San Diego Beginner in Need of Help

zandona

Hello,

This upcoming Spring will be the completion of my first full year cultivating Bonsai. I'm very excited about the coming seasons since I have a bit more experience behind me now. One thing I have not experienced yet is repoting and while I have many questions about it, the most important one to me right now is regarding San Diego, its weather and Bonsai.
I guess it's not just about the weather in San Diego but in the overall climatic zone of coastal San Diego. In coastal San Diego, we are fortunate enough to be in a virtually "frost-free" area. Our winters are mild with average lows in the high 40's and average highs in the mid to high 60's. For that reason I was wondering if we need to repot our bonsai earlier then in other locations with more severe weather. I don't want my bonsai coming back from dormancy before I repot them.
I'm not sure if dormancy is more related to the amount of daylight then temperature, if so then I can wait until spring but if it's about temperature, boy I better get on it because today was about 75 degrees out there.

I've been trying to attend a San Diego bonsai club meeting for about three months now but my schedule never works out. Maybe next month right?
Thank you in advance.

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bisjoe

Dormancy breaks based on a combination of longer days and warmer temperatures, and yes, your spring would start before mine. There's really no date to go by, check your trees daily, and when the buds begin to swell, repot them before they open.

rockm

Unlike the preparation for dormancy, trees are dependent on soil temperature to end their winter sleep. Once soil temperatures get above 40 degrees, trees will break dormancy. Light has nothing much to do with it. Deciduous bonsai in winter storage in places without light will break dormancy once their genetically programmed chilling requirements are met.

You don't really want a completely dormant tree to perform root pruning. You want a tree that's preparing for its most active growth spurt of the year. As buds swell on the branches, but before they open is the best time to root prune for most temperate species.

Here in the east, where late frosts into May can mean disaster for bonsai that have broken bud or had root work done, many people try to keep their bonsai dormant for as long as possible. That's done with mulch and keeping the roots shielded from warming temperatures--mulch works relatively both ways, keeping in cold in during warm spells as we approach springtime, as well as warmth in during the coldest months. Keeping trees stored in shaded areas also helps.

BrianBay9

There are two clubs in San Diego county. PM our BT moderator Joanie, and she can hook you up with both. Perhaps the other one will fit your schedule better. Joanie can also give you contact info for many private individuals who can help you with spring repotting outside of club time.

Good luck
Brian

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Joanie

It's a shame that you missed the last SDBC meeting, Zandona, as we discussed this very issue! PM me and let me know what area you are, and we'll see if we can get you some help. We also had a great intermediate class where you got to make, and take home, big buckets of bonsai soil.

San Diego Bonsai Club meets the second Sunday of every month, mornings, in Balboa Park.....and San Pu Kai meets the second Tuesday of every month, in the evening, in Carlsbad.

We'll start repotting in the next couple of weeks, depending on the tree species. Maples break early, as do some elms, but zelkovas are later. As the good folks who already spoke said, watch the buds.

Joanie (in Carlsbad)

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zandona

Thanks for the reply you guys. I will start getting ready for that repoting and hopefully attend a meeting of one of the local clubs. Great tips here.
Thanks for the recommendation BrianBay9 and I will definitely pm you Joanie.

PatArizona

Bisjoe got it right..."...when the buds begin to swell, repot them before they open (the buds)...".

Matters not where you live, what your climate is...that is the right time to pot...most bonsai.

Pat

__________________
BONSAI isn't about surviving in a storm, rather, how to dance in the rain.
THE ONLY WAY: Always remember, and don't ever forget, that whatever you read here is not cast in concrete... the intent of any advice is to help. In no way should you feel that I’m saying that my way is the only way…heaven forbid! I've seen far too much of the "my way or the highway" attitude in bonsai as well as in other areas of life.

zandona

Well it's been a about four weeks now since I repoted my bonsai and I am happy to say that it looks like everything worked out. They are started to put out their leaves about a week ago and just last week I fed them some rapeseed cake, I hope that is not a problem, it shouldn't be since the rapeseed cakes should only really become effective a week from now or more.
I am also happy to say that I really enjoyed my first SDBC meeting yesterday, I learned a lot about fertilizers in the intermediate class, signed up for next month's class using a dwarf pomegranate and even won a nice pot from a raffle! I had a good time there everyone was so nice.
I guess this is kind of a shot in the dark but if there is anyone out there in the coastal/metropolitan area of San Diego that owns a large collection and/or needs some help from a highly motivated beginner/intermediate bonsaist, please contact me.
I would also like to thank all of you who quiclky replied to my initial post, even though some of you don't live in the same area as me, your suggestions were still very helpful.
You will probably hear from me in the near future with more questions.
Thanks.

PatArizona

Good report Zandona...

Now...do what ever it takes to get to those club meetings...regularly! That's where you will ge the best possible bonsai help...from the people who are doing, and have been doing, bonsai in YOUR geographical area.

And keep asking those questions here on bonsaiTALK...

But mostly...enjoy your bonsai journey...

Pat

__________________
BONSAI isn't about surviving in a storm, rather, how to dance in the rain.
THE ONLY WAY: Always remember, and don't ever forget, that whatever you read here is not cast in concrete... the intent of any advice is to help. In no way should you feel that I’m saying that my way is the only way…heaven forbid! I've seen far too much of the "my way or the highway" attitude in bonsai as well as in other areas of life.