The Times

14 TIMES/GUIDE Weekend of Oct. 9/10, 1976

Garden Guide Think small when growing a Bonsai — These Oriental gems are latest rage in South Florida

The literal meaning of the word 'bonsai' is 'planted in a tray' and refers to the attempt to artificially produce natural tree forms in miniature. A recent trend is to plant a number of trees in a group and produce a miniature forest, or to plant trees and shrubs around rocks to give an impression of plant life on rocky terrain. Bonsai can be grown from seed or cuttings, or collected from nature. Adequate watering, sunshine, fertilizing and suitable soil are necessary, and with careful pruning, trimming, wiring and repotting, miniature growth is finally accomplished. These processes, however, require specialized knowledge and extensive practice, so for most household requirements it is better to buy already established plants. Because the amount of soil is very limited, bonsai require frequent watering, which should be done when the top of the soil is still slightly damp. The amount, of course, varies with the seasons, and trees require more water during periods of active growth. Spraying the leaves in hot weather is also essential. In general, a small amount of fertilizer should be given in spring and a larger amount in the autumn. Liquid nutrients have to be applied frequently, and it is better to place a nonliquid form on the soil surface, where it will break down gradually. Sunshine and fresh air are essential if the trees are to remain healthy, and spraying with an insecticide and/or fungicide regularly, as directed, will increase general protection. Chinese juniper, 200 years old and about 30 inches high (Below) a winter flowering jasmine, 15 years old and 1 foot high (Above) three Japanese maples in winter, with leaf buds forming. 10 years old and 1 foot high. Some of the more tender species must be kept indoors during the winter, as well as young trees, deciduous trees with thin branches, trees in very shallow pans or on rocks and trees that flower or fruit during the winter season. Repotting must be done when roots begin to crowd one another. The roots can be loosened and some removed, and the correct amount of fresh soil can then be replaced. Ideally, bonsai should appear aged, yet with fresh foliage. Proper potting and feeding will keep this appearance and new buds should be trimmed off occasionally to prevent the branches from growing and thickening. Withering may occur if the branches are badly trimmed.

Jolly Green Thumb BY MARY FUREY CRYMES

So now you have containers at the ready for your fruit and vegetable garden, and it's decision time. What to plant and when is dictated by time and space. Consider your space problems. The amount of space different vegetables require is listed on seed packets. Pole beans for instance, need 30 to 36 inches of space, but will produce 4 to 6 plants per pole. Consider the way this crop ripens: only a few beans may be picked on a given day; if you leave them on the vines, they toughen; if you don't get enough for a family feeding, they droop in the refrigerator. So. plan for three plants per family member to give you plenty for good eating and canning. Get two crops per container. Tomatoes and other summer vegetables may produce right through Fall, but others, like the pole beans, fade in mid-summer. In the emptied planters, plant a quick crop like garden cress or late radish. Write down plants and planting dates to give you a running check. Many orchard fruits—apples, cherries, peaches and pears—come in dwarf or semi-dwarf varieties that grow in 3 or 4 feet of space. Vertical growers like grapes can be trained on strings from balcony rail to walls and make shady arbors of city terraces. One of the best loved container crops is the tomato in its many miniature varieties. Two or three plants for each family member should yield plenty for eating and showing off. Plan 3 feet of space all around per plant and dig soil about 18 inches deep. Tiny, luscious tomatoes are just one of the many rewards of container fruit and vegetable gardening. FREE: SOIL-TEST KIT. For your free soil test kit, send a self-addressed, long, white envelope to: Soil Kit, JOLLY GREEN THUMB, c/o Times/Guide, 4627 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables, Fl. 33134 (Suburban Features)

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