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How to Repot a Bonsai: The Chinese Elm

I’m not exactly certain as to how old my Chinese Elm bonsai is. I know it’s the oldest bonsai I have in my collection, but I am not the first owner so I can’t be sure its exact age. Lets just say it’s old and leave it at that. Old enough for me to have been afraid to repot it for the last few years. Today is the day where I must get over that fear and dive in head first.

It’s growth has been stunted the last year and a half, so I just know that the pot it getting root bound and the soil is spent. It’s time to sh*t or get off the pot, if you will. So, with that said, let’s dive in!

Here it is in its shabby state.

1b_Chinese Elm
Chinese Elm Bonsai

Try to ignore the wild growth on the left side, I’m trying to create some new branching so it’s gonna look unsightly for a while. Notice instead the general lack of foliage and the shabbiness of the soil. Gross!

3_Chinese Elm Detail
Chinese Elm Nebari

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The Makings of a Ficus Bonsai

This little fella has just taken root in its new mini pot. It hasn’t really begun training yet because I want it to get accustomed to its new home. I’ve only cut it back to promote root growth. I might make a cascade from this baby bonsai. It seems pretty well established so far so it’s training shall soon begin.

I trimmed this branch off of a mother tree and then simply stuck it in water for a month or two near my kitchen window, which is a North East facing window. Nice light there and I always have some kinda starter plant there. Check it out… Continue reading “The Makings of a Ficus Bonsai”

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The Pineapple Express: how to grow and propagate a pineapple, over and over again

As promised, I’m going to share the results of my feeble pineapple efforts. I ordered the small plant online as an add on to my Ficus Religiousa, or Bodi Tree (which was really hard to find by the way). The shipping was free to add it on, so I figured why not. I am fortunate to be living in a zone 10, so I can grow these babies as they only grow in zone 10 to zone 11 outdoors. You can grow them indoors, but they’ll be small so don’t get too disappointed and don’t invite friends over for the “big harvest”. I potted mine in a 4″ pot and gave it what love I could muster in hopes of one day eating my own homegrown pineapple.

Continue reading “The Pineapple Express: how to grow and propagate a pineapple, over and over again”