Scarification & Germination Of Delonix Regia Seeds (Royal Poinciana / Gulmohar Tree)

Tree species : Delonix Regia (Gulmohar / Royal Poinciana / Flame Tree / Flamboyant Tree)
Started on : Sept 14, 2016

Watch On Youtube

I scraped the round end on sand paper and soaked in water for over a day, to let the outer waterproof coating peel away. It was then planted into cocopeat and watered. 

How To : Rooting a leaf cutting of Ficus Racemosa

Tree species : Cluster Fig Tree (Ficus Racemosa, Indian Fig Tree, Goolar Fig)
Leaf taken on : Sept 1, 2016

I took this leaf from a big tree, to compare & show the leaf size reduction I achieved in my bonsai plants of the same species. Then, instead of throwing it away, I thought - why not root it in water and see ! Just plain water, changed twice a week, no rooting hormones.

Sept 18

Sept 21

Spider Mite Pest Control On My Bonsai With Neem Oil

Pest Species : Spider Mites  (Link 2)
Its Usual Target In My Collection : Broad leaved trees, ficus specially.

These tiny, almost invisible pests, can cause big damage to your plants by sucking nutrition from the leaves & finally killing them. This is the worst pest for your plants & bonsai bcos you cannot see it easily due to their tiny size. By the time you suspect & detect them, they are well established on your plants.
 

Watch on YouTube

Good Drainage And Aeration Begins With The Pot, Not Soil

Soil comes later. Many bonsai experts & artists 'say' good drainage & root aeration is very important, yet very strangely, some of them use pots that are poor in both areas. Though the pots shown below are tiny, the difference in drainage speed will be similar even with the bigger pots.

This classic 1 hole pot on left, gives you circling roots,  poor
drainage & hence, poor root aeration. So does a 2 hole pot. 

So, which one is your choice ? 
Multiple holes or just 1 to 2 holes ?

Air Layering Large Trunks - By Graham Potter Of UK

This is the largest air-layering I have ever seen. Amazing ! I am not a fan of the plastic wrap technique though, for 2 reasons - 1) you will get deformed roots which need correction & 2) it has poor drainage & aeration, compared to using a colander, Anderson tray or air-pruning pots.

Part 1

Part 2

Watch on YouTube - Part 1 , Part 2

Also read the story links below. I feel they use a superior technique.

How Pot Design Affects Your Air-layered Cuttings

Air Layering With A Colander

Large / Truncheon Cuttings - By Bonsai Iligan Of Philippines

This is the largest cutting I have ever seen being rooted. Amazing !

Part 1

Part 2

Watch on YouTube - Part 1 , Part 2

Benefits Of Air Pruning

I am amazed at how many bonsai artists, experts & nurseries seem to be unaware of this basic horticultural science, judging by their blog / YouTube channel ! 

If they already knew the benefits of air-pruning then I wonder why they still use traditional non air-pruning pots for training / growing bonsai or use an air-tight plastic wrap for air-layering. It doesn't make sense at all !

3D Printed Air-Pruning Pots

Though this pot design is not that great, it is fun to watch a 3d printer in action ! For functionality, buy a net pot or colander or design your own like this.