Stourbridge Bonsai Show - (Winter Show) November 2016

We arrived on a cold morning at the Bonded Warehouse for The Stourbridge Bonsai Society, Winter Exhibition of Members Trees. Sunday 6th November 2016

On the day

On the Ground Floor of the Bonded Warehouse;
A demo by Mark Skan - Bonsai Artist
Trees and Pots for Sale by David Cheshire
Other items on Sale included Wooden Bonsai Display Stands, Suiseki, growing Mediums and more pots along with a bring and buy sale. Not forgetting, a Tombola!

First Floor - Trees on Display

The Society's Members Tree's were situated on the First Floor of the Bonded Warehouse. 

As we walked up the stairs, were greeted by a Traditional Bonsai Display. With clean white backdrops and additional lighting, the Venue was considered ideal.

On with the Photos! Below are some of the Photos that were taken on the Day - Enjoy!

Thank you to The Stourbridge Bonsai Society Members.

Article and Photo's by Andy Baker @Treeinapot
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Focus on the Foliage - Part 2

Before the rain showers arrive, followed by the wind.

As we all know - this is the time of the year that we all love to see the spectrum of colours. This is also the time of year that deciduous / broad leaf Trees will drop their foliage ready for the winter months. I find now is a good time to take a few more photos before leaf drop.

Focus on the Foliage, part 2. Photographs and Trees by Andy Baker @treeinpaot

Field Maple

European Hornbeam

Japanese Maple

Field Maple

Zelkova

Japanese Maple - Acer Palmatum

Japanese Larch

Japanese Larch

Cotoneaster

Part 3 - coming soon!

Thank you for reading this Article, Focus on the Foliage by Andy Baker (madewithand) 

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#japaneselarch #acer #maple #trees

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Accent Plants - More than a Companion

Accent plants are becoming increasingly popular in the UK - More than just a Companion!
By Tradition - a Bonsai Tree, Accent Plant along with a Scroll would have been displayed together.

With UK Pottery becoming more and more popular Over the past few years, Accents plants have seen an increase in the UK. Bonsai Enthusiasts and Professionals are now obtaining the pot before the plant approach. With an increase of Accents Pots being made and sold, this is also a good opportunity for the potter! Why? Accent pots are a great way to experiment with different Glazes and Techniques.

Example below of an accent planting.

Experimental Accent Pots
Pottery by Andy Baker (madewithand)

speckle cream glaze

red oxide matt

















experimental glaze - white tip

Thank you for reading this Article

Accent Plants - More than a Companion by Andy Baker 

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Focus on the Foliage (Autumn 2016)

Autumn 2016 - Part 1 (focusing on the foliage)

10 Deciduous Bonsai Trees that were photographed in the Midlands U.K. October 2016. The main focus is to demonstrate the vibrant changes in Autumn Foliage. Trees and Photos by Andy Baker at treeinapot. 

   1.Japanese Maple

    2.Potentilla 

    3.Trident Maple

    4.Japanese Maple

    5.Zelkova - Japanese Elm

    6.Cotoneaster 

    7.Hackberry

    8.Japanese Maple

    9.Hornbeam

    10.Japanese Maple

More pictures to follow, as the Autumn season continues..

Thank you for reading this article.

Focusing on the Foliage, by Andy Baker @Treeinapot

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Potentilla - 4 years in Training (bonsai progression, Shohin)

'From Spindly to Shohin' by Andy Baker at Tree in a pot

In 2013, I removed this Potentilla Fruticosa from the ground and placed it into a pot. Shortly afterwards I questioned myself - 'does this material have a future as a bonsai tree?' I even asked the question on a forum 'any styling tips'? The response was minimal and I received a message explaining to me that 'sometimes a tree or shrub is not always workable and to put it back into the ground as a plant in the garden.'

Step 1

With the tree looking spindly and after much consideration, I decided to take away the trunk on the right hand side and cut off any other large branches. My idea was to encourage back budding by working down to a single trunk, 

By the way - When the tree was first dug up from the ground, its was also sawn in half. imagine, even more spindly trunks.

2013 - a few days later.

Within a couple of months, the tree had grown a single twig lower down the trunk (I then trained the single twig to become the overall crown of the tree and removed the taller part of the trunk. 

In 2014 I had a canopy beginning to grow from a single twig and repotted into a smaller training pot.

Step 2

Summer 2014

During the remainder of the season and in winter 2014 I removed the 3 roots that were growing downwards into the pot. From experience - I tend not to remove any branches during late autumn on potentilla. For health reasons. 

By spring 2015 the tree was looking healthy. The tree had responded well to feeding, along with good aeration in the soil - this simple technique produced a mass of fibrous roots.

Step 3

Summer 2015

I repotted the tree into its new training pot, the roots were reduced, this was to allow for the tree to learn to grow in a compact rootball and within a smaller pot.

The tree required little maintenance during 2015 and was continuing to show good signs of health. The tree was beginning to take shape as a tree. At this point, I decided to purchase a more suitable bonsai pot for it, ready for its repot in spring 2016.

Step 4 

Summer 2016

As you can see below; What was once a tall spindly flowering shrub is now considered to be a Shohin sized bonsai tree. The tree will now remain in it's current pot for approx 2 full growing seasons.

Updates to follow.

Thanks for reading this article. From Spindly to Shohin (Potentilla Progression)

Tree and article by Andy Baker. #madewithand #treeinapot #bonsaiprogression

Tree in a Pot - Blog

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