Chinese Elm, what a great bonsai

The chinese elm grows fast and is easily trainable into bonsai form. It has naturally small leaves and can grow in a variety of different areas and conditions. In warmer climates it is only semi-deciduous and is fully deciduous in colder climates. It is hardy to climate zones 5B-10A.

The chinese elm is a recommended tree for beginners to bonsai and can be grown in sunny or shady locations. With proper lighting and care this bonsai tree may also be kept indoors. Learn more about this chinese elm.

Baby Jade (Portulacaria Afra) bonsai

Native to Africa, this succulent bonsai is a fast growing shrub with small green leaves that can be trained into many different bonsai forms. It doesn't need regular watering and can be grown indoors making it an excellent choice for beginners.

Learn more about the jade shown here.

Bonsai Contests

Knowledge of Bonsai is having two major bonsai contests in 2008. The first is a Progressive Styling Contest which this year also includes categories for forest and tanuki designs. Prize categories for the styling contest include best bonsai from collected stock, raw stock, and pre-bonsai stock as well as overall winner, most original, and best solution to a problem.

Entrants need to submit 3 before, 3 progression, and 3 final photos of their entries. The before photos must be received by July 31st 2008. Read the official rule list here.

The other contest is an article contest. Paul at KoB reports that this is the first article contest that they have ever held. The winner may be published in the American Bonsai Society Journal. Entries must be received no later than June 30th 2008 and must be a minimum of 800 words. In addition, the article must not be published anywhere else until after the contest is over.

Prize categories include best overall article, best article dealing with artistic principles, history, or art theory, and best article dealing with collecting, cultivation, or styling. A full rule list is available here.

Burning Bush

This flowering native to Japan, China, and Korea is a deciduous shrub that has distinctive wings of corky tissue attached to either side of its green twigs.

The burning bush's attractive foliage turns red in the fall. It likes a good amount of indirect sun.

Learn more about the burning bush shown here.

Bonsai Proportions

A bonsai tree will look its best if it is proportional. There are certain guidelines for how tall a bonsai tree should be relative to its trunk diameter as well as where the first branch should start on the trunk. MelloBonsai has created a bonsai proportions calculator for calculating these values.

Aphids suck

Horrible timing for a bug infestation is right when your tree is weakened. I just repotted this gardenia to have it attacked by aphids. I've been lucky actually that this has been my first issue with them.

Fortunately, they were not too hard to get rid of and it looks like my gardenia bonsai is going to make it. Learn more about getting rid of bonsai aphids here.

Chinese Fringe Flower as Bonsai

The Chinese Fringe Flower (loropetalum chinensis) has naturally small oval leaves that are dark green to purple in color. It is considered an evergreen shrub and may produce deep pink, fragrant, flowers. It tends to form a wide profile as its branches spread.

It does well in full sun and is cold hardy in temperatures above 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant in a bonsai soil that balances toward acidic. The Chinese Fringe Flower does best in soils with large organic content that still drains well.

Learn more about the chinese fringe flower shown here.