We had a very informative interesting and inspiring meetup with Mr.Ravindran at the Defense Colony Club house.
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| Mr.Ravindran with our Bodhi members. |
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| The transformation brought about after a lot of observation and step by step shaping. |
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| Ram, Dr.Yogesh,George and Maria |
Photos courtesy Vijaya Chamundeswari.
By Gayathree Krishna
Cowdung cake - mix with neem leaf, subabul leaf ( has high nitrogen content) and make a flat cup cake kind of structure with a rim so that water can stagnate and help in dissolving nutrients from it slowly.
Don’t use rice husk, you can make compost from it but not direct use.
Don’t use panchakavyam because of the ghee content in it.
You can use cow urine - dilute and use
Filtered water of peanut cake is important for casuarina. Don’t use peanut cake directly as it might invite rodents and other unwanted elements.
Preferably use only organic manure, casuarina does well in it.
You can use NPK during rainy reason or
DAP which has more phosphorus.
Don’t manure during dry winter season November, December. In our weather condition we could translate it to December, January.
By Vijay Chamundeshwari
While our living space grew smaller and smaller our creativity grew into miniaturizing everything from trees to pets to even an entire garden. We have done entire landscapes that can be placed on a table. We have played with the art of even visualizing a stone into abstract emotions and imaginative formations. This time our Bodhi Bonsai Friends have taken to a very serene and meditative state of mind – A Zen Garden in a Tray.
Look at the creations and observe how peaceful it feels.......each creation can be gazed at for as long as your mind wanders into a state of trance.
Rocks, gravel, sand and a bit of calm imagination is all that is needed to create a dry zen garden.
Add some little plants or moss but keep it minimal.
Enhance the mood of the formation by adding a small statue that does not hinder with the space.
Get more creative and add a stone pathway that leads to where ever you want it to.....can be a little house or a tree or a statue.
The Japanese have categorized them into 3 types. Hill Gardens, Tea Gardens and Dry Gardens. Choose what suits your imagination with what you have in hand.
These gardens are generally dry but the element of water can be suggested with some coloured pebbles or gravel or glass.
Traditionally a stony pathway led to a tea ceremony and on either side were found beautiful rocks placed on gravel with spots of greenery here and there. Entering this tea garden would set you into a very serene state of mind and what followed was done with utmost humbleness.
As with any art form Zen Garden too has a few principles to be borne in mind. The Zen masters have chalked out seven of them - Austerity, Simplicity, Naturalness, Asymmetry, Mystery or Subtlety, Magical or unconventional and Stillness We can bring in most of them if not all while making a Zen Garden.
The word Zen comes from the word Chan which meant Dhyana or meditation. Try making a Zen Garden in a tray and notice how meditative you become while you place the rocks so diligently and make waves and circles around them, either with your fingers or with a fork or stick. Keep changing the formations while you try to keep in mind the odd numbers and a triangle in mind. Maintain harmony and balance just like Mother Nature. Time just fades away and you get spaced out while you find yourself wandering or sitting in a Zen Garden......and there you will find...... PEACE.
By Vijay Chamundeshwari
This exactly is what we want to catch in our trays and pots and anything that we can put our hands upon – The Spirit of Nature. Bodhi Bonsai friends meet this time at the Defence Club in pretty large numbers to catch some creative ideas. We had our workshop on Penjing preceded by our President Dr Yogesh doing a PPT on the same that gave us an insight into facts like Penjing or Penzai as the Chinese call it being found in a Chinese mural in the tomb of prince Zang Huai as far back as AD 706! Tree Penjing pictures were very artistic and interesting. Penjing variants were seen with the Japanese and Vietnamese style. Modern day artists have become bolder in exploring styles which was seen in some of our very own displays. Even the container took us by surprise being the top of a TV Stand! by our Secretary Mr.Ramkumar. We had rocks for mountains and white sand or pebbles for water. Little terracotta chips made steps to a pretty little house. We had two men playing some game seated amidst natural surroundings by Suseela. Much more was displayed and here are some pics to feast our eyes.
Plant of the month being Carmona our senior member Molly Cherian did a Show &Tell presentation with a flat-topped Carmona, a Carmona mame and a Shohin. Lush green and beautiful were they all. While she said it was very difficult to propagate through cuttings and said we could be lucky if the fallen seeds germinated, George walked up to give us tips on how to make a cutting take root. This plant Carmona looked very interesting and all of us were inspired to get our hands working on one. We have a small leaf and a variegated variety too if prepared to take on the challenge.
Coming back to our miniature landscapes displayed – It was a pleasure to watch our members walk around clearing doubts and appreciating the art. Reminded me of Gulliver’s Travels making us all look like giants. Time for some chitter chatter while we had a penjing of snacks served along with fresh mango juice and tea. As I gazed at my white paper plate, the samosa looked like a hill and the cookie a flat rock. The plate was like water and the brownie a boat - my taste buds went a sailing. Our defence club friends did take us on an interesting tour.
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By Vijay Chamundeshwari
We had a virtual celebration of World Bonsai Day on 11/05/2024 on Google. There was a very informative talk on Premna by Dr. Yogesh. Here are the points discussed and do add on.....
1.Premna Microphylla is the best suited variety to form a thick canopy. Sathya mam had shared some cuttings which are the best.
2.What Ravindran Sir has is Premna Odorata - good to form a thick trunk but not for canopy.
3.We can graft a Microphylla onto an Odarata
4.Serratifolia and integrifolia are other varieties.
5.We also have a varigated one which is pretty but difficult to grow
6.Best suited for ROR
7.Needs to be shaped whyle very young.
8.Soak tobacco in water and spray to get rid of pests.
9.January and February are dormant months.
10.Need to be watered well or else will dry up fast.
By Vijay Chamundeshwari
Summer is here and we cool our systems with coconut water, avoid going out during the hours of maximum heat. We even take a cool shower or stay indoors with our aircon switched on while we rest watching our favourite TV shows. What about our little green bonsais that are fixed to the pot and stay put in which ever place they have been kept. They need our utmost care and do listen to us unlike our kids who despite our warnings run into the open to play in the scorching heat. Let us list out some points to care for our bonsai plants in this scorching summer days.
1.Never repot or style or fertilize your bonsai during these summer months. Exception is succulents like Jade and Adeniums.
2.Cover the soil with brick pieces, mulch, wood chips, gunny bag bits or even old T-shirt.
3.Watering should be done either before 8am or after 4pm. If watering in the morning wet only the soil. If there are any droplets on the leaves the sun might scorch them and cause burn spots. In the evening the entire plant can get a nice cool shower.
4. April is the last month for fertilizing. During summer, just watering will do.
5. Shift plants under the shade of larger trees or balconies. If in the terrace or any open area, shade net of 50% can be used to protect them from direct heat.
6. The tray beneath the pot can have some water in it to maintain humidity. Make sure the pot has blobs underneath to prevent root decay.
7.Keep the plants crowded together to retain coolness and humidity.
8. Segregate plants that need more water from those that need less in comparison. This makes it easier while watering.
9. Keep a close watch on every plant. Watch out for ants under the pot or on the plant. If they are already infested with ants place the pot in a tray of water and they will all drop into it. If you notice them earlier a sprinkle of Gammaxene powder will keep them away.
10. Remember to remove all wires from the plants as they might get heated and lead to die back of branches.
Remember these little trees are like our babies that need all our care. A little bit of tender talk and touch too does wonders to them. They might not talk but they do listen. Shower them with all your love and watch the magic unfold.
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