Questions - What a bonsai needs to thrive?

12-Nov-2004	#1
ripsgreentree bonsaiTALK Master Chief Join Date: Sep-2001 Location: Fresno, CA Country: U.S.A USDA Zone: 9 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 1,260	Questions - What a bonsai needs to thrive? Some of the posters on this forum remember that my background is that of a propigater and grower of Bonsai. So keeping that in mind I have some questions. I will except answers from all levels of expertice. 1. What are the three most importiant things that a bonsai needs to thrive? List them in your idea of importiance. 2. What are the three biggest factors that cause the death of a bonsai? I am convinced that the importiance of knowing and understanding the answers to these two questions is criticle to keeping healthy and vibrant Bonsai. Glenn __________________ ripsgreentree It requires an open hand to give and to recieve.

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12-Nov-2004	#2
bonsaial1 Bonsai Doer Join Date: Aug-2001 Location: Fresno, CA Country: USA USDA Zone: 9 AHS Heat Zone: 13SH Posts: 5,369	Like a phoenix rising from the ashes... Life: 1. Daily maintenance 2. Healthy roots 3. Proper soil Death: 1. Lack of daily maintenance 2. Weak roots 3. Improper soil Al __________________ A tree a day...thats all we ask.

13-Nov-2004

Will_Heath

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Quote:

Originally Posted by ripsgreentree

Some of the posters on this forum remember that my background is that of a propigater and grower of Bonsai.
So keeping that in mind I have some questions. I will except answers from all levels of expertice.

1. What are the three most importiant things that a bonsai needs to thrive?
List them in your idea of importiance.

2. What are the three biggest factors that cause the death of a bonsai?

I am convinced that the importiance of knowing and understanding the answers to these two questions is criticle to keeping healthy and vibrant Bonsai.

Glenn

1)
Water
Light
Food

2)
Water
Light
Food

Last edited by Will Heath : 13-Nov-2004 at 12:23 AM.

13-Nov-2004	#4
RedPine bonsaiTALK ArchMaster Join Date: Jul-2004 Location: AR USDA Zone: 7a AHS Heat Zone: 7 Posts: 2,897	1=providing-proper-growing-conditions,and-providing-for-all-of-the-plants-needs. 2=too-much-water,and-improper-growing-conditions. __________________ http://gongshi.freeforums.org/index.php

13-Nov-2004	#5
jloeschner Archbonsaist in training Join Date: Aug-2004 Location: Marianna Country: United States USDA Zone: 7 AHS Heat Zone: 8 Posts: 479	I am going to have to second Will. Proper watering, lighting, and fertilizing will make a tree, or any plant for that matter, thrive, while improper watering, lighting, and/or fertilizing will eventually or quickly cause its demise. __________________ Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement. QUI ME AMAT, AMAT ET CANEM MEAM

13-Nov-2004	#6
TreeBay Tips:5¢ Advice:Free *MODERATOR GROUP* Join Date: Aug-2001 Location: Silicon Valley Country: USA USDA Zone: 9 AHS Heat Zone: 4 Posts: 9,743	Can't...breathe...must have.....air!... __________________ Want to be a seller on bonsaiAUCTIONS? Get authorized today! bonsaiTALK: Over 100,005.36 Megabytes Served this Month!

13-Nov-2004

ripsgreentree

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Join Date: Sep-2001

Location: Fresno, CA

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Speaking in generalities

Quote:

Originally Posted by orn

1=providing-proper-growing-conditions,and-providing-for-all-of-the-plants-needs.

2=too-much-water,and-improper-growing-conditions.

Orn and Jloeschner rethink the question I am asking for specific reasons, What does a bonsai really need to servive and thrive Most importiant second and third. Any one can say "you got to take care of it." At the end of the thread I am hoping that every one will learn something useful.

Glenn

__________________
ripsgreentree

It requires an open hand to give and to recieve.

13-Nov-2004	#8
ripsgreentree bonsaiTALK Master Chief Join Date: Sep-2001 Location: Fresno, CA Country: U.S.A USDA Zone: 9 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 1,260	Well here is some help... Bonsai al has one of the answers. Will Heath has one of the answers. Matt has one of the answers. Now this narrows the possibilities. None has all three answers and what is the order of importance. __________________ ripsgreentree It requires an open hand to give and to recieve.

13-Nov-2004	#9
jloeschner Archbonsaist in training Join Date: Aug-2004 Location: Marianna Country: United States USDA Zone: 7 AHS Heat Zone: 8 Posts: 479	Hmmm...a critical thinking exercise. I do so enjoy these. Let's see...A bonsai needs... 1. Proper growing conditions such as light, water, fertilizer, soil, etc... 2. Proper training to prevent dieback on branches and to promote proper growth habits. 3. Proper choice of pot to encourage desired tree size as well as provide aesthetic value. A bonsai's death is frequently caused by... 1. Lack of experience of the grower (Pruning too much, over/under watering. wrong environment, etc...). 2. Faulty automatic equipment while on vacation. 3. Local wild/tame life (squirrels, dogs, cats, deer, etc...) Coming up with the demises was more difficult, since I have not been doing bonsai long enough to have killed many trees. The ones I have killed died due to me collecting them at the wrong time of year. Notice that my answers now apply more directly to bonsai, and not just "regular" trees or plants. If I am still off the mark, please let me know. I will keep thinking... Regards, John <EDIT> Rips, you posted while I was thinking, so I guess my answers are still wrong. Surely it can't be so simple as Water, Roots, Air? <END EDIT> __________________ Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement. QUI ME AMAT, AMAT ET CANEM MEAM Last edited by jloeschner : 13-Nov-2004 at 02:02 AM.

13-Nov-2004	#10
jloeschner Archbonsaist in training Join Date: Aug-2004 Location: Marianna Country: United States USDA Zone: 7 AHS Heat Zone: 8 Posts: 479	Water, soil, air? Hmmm...let me think... Bonsai must have good, free-draining soil. Otherwise root-rot is likely. It must also have proper water, otherwise root-rot or dehydration is likely. Air? I guess without proper aeration, root-rot is likely? Am I close? __________________ Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement. QUI ME AMAT, AMAT ET CANEM MEAM

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