bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - Importing Bonsai Part 1/3

[b:a430a5889f]IMPORTING BONSAI FROM JAPAN PART 2/3[/b:a430a5889f][*]Upon arrival in the US, depending upon your port of entry, your plants may be redirected to an agricultural inspection station in another major metropolitan center such as the one at Oyster Point for San Francisco area, or Los Angeles, or they may be inspected right at the airport. Up to 12 bonsai may be imported for non-commercial purposes and inspected at international airports provided they have the facilities on hand to do so. At the Agricultural station they will be evaluated for the presence of soil borne organisms, disease, nematodes, borers and insects. *They will also be compared against the list of acceptable entry plants.[*]Plants that require post-entry quarantine, including Juniper, are not recommended for the first-time importer. *Frankly, the quality of raw stock junipers in the US for bonsai design is vastly superior to what is available in Japan to the the average person, anyway. *The wild areas of Japan are increasingly scarce and trees have been collected from them for centuries. *This means that the price of a collected juniper of quality is extravagant. *[*]Plants prohibited for entry (from Japan), including the very popular two and three-needle pines, cannot be imported by the private citizen except with special government restrictions, quarantine and inspections. * This, unfortunately, puts the Japanese Black and Red pine out of reach, however the Five Needle Pine (Japanese White Pine or [i:a430a5889f]Pinus parviflora[/i:a430a5889f] is accepted. *Other species that cannot be imported include many fruiting trees, among them the Prunus genus, and maples were on the post-entry quarantine list. *[*]Nevertheless, this leaves many popular bonsai subjects, including fine Crepe Myrtle, beautiful Azalea, Beech, uncommon Dogwood and Japanese Stewartia, etc.[*] Once you have arrived home with your treasures, you may choose to soak them in vitamin B-1 prior to transplantation. *Be sure to lightly prune the root tips and contrary to general practice, save as much root as possible, even if this means folding it back on itself to fit the container. *Of course, tie the tree securely into the container to prevent movement as critical feeder and hair roots regenerate. *Transplanting in oversize containers and application of 0-10-10 fertilizer is advisable. *Organic fertilizers are great in concert with an innoculation of beneficial soil micorrhizzae from another healthy plant of the same genus.

Two seasons' strong growth is a good indication of the tree's general health. *Pines have quite a reserve of energy that can be quickly depleted. *If the second season finds them in decline you may need to take steps. *Do not undertake any styling efforts until you are certain the trees have recovered from import trauma.

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9-Oct-2001	#2
TreeBay Tips:5¢ Advice:Free *MODERATOR GROUP* Join Date: Aug-2001 Location: Silicon Valley Country: USA USDA Zone: 9 AHS Heat Zone: 4 Posts: 9,742	Importing Bonsai Part 2/3 [b:a430a5889f]IMPORTING BONSAI FROM JAPAN PART 2/3[/b:a430a5889f][]Upon arrival in the US, depending upon your port of entry, your plants may be redirected to an agricultural inspection station in another major metropolitan center such as the one at Oyster Point for San Francisco area, or Los Angeles, or they may be inspected right at the airport. Up to 12 bonsai may be imported for non-commercial purposes and inspected at international airports provided they have the facilities on hand to do so. At the Agricultural station they will be evaluated for the presence of soil borne organisms, disease, nematodes, borers and insects. They will also be compared against the list of acceptable entry plants.[]Plants that require post-entry quarantine, including Juniper, are not recommended for the first-time importer. Frankly, the quality of raw stock junipers in the US for bonsai design is vastly superior to what is available in Japan to the the average person, anyway. The wild areas of Japan are increasingly scarce and trees have been collected from them for centuries. This means that the price of a collected juniper of quality is extravagant. []Plants prohibited for entry (from Japan), including the very popular two and three-needle pines, cannot be imported by the private citizen except with special government restrictions, quarantine and inspections. * This, unfortunately, puts the Japanese Black and Red pine out of reach, however the Five Needle Pine (Japanese White Pine or [i:a430a5889f]Pinus parviflora[/i:a430a5889f] is accepted. Other species that cannot be imported include many fruiting trees, among them the Prunus genus, and maples were on the post-entry quarantine list. []Nevertheless, this leaves many popular bonsai subjects, including fine Crepe Myrtle, beautiful Azalea, Beech, uncommon Dogwood and Japanese Stewartia, etc.[] Once you have arrived home with your treasures, you may choose to soak them in vitamin B-1 prior to transplantation. Be sure to lightly prune the root tips and contrary to general practice, save as much root as possible, even if this means folding it back on itself to fit the container. Of course, tie the tree securely into the container to prevent movement as critical feeder and hair roots regenerate. Transplanting in oversize containers and application of 0-10-10 fertilizer is advisable. Organic fertilizers are great in concert with an innoculation of beneficial soil micorrhizzae from another healthy plant of the same genus. Two seasons' strong growth is a good indication of the tree's general health. Pines have quite a reserve of energy that can be quickly depleted. If the second season finds them in decline you may need to take steps. Do not undertake any styling efforts until you are certain the trees have recovered from import trauma. (CONT'D BELOW) __________________ Want to be a seller on bonsaiAUCTIONS? Get authorized today!* bonsaiTALK: Over 100,005.36 Megabytes Served this Month!