We all make mistakes, though it might be argued that the masters among us make mistakes less often than the rest of us. Here’s a faux pas I recently committed that should remind you how much “Bonsai Iterate” sounds like “Bonsai Idiot.”
You’ve probably heard the advice to avoid performing two or more major operations on a tree at the same time — or as some say it, “only one insult at a time!” A classic example is, if you repot, don’t also do heavy styling in the same season (ore vice versa). Just do one or the other.
This spring’s repotting season has had me especially busy with work, family, household jobs, bonsai clubs… everything. Sometimes I grab a small amount of time between other tasks to repot a tree, and then I’m quickly shifting gears again with barely enough time to process what’s next.
I have a couple of Korean Hornbeams that were due to be repotted. I had found a moment to check my notes, and I put them on the bench so I could watch for the buds to start to swell (If I can, I prefer to repot just at that right moment), and there they sat for a while.
I found some free time this past Sunday morning and realized one of the two was past that ideal spot, and the other was a little behind with buds just beginning to swell, so I better get to it.
I began the familiar steps of repotting and soon realized there was something wrong. This pot should be full of dense roots but as I excavated some of the soil and released the tie down wires I realized my mistake. I had already repotted this tree!
In whatever rush I was in at the time I neglected to mark it with a ribbon, as I do to help me keep track of trees that might need protection from a late frost. But WORSE — I just forgotten that I had done it. I realized after I finished repotting the first time I must have just let it sit there next the smaller one that wasn’t ready yet, and when I came back around to think about them again…
Talk about a double insult! I got it all put back together — and marked with a ribbon — and I hope it doesn’t set the tree back too badly.
Just another mistake to learn from. I hope yours aren’t as blatant.
Bonsai Iterate 