Launched a few months ago, our senior members are available to answer questions you may have about caring for and maintaining your bonsai trees.
Struggling with how much fertilizer to give your tree? Are you concerned about how to take care of your tree in the winter? Does your prized tree look sick? Simply email us at midwest.bonsai@yahoo.com and one of your members will get back to you.
Look to our site for previously answered questions. You’ll find them at Bonsai Helpline.
Read MoreIn the late fall we received a question from a Chicago Botanic Garden patron who was planning-ahead to taking care of their first bonsai, a Juniper tree, in the winter. After researching online, they asked questions about watering, fertilizing the tree, and where to keep the tree over the winter.
Answer:
Welcome to the Bonsai community.
It sounds like you've gotten some good advice so far. You are correct to water whenever the soil feels dry right up until temperatures stay below freezing, at that point the plant will dramatically slow down its water intake. Watch the temperatures outside for long periods above freezing where the plant may begin taking up water again and could need a watering.
Outside in a cooler as you described is a fine way to keep your tree over winter. The only things I would add are to bury the pot fully in the straw, up to the lowest branch of the tree to reduce possible evaporation from the soil, and to ensure the cooler has an open drain so it will not fill with water and potentially drown the tree. Junipers will actually benefit from receiving some light over the cold months, so a spot with some sun would be best, and by all means, let the rain and snow fall naturally on it.
As for fertilization, once a month with miracle grow mixed for houseplants will do fine. There's no need to fertilize over the winter, however, as the plant will not take up any nutrients during dormancy. April is probably the best time to start feeding again.
Read MoreThis past fall we received a question about over-wintering a Satsuki Azalea. Writing in about a tree they received in the spring, after keeping the tree outside all summer, the writer noticed that the tree was starting to have yellowing leaves, and some were becoming dry. They weren’t sure how to take care of the tree over the winter in Chicagoland.
Answer:
Azaleas require a wintering period, but are not as cold hardy as we would like around here. It is important to try not to let the root ball freeze, while still giving the plant the cooler temps it needs to lignify and set buds. Azaleas like winter temps between 33 and 40 degrees. The best solution I have been given would be an attached, but unheated garage with a small grow light for the plant. (Apparently they will weaken if kept in full darkness) I would put the pot in a box and surround it with styrofoam peanuts or something else to buffer any sudden temperature swings and check it occasionally to see that the soil stays moist.
Read MoreAt its June meeting, the Midwest Bonsai Society Board agreed with a heavy heart to cancel the 2020 Mid-America Bonsai Exhibition, originally scheduled for August 14-16, 2020. The cancellation joins the previous decision to cancel the May Exhibit.
A number of factors led to the Board’s decision:
Uncertainty of the Chicago Botanic Garden’s ability and support for the show, though as of this writing the Garden has begun to slowly open
Indeterminate crowd sizing and social distancing requirements that may be impossible to manage by our volunteers
Inability of our guest master (Walter Pall) to travel internationally to judge the show
Many of our invited Vendors informing us they were not planning to attend
Most of all, the Board members shared concern for the health of our members, volunteers, vendors, and visitors to the Exhibition.
While the 2020 bonsai season has been hampered by the Coronavirus, the Midwest Bonsai Society Board continues to explore online programming solutions, and is hoping to have a smaller, membership-only show in the Fall, if health guidelines and Chicago Botanic Garden rules, allow. Stay tuned for more information.
Read MoreWith the increasing spread of COVID-19 in our Chicagoland communities leading to the temporary closure of the Chicago Botanic Garden, today the Midwest Bonsai Society Board has decided to preemptively cancel the May Exhibit, originally scheduled for May 9th and 10th, 2020.
The decision was not made lightly. While hope remains that life begins getting back to normal by the May Show, the uncertainty of the situation, coupled with the importance of protecting our Society members, guests, visitors and vendors led to the conclusion that the safest thing to do is to cancel the show.
The Board is aware that many will be disappointed by the cancellation. The Board members join in this disappointment, many whom have already put in countless hours planning and preparing for the show that now will not go on.
Thank you for your understanding in this difficult time.
The Midwest Bonsai Society Board
Read MoreWhile we’re still working to put together content for this year’s General Society Meetings, the dates have been posted to our website. As a rule of thumb, our meetings are usually held the first Monday of the month, unless it is a holiday - and you’ll notice that most of our meetings follow this schedule.
More details at our Meetings page. Hope to see you at a meeting soon!
Read MoreOur annual Holiday Party will be Wednesday December 4th at the Takiff Center in Glencoe. Setup will begin at 5pm and the party will follow until 9pm or whenever it winds down, whichever comes earlier. The Party is pot luck and is accompanied by a free raffle. Please bring a dish to serve and a small item for the raffle.
Takiff Center
999 Green Bay Rd
Glencoe, IL 60022
Only five days until the 42nd Annual Mid-America Bonsai Exhibition! Open Friday Noon to 5PM, with longer hours of 9AM to 5PM on Saturday and Sunday, come see some of the best Bonsai from across the nation, set alongside the Chicago Botanic Garden’s own permanent Bonsai collection.
Just announced! Join Guest Master William Valavanis on Saturday between 1PM and 4PM as he provides a lecture on Bonsai refinement followed by a live demonstration on a Hinoki Cypress. There is no cost for the demonstration nor the Exhibition, but regular parking rates apply to enter the Chicago Botanic Garden.
More information available on our page dedicated to the Exhibition.
See you there!
Read MoreJust under two weeks to the August Exhibition!
We’ve updated the Tree Registration information on our page dedicated to the August Exhibition. Pre-register your trees easily via our online form, or access a printable form from the page to speed-up Tree Registration, Thursday August 15th between 3:00PM and 7:00PM. The page has other pertinent details about the process as well.
Registration is open to all, regardless of residency or skill.
We hope to see you at the Exhibition!
Read MoreMark your calendars! Just under one month to go until the 42nd annual Mid-America Bonsai Exhibition! August 16th to 18th, join us at the Chicago Botanic Garden for one of the country’s largest Bonsai exhibitions. Centered around the Garden’s own permanent Bonsai collection, the show will bring trees from around the country for the judged competition. This year’s guest Master William Valavanis will provide feedback for all entered trees. Vendors from across the USA will be selling Bonsai-related wares, and many will also be presenting Workshops.
More information is available on our August Exhibition page. See you there!
Read MoreThe 15th Annual Midwest Bonsai Society May Exhibit is only 5 days away! Hosted at the Chicago Botanic Garden, the May Exhibit will be held this Saturday and Sunday from 9AM to 5PM.
There’s still time to sign-up for Workshops, or review our list of Vendors to plan your purchases.
Full details on the Exhibit are available on our page dedicated to the May Exhibit. As always, there is no fee to attend the show, but regular parking rates at the Garden apply.
Thinking of showing a tree? Our Tree Registration form is live. Trees of all development-levels are welcomed. Fill out the online form and bring your tree to the Garden Friday (the day before the show) between noon and 7PM.
Hope to see you at the show!
Read MoreAt our meeting May 6th we will be taking a good look at wiring our trees correctly with Jennifer Price. Because the Main meeting topic is fundamental to Bonsai there will not be a Bonsai 101, however there will be an important Society business meeting starting a 7, so please be early to the meeting. As always, our meeting will be held at the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Regenstein Center
In addition, our May show is only 4 days after the May meeting. Our shows are only successful because of the dedication of our volunteers. If you haven’t already, please review the volunteer portion of the May Exhibit page for details and opportunities.
Read MoreThe April meeting is scheduled at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, April 1st, at the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Burnstein Hall, located in the Regenstein Center. Bonsai 101 begins at 7 p.m. and will cover repotting. At 7:30 pm, presentation on Shohin bonsai by guest speaker Mark Fields.
Read MoreThe March meeting is scheduled at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, March 4th , at the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Burnstein Hall, located in the Regenstein Center. At 7 pm - Bonsai 101 will cover bringing your trees out of their winter quarters for the sunny season. The 7:30 pm - General meeting program will feature review, by Ivan Waters, of selected trees from August 2018 Exhibition.
Read MoreThe General Meeting October 1st will be our pseudo-annual White Elephant swap meet / sale. Everyone who’s been in the hobby for a while has a few pots, stands, plants, etc.. that they don’t really need or use. One mans’ trash is another’s treasure, bring your unwanted items for giveaway, sale or trade and enjoy some cookies and coffee as a Halloween treat. Bonsai 101 will review wintering your trees, this is an important topic for the new folks so we will be starting it promptly at 7
Read MoreThe next General Society Meeting will be held Monday May 7th at the Regenstein Center at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Starting at 7:00PM, we'll be holding our annual repotting meeting. Bring trees ready to repot, or if you're done with repotting, bring your skills to share with others!
Note: There will be no Bonsai 101 to allow for more time for repotting.
More information available on our Meetings page.
See you there!
Less than two weeks away from the Spring Bonsai Exhibit, the Society is hard at work finalizing the plans for the exhibit to be held May 12 and 13th.
Visit us at the Chicago Botanic Garden for our exhibit focused on education about Bonsai. New to Bonsai? Take a workshop, or peruse the items for sale from our vendors. More details available on our May Exhibit page.
Read MoreOur next Society General Meeting will be held at 7PM on April 2nd at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
At 7:00PM the meeting with start with a brief Bonsai 101 session on an overview of repotting. We'll then hold the general meeting starting around 7:30PM, covering Society Business, and then will have a presentation on stands from stand maker Austin Heitzman. Austin's work can be seen on his website.
More information on our meeting schedule, and key information on getting to the meeting at the Garden, is available on our Meetings page.
Read MoreWith Spring just around the corner, and Bonsai season picking up steam, it's still hard to believe that just under two months from now, May 12/13th, will mark the 14th Annual May Bonsai Exhibit held at The Chicago Botanic Garden !
Mark your calendars for this popular event! Vendors from across the Midwest will be selling Bonsai-related wares. Bonsai workshops for those of all ages will help you cultivate a new interest, or build skills you haven't had prior.
And of course, trees will be shown in this non-judged show. Tree entries are open to all skill levels, regardless of residency or membership in the society.
Full details are available on our May Exhibit page. Look for further details as the event nears here on our Website, as well as on Facebook.
We hope to see you there!
Read MoreOn July 10th, 2017, Bonsai Artist David Martinez-Moreno visited to give last-minute advice to our membership ahead of the 40th Annual Mid-America Bonsai Exhibit that was held the following month. David also gave detailed advice about Junipers, regarding trunk thickness, bending and shaping, and the right time of the year to do work on trees.
A video of his visit is now available under About Bonsai > Videos
Read More
