August 2022 Bonsai Newsletter
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Summer is in full swing—and so is the Conejo Valley Bonsai Society. There are plenty of activities ahead, so please read on for a rundown.
First up, remember that our August meeting includes CVBS’s annual swap meet. Bring bonsai items you would like to swap or sell to fellow members and bring your cash to pick up a good bargain or two. It is always fun.
I will lead the short talk and discussion at our August meeting. We will cover how to prepare bonsai for an exhibition. And remember to mark your calendar for our own annual exhibition at the Gardens of the World, Thousand Oaks on October 7 – 8. Note that this year the show will be on Friday and Saturday.
Another reminder: We have our new club member badges. Thank you, Membership Chair Nancy Smeets, for making this happen. If you are a paid member and do not have your badge, see me or Nancy to get yours.
Club Advisor Ken Fuentes led our July short talk. His topic: air layering.
One of the main points Ken made was that not all air layers take. Every-one has a different environment, and some areas may have better luck than others. When living in Florida, he said, almost every air layer took whereas here in Thousand Oaks, they do not. Florida has natural humidity, which helps.
The point is that with all the effort and work involved in doing an air layer, you have to ask yourself whether it is worth it or is it better to use an alternative method. The procedure Ken explained was:
- Do a complete cut of the bark around the branch or trunk. Be sure to cut completely through the bark and cambium layer. He made the cut approximately 1 inch wide. He removed everything from this area.
- Cover the cut area with root hormone powder and coco fiber (which is neutral pH).
- Put a plastic bottle around it all to keep the coco fiber moist. If the weather is very hot, he puts foil over the bottle to reflect the heat. Some people put black plastic over the area to absorb warmth if the temperature is cool.
- After two – three weeks, check to see if fine roots have started. Be very careful in checking because the roots can break off easily. If the branch or tree has rooted, cut the branch or tree off at the cut and plant it.
Ken brought in samples of air layering he had done on macadamia branch-es. In some instances, instead of putting forth roots, the bark had totally regrown over the cut.
