Alabama Bonsai Society

November Bonsai Care
We’ve had a couple frosts over the weekend, so the tropical trees should be inside now and until nights are predictably above 45, sometime in early April. 
The  combination of frosts and subsequent sunshine will bring on fall colors.  Colors will be better if conditions remain dry in the month.  If you are aiming for a great fall display, protect your trees from wind and rain and keep them in sunlight as much as possible.
As the leaves begin to fall, keep the soil surface clean to avoid fungus and keep air circulation good.  Through the bared branches, you may notice some wire that should be removed.  Now is a very good time to remove the wires that have cut in and done their job.  Cut the wire with a good pair of wire cutters, perpendicular to the wire, and at each coil; giving a slight twist as you cut will pop the wire loose.
(Demo)
Older pine needles are yellowing and should be removed with tweezers; one at a time, since a bud is in the sheath between each needle pair/cluster that will be removed if you pull the pair/cluster and remove the sheath with it.
(Demo)
Prepare your overwintering site, spray it with fungicides and insecticides when you spray your trees to reduce chances of problems when you put them away next month.  Lime Sulfur diluted to 1:100 (about 1.25 oz per gallon) is a traditional Japanese all-purpose insecticide and fungicide.  Other products are more effective and less offensive, so it’s a matter of choice.  Lime Sulfur also has the whitening effect that you’ll notice on most trees in the Japanese books.
Finally, a couple “don’t do” points for this time of year.  Repotting should be avoided in all instances until spring.  Watch closely for watering needs, they will sharply decline now that we’ve had some frosts.  Also, don’t do heavy pruning on trees just yet; sap is still flowing and a couple weeks of warm weather could inspire a tree to grow after a hard pruning.

November Bonsai Care
We’ve had a couple frosts over the weekend, so the tropical trees should be inside now and until nights are predictably above 45, sometime in early April. 
The  combination of frosts and subsequent sunshine will bring on fall colors.  Colors will be better if conditions remain dry in the month.  If you are aiming for a great fall display, protect your trees from wind and rain and keep them in sunlight as much as possible.
As the leaves begin to fall, keep the soil surface clean to avoid fungus and keep air circulation good.  Through the bared branches, you may notice some wire that should be removed.  Now is a very good time to remove the wires that have cut in and done their job.  Cut the wire with a good pair of wire cutters, perpendicular to the wire, and at each coil; giving a slight twist as you cut will pop the wire loose.
(Demo)
Older pine needles are yellowing and should be removed with tweezers; one at a time, since a bud is in the sheath between each needle pair/cluster that will be removed if you pull the pair/cluster and remove the sheath with it.
(Demo)
Prepare your overwintering site, spray it with fungicides and insecticides when you spray your trees to reduce chances of problems when you put them away next month.  Lime Sulfur diluted to 1:100 (about 1.25 oz per gallon) is a traditional Japanese all-purpose insecticide and fungicide.  Other products are more effective and less offensive, so it’s a matter of choice.  Lime Sulfur also has the whitening effect that you’ll notice on most trees in the Japanese books.
Finally, a couple “don’t do” points for this time of year.  Repotting should be avoided in all instances until spring.  Watch closely for watering needs, they will sharply decline now that we’ve had some frosts.  Also, don’t do heavy pruning on trees just yet; sap is still flowing and a couple weeks of warm weather could inspire a tree to grow after a hard pruning.