There’s a shop on the outskirts of Monroe, just south of Dundee called the Flower Market. As you walk past the door you encounter a large display of fairy garden accessories and a Koi pond filled with mouth open Koi hoping you have a morsel for them. Then there they are; the more than 900 bonsai plants and trees. Some are for sale, some are the owners collection. The owner, Kurt Smith, is about to give our Monroe County Master Gardeners a class on Bonsai. He shows us one from the collection not for sale that is over 40 years old as well as a Chinese Elm.
Here are notes from the class:
There are two classes of Bonsai. The Tropical, which you see in the Greenhouse, and the outdoor type. These outdoor plants must be outside and go through the seasonal changes including winter. If you plan to keep the Bonsai in the house choose an East or North window. A southern or west window are fine, but will dry out the plant fast and chances are you will probably miss watering it. It then will die. If you wish you can grow them under lights. Plants generally are smaller when grown in that fashion.
Bonsai need two key elements: Light and Water. The good bright light of that east or northern exposure and water when the soil is dry. Kurt suggests that you do not use moss or decorative rock over the dirt and roots entirely. If you cover the soil, you are unable to see when it is dry. You sight is your best indicator…look at the dish and ask…does this need water today? The color of the soil when wet is dark and rich, but is light and ashy when dry. The soil mix that he uses is equal parts of turfas, haydite and peat moss. If the plant needs water, soak it thoroughly. His soil mixture allows the roots to grow and get oxygen.
You may fertilize the plant once a week. Using a liquid fertilizer is best. The soil mixture used has no nutrient value so fertilizing is necessary for the growth. Kurt warns us though…do not fertilize a sick plant.
To begin you start with a bigger tree and then cut it down. You choose a plant where the trunk has movement. The upper section will be cut off and new limbs will grow. He shows us a ficus with a woody trunk and tells us to look for the area where the tree embraces you. That will be the front. Now, with a gasp from the crowd, he begins to take of all the leaves.
After removing all the leaves you take a look at it. find the first branch to begin with at the bottom approximately one third the way up the trunk. Now you begin to trum taking away unwanted branches. Try to alter the limbs and open up the trunk.
The next step is to wire copper colored aluminum around the branches and pull them into shape with out breaking them off. Thin the branches at the top for you only want one good branch at the top. When wiring try not to wire too tightly nor cross wires. After forming the tree take it from the pot and begin to remove the dirt from the root. He also suggests that you make sure the root doesn’t show the formation of the round pot on the top.
Trim away unnecessary roots so it will fit in your selected bonsai container. All containers should have holes for drainage. If holes are large add a screen over them. Kurt also strung a string thru the holes to tie in the tree. This helps to secure the tree until it take hold. He then continues to look at it, wire it and form it. He said to visualize a triangle. Any portion of a limb that sticks out from that triangle should be cut off. Kurt uses chop sticks to help work the soil around the plants root. Now water right away by submerging it until the bubbles stop… maybe a minute. Be careful not to over water. 
The Monroe County Master Gardeners received a great lesson. When you start your…send a photo for the blog to post. We’d love to share our gardeners education being put to use. Thank you Kurt for the very entertaining presentation.
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Monroe County Master Gardener Association 