsai Show in Kannapolis, NC. 12/1-2/

4 December meeting 12/15/18-Our traditional holiday pot luck dinner and a group activity. CFBC 50 th Anniversary Party 12/16/18. All BSF is invited. RSVP to Mark Ceskavich m_ceskavich@yahoo.com WE ARE COLLECTING DUES FOR 2019! Check or cash. $20 single, or $25 family. Payable to Cossette, our Treasurer. COMING UP IN 2019 (SPECIFICS TBA) Guest artists Mike Lane from Wigerts, Vlad Foursa from South Florida. Day trip to Ocala to study cypress in an amazing habitat. PICNIC Wrapup 2018 MULTICLUB PICNIC IS HISTORY! If you missed the picnic this past Saturday, I m sorry, and you missed delicious food (thanks to Abner, Ben, and Bruce!), and you missed some amazing deals! Here are some raw statistics: Total in attendance: 90 Number of items in live auction (included original artwork, bonsai, prebonsai, rocks)-70 Number of items in silent auction (included pots, pre- and post-bonsai, figurines, tools, rocks, stands and more!)-80 Highest selling item at the live auction- $200 Highest selling item in the silent auction-$75 The following clubs were represented: BSOB, CFBC, TCBS, Kawa, Hukyu. Most unusual tree in live auction-corkbark JBP (amazing!) Thanks to everyone who made this fun event possible.those who toted grills, ice, shopped for food, moved those heavy tables, toted trees to Reggie (our Auctioneer Extraordinaire), to those who calculated costs and handled the money for the silent and live auctions, the cleanup crew, and to those who sold and bought. It s a Win Win for us all. I hope to reserve the pavilion a bit earlier in October for And we will try to get a better head count 4

5 Ficus Burt davyii sold at live auction, in a signed/handmade pot: 5

6 Bonsai Society of Brevard Dr Reggie Perdue is our auctioneer. This month s meeting features the Podocarpus PUS BONSAI TREE CARE GUIDE General Information: Podocarpus macrophyllus is a slow-growing evergreen also known as Yew and Buddhist Pine. This native of China and Japan may grow to 40 to 50 feet tall in its natural habitat and is popular as a bonsai because of its graceful elegance and easy care. 6

7 Tree's Attributes: The foliage on this tree resembles needles but is actually comprised of leathery green flattened leaves about two inches long. The bark tends toward a gorgeous cinnamon shade, and the trunk bears a gentle curvature. The tree may produce fruit that is green to purple, darkening to black by fall. Temperature/Lighting/Location: The Yew prefers warmer temperatures and should not be in an environment that dips below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. This tree likes a lot of light so if grown indoors should spend plenty of time in a sunny window. When outside, give protection from hot summer afternoons as the leaves could become burned. Podocarpus does not enjoy dry heat, so misting or the use of a humidity tray (a shallow tray of water filled with stones or other buffering material to keep the plant from sitting in water) can be useful in dryer areas. Watering: Buddhist Pine bonsai should be kept moist enough so that the root ball does not dry out, but not so saturated that root rot becomes a problem. It is not a drought-tolerant tree, so careful attention should be paid to the moisture level of the soil. Gray needles can indicate over-watering. Fertilizing: Podocarpus bonsai love fertilizer cakes and fish emulsion. If grown indoors the odor may be too much; in that case apply a liquid bonsai formula every other week during the spring and summer and every six weeks in the winter. This tree will also do well with chelated iron dosed twice a year, as well as being watered for about a week with a blend of one tablespoon Epsom salts in one gallon of water. Pruning/Training: Styles Yew bonsai are suitable for a variety of shapes including formal upright, informal upright, literati, slanting, group, and root-over-rock. This tree can be encouraged to develop side branching by aggressive pruning, which stimulates vigorous back budding. Pinch back growth as desired according to the shape you're trying to achieve, and remove large leaves. Pinching off half of the bud will result in leaf reduction; do not cut the leaves because they will brown and it may not result in a smaller leaf growing back. 7

8 Wiring may be carried out on Podocarpus, however it should be done cautiously as older wood tends to become rigid and break if bent too far. Leave wires in place for two to three months, monitoring frequently for signs of the wire cutting into the bark. Driftwood incorporated into the area at the base of the trunk makes an especially striking design element with this species. Propagation: The Yew may be propagated easily by way of cuttings. Take softwood cuttings and place them in water until you see roots, then move them into a good quality, well-draining soil made for bonsai. Hardwood cuttings may be used but they will require rooting hormone and possibly bottom heat. It is possible to grow this tree from seeds, if you can obtain them. Repotting: Repot this specimen in the spring, every three to four years. Be judicious with root pruning about ten percent removal is sufficient. Replant in slightly acidic, well-draining soil. Insects/Pests & Diseases: Podocarpus macrophyllus is susceptible to a number of pests and problems, namely sooty mold caused by sucking insects like aphids, scale, and mealy bugs. Watch carefully for signs of spots that looks like dirt on the leaves and branches of the tree. This could indicate the presence of sooty mold a fungus that grows on the honeydew (sticky, sweet substance) left behind by these insects. If you do see sooty mold, it's important to understand that a fungicide will not cure the problem. You must eradicate the pests, then the fungus will usually go away on its own. If you see any of these sucking bugs on your bonsai (mealy bugs can sometimes only be seen on the roots, although they can appear as little white dots at the bases of leaves as well) immediately give the plant a rinse in a jet stream of water. Then spray with a solution of a teaspoon of liquid dish soap in a quart of water. Rinse the plant with plain water after the soapy bath. Scale will need to be removed one at a time by hand or by applying rubbing alcohol to their hard outer shell. If the fungus does not begin to subside shortly, an insecticide may be necessary. Do not wait too long to treat the bonsai, as sooty mold can overtake a plant very quickly. 8

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10 Newsletter Editor Position Available I have been generating the monthly BSOB monthly newsletter for nearly 3 years now; and believe it s time for a change. I have had fun, tried to be creative, thoughtful and add some humor but now it s become a task, something I have to do, instead of want to do. It s a good time for someone else s vision of what the BSOB NL can be to take over. Thanks Dennis 10

11 Presidents note: We will miss Dennis. He has done an amazing job during a time of transition for our Newsletter. I am very sorry to see him go, but we are ALL in this for fun and I m glad he is following his heart. Let me know if you have skills that would transfer to this elite, high-paying position. (just kidding about the high pay!). Board of Directors Barbara Hiser, President bhiser@me.com, Dr. Reggie Perdue, Vice President Robert Mandel, MD, Secretary Cosette Kelley, Treasurer Rob Kempinski, Zoo Exhibit rkempinski@cfl.rr.com Rob s Blog HANDY BONSAI WEBSITES Has many links to Brevard Club Newsletters and bonsai tips for Florida bonsai. Bonsai Society of Florida. Good info on Fl. Bonsai. Our own Rob s website. Great articles & pics. Worldwide site with galleries and information. Nice site with great galleries. The Art of Bonsai Project is an online journal and community for the examination and exploration of the bonsai art form. 11

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