Bonsai Fruit Trees

Do bonsai ume (flowering apricot, Prunus mume) trees bear fruit? All the websites say so, but they only say so with the exact same text. Has anyone had fruit grow from one of these in their own experience?

The easy answer is yes they do. But it’s more like, yes they can, if you give them near perfect conditions to grow, can keep the flowers on and healthy long enough, and the tree is large and healthy enough to sustain the stress of supporting the fruit until it is ripe. There are a few different cultivars of this tree as well, some easier to fruit than others. At any point from flower bud to ripe fruit the tree can abort the process due to any, some or all of these reasons. For more info visit here Bonsai Mall

EASY CAKE DECORATING ICING RECIPE

Frosting, icing, and cake decorating recipes and ideas. Make your next cake extra special by adding these finishing (and delicious) touches. Frosting is also great on cookies, cupcakes and brownies.


Preparing and applying the icing on the cake is a very important step while baking a cake. The icing on the cake has to serve many purposes, like giving a beautiful look to the cake along with improving the taste of the cake. Various icings of cake work in different manners. Some icings are sensitive to temperature and they melt when exposed to certain temperature. It is necessary that the icing recipe is chosen such that it holds the garnishing items in the right place. Moreover, you should choose the flavor of the icing recipe such that it will blend well with the taste of the base of the cake. Given below are some of the delicious cake decorating icing recipes for you.

Easy Icing Recipes for Cake

Chocolate Icing Recipe
Ingredients
Confectioner's Sugar - 2 lbs
Vanilla - 2 teaspoon
Milk - Half cup
Butter 1 cup or Margarine at room temperature
Cocoa powder - Half cup
Procedure: Chocolate icing is favorite of one and all. To prepare this cake icing recipe, first beat margarine or butter in a medium sized bowl, with the help of an electric mixer. Beat it until it turns soft, later add vanilla to it. Then, put the confectioner's sugar to the margarine or butter and blend the mixture. See that you add one cup of confectioner's sugar at a time. Put in cocoa powder to this mixture and blend it well. After blending the mixture, add milk and beat the mixture to form creamier texture for at least 2 minutes. You can thicken the frosting by adding cocoa powder or sugar. Read more on, chocolate cake recipes and chocolate icing recipes.

7 Minute Cake Icing Recipe
Ingredients
Sugar - 1 cup
Light corn syrup - 1 teaspoon
Cream of tartar - 1/4 teaspoon
Water - 1/4 cup
Egg whites - 2 large
Procedure: This easy icing recipe can be prepared within 7 minutes and hence, the name. First set up a double boiler and then beat the egg whites by placing the container 2 inches above the boiling water. Beat the egg whites to turn into foamy texture over the top. Then add the remaining ingredients into the bowl and beat the mixture for seven minutes. The temperature of the thermometer should reach almost 160 F, after the completion of seven minutes. Then take out the top of the boiler and continue beating the mixture for 4-5 minutes.

Boiled Icing Recipe
Ingredients
Water - 2/3 cup
Sugar - 2 cups
Egg whites - 2
Vanilla - 2 teaspoons
White corn syrup - 2 tablespoon
Procedure: The boiled icing recipes are known for their smooth texture and marshmallow like flavor. These are also called as Italian Meringue icing. To prepare this boiled icing recipe, first add water, sugar and corn syrup in a medium sized saucepan and stir the mixture to dissolve the sugar content. Place this mixture over heat, cover it and let it cook until the mixture boils. Meanwhile beat the egg whites at high speed with the help of an electric mixer. While beating the egg whites add about 6 tablespoon of the syrup mixture. Continue to cook the syrup mixture by placing cover on it. After sometime, remove the cover from the boiling mixture and place the candy thermometer and cook the mixture until the temperature reaches 240 F. Continue beating the egg whites and add the remaining syrup mixture to it. Then add vanilla and again beat the mixture for 4 minutes. Read more on, cake icing tips.

Best Fitness Tips For Success

Knowledge is power. In this article we are going to check out some really cool fitness tips that will keep you on track, and help you to reach all of your fitness goals . These common sense tips can be easily overlooked. These small points can make a huge difference.
1: In this order, use dumb bells, bar bells and then weight machines . You will incorporate the most stabilizing muscles with dumb bells, and then next is barbell movements, and finally progress to machines at the end.
2: Before using the work bench, make sure to assess the quality of it . Press your thumb into the bench first, and if you are able to feel the wood then you should look for another bench. Benches that are too hard can cause muscle damage and also nerve damage.
3: If you think that you are too busy to workout try this experiment . Pick a time to workout and stick to it. At the end of the day see if you were really any less productive because you worked out. Your answer will be no in most cases.
4: Beef up your back . When you are performing lat pull downs do not wrap your thumb around the bar. Instead place it next to your index finger. This will decrease the amount of help that your arms give to the exercise, allowing the lats to do more of the work.
5: Do not train with a weight belt . If you need a weight belt to perform the lift then you are using too much weight. Over time if you are using weight belts on a regular basis the muscles in your lower back will remain weak leaving you open to injury.
6: Try to incorporate gripping exercises . Having a firm grip on the bar will allow you to hold onto it longer during tough lifts. This allows the target muscles to be worked good enough for muscle stimulation. Having a weak grip will cause you to let go of the bar before the muscle is properly fatigued.
7: If you want to recover faster from a workout try working the same muscle the next day with only a small amount of weight. This will give the muscle a pump that will deliver more blood and nutrients to the damaged muscle.
All of these fitness tips will add up to success in the gym .

Interesting Facts about Carmona Bonsai

Carmona tree or most commonly known as the Fukien tree is an interesting species in growing bonsai tree. These kinds of trees can survive outdoors especially if the climate is right. Its name Fukien tree came from the word Fujian which it came from, a province in China. It consists of glossy leaves with shiny appearance. As the trees grow it the cracks are becoming more and more visible in the barks. Do not be bothered by this for it is a natural process and it gives a very good effect on the appearance of the Carmona bonsai. What’s more interesting is that Carmona tree blooms lovely flowers during late spring and early summer and is followed by budding black berries.

Before deciding to buy a Carmona tree and spending your money, do a survey and hunt down for prices first before deciding to buy one. Have your mind set that these kinds of species are quite difficult to maintain and sustain and due care is required.

You should know that Carmona is pretty picky when it comes to temperature. It is best grown at 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit and this should be maintained all year round. It is difficult to grow Carmona bonsai outdoors and very few regions actually possess this type of climate condition. Moreover, good heat of sunlight and lots of air greatly contributes to the successful growth of the bonsai tree.
Another thing that you should know is that Carmona species requires specific lighting form the sunlight. It should be placed at least for an hour of direct sunlight everyday during the seasons of spring and summer. Too much light from the sun can cause the leaves of this picky plant to wrinkle. Carmona can also be grown indoors just make sure the area where it is put has an access to plenty of light but not direct rays of sun.
Always remember that humidity and watering are two different things. The Carmona tree should be poured with just right amount of water to the soil thus allowing it to sink in the soil. Wait for about 5 to 10 minutes until all the poured water has sink in and then pour again with water. This method is very will help the water to reach the roots of the Carmona tree and also the water is distributed all throughout the soil. An indication that the soil is already dry is by touching it and stick about half an inch of your finger through the soil if it feels dry then it is time to pour in the water. Humidity trays always available in stores this will serve as a very good humidity container for the Carmona bonsai.
Another good thing about Carmona bonsai is that it very flexible and responds to pruning and no need to use the wire method to achieve the desired shape and twists of branches. Many bonsai hobbyists find Carmona species to be very challenging to maintain and grow and that is what they are looking for, a challenge.

Read Here for more information about
Carmona Bonsai

SHIMPAKU (Juniperus chinesis)

Summary

Shimpaku is also known as the Chinese Juniper, an excellent choice for bonsai. This evergreen is highly tolerant of various soil types. Interesting, Shimpaku is also dioecious, meaning it has separate male and female plants. This naturally, irregular shaped tree that grows in mound shape. The nice thing about using the Shimpaku tree for bonsai is the year round foliage with dark, green needles, beautiful to look at and soft to touch.

Because the Shimpaku is so easy to grow and maintain, it is perfect for beginner bonsai growers. With more than 500 species of evergreen in the Juniper category, you will certainly find the exact one that suits your needs. Typically, the Shimpaku tree in Japan has been collected from mountains, dating back more than two centuries.

Proper Care

The Shimpaku does best in full sun although those with scale-like foliage do like a little bit of shade. In the winter, you want to protect the Shimpaku from frost. When growing this type of tree indoors, the key is to make sure the tree has lots of good lighting, excellent humidity, and adequate air circulation. Without this, you would have a very difficult time growing it.

To water the Shimpaku, you want to keep the soil barely moist. Watering too much could lead to root rot, which is a problem the Shimpaku is prone to developing. In addition, you should mist the foliage several times a week to help keep pores free from dust in that this tree needs to breathe. To feed this bonsai tree, you want fertilizer every other week, containing high nitrogen. This should be done from the early part of spring to midsummer. Then from late summer through the winter months, feed the Shimpaku with low nitrogen fertilizer.

The Shimpaku needs to be pinched back continually throughout the growing season, helping to keep the foliage dense and compact. The key here is to use only your fingers, never scissors that would cause the foliage to turn brown. Then, do not pinch anything off one month after any visible growth is seen in late spring. Then, you want to thin out the foliage, helping to reduce the volume of older growth in the summer.

Now for repotting your Shimpaku, this should be performed every two years until the tree reaches age 10. At that point, you would only repot as needed. The best type of soil for this bonsai is soil that is free draining. Just make sure all stone or grit used in the soil mix is cleaned prior to using. This will get rid of any alkaline deposits that would cause stress to the tree.

To propagate the Shimpaku, you can air layer or use root ripe, woodcuttings in the fall. When it comes to styling for bonsai, the Shimpaku works exceptionally well with all styles with the exception of the broom. Then, this particular tree is virtually disease free. However, you would want to check occasionally for scales.

What Does it Mean to Have a Green Thumb?

Are you Green Thumb person?

Preoccupying yourself in a hobby like gardening has grown to be a feel good hobby, that involves a considerable amount of work but at the end of the day, it can be satisfying and rewarding.
Developing Green thumb
Some people indulge in it as a personal therapy and others it is the time to bond with their family but one thing is sure that each hour spent on your garden will be paid back with moments of personal delight. Want to literally develop your green thumb, herewith, are some stress free gardening tips which could be your guide:

If you think you are not gifted with a green thumb and don't know anything about growing exotic hedge plants or rare orchids, leave them to the horticultural experts. Instead, focus on basic flowering plants or put up a small herbal garden in an area in your patio or any vacant lot.

- Expand your knowledge by reading about specific temperature, soil and proper care pertinent for your plants. You can ask your friends and relatives, who can share tips about plant care. Garden shows abound during the summer and its good time to visit, learn and be inspired.

- Like any hobby, turn gardening into a passion by constantly and consistently doing it. Some consider mornings as the best times to enjoy gardening since everything is relaxed and refreshed, while others love to do it after work when they are not hurried and also to relieve stress. Set a specific schedule when you can spend a considerable amount of time and stick to it.

- The ingredients required for healthy plants include sunlight, soil and steady supply of water. While some plants require watering everyday, most plants need minimal requirements. When it comes to watering the general rule is that the soil needs to be kept lightly moist to prevent it from drying out.

- You don't need state of the art garden equipment just the basics for opening and improving, weeding and cultivating the soil. Look for spading forks, hoes, trowels, rakes, shovels and shears or clippers.

- Wash your tools before putting them away to avoid corrosion and rust. Keep your tools with cutting edges in top shape and sharpen grass cutters and keep clean always your shovels, hoes and rakes before keeping them in the storage.
Green Thumb means
-An extraordinary ability to make plants grow well.

-A person is said to have a 'green thumb' when almost any plant he/she plants will turn out to thrive well under his/her care.
Bonsai for Beginners
Bonsai for beginners is a complete introductory guide to this beautiful and fascinating art, with advice and suggestions on all aspects of bonsai, including choosing, planting, growing, shaping and maintenance, together with a directory of popular varieti

Growing bonsai is an enjoyable and rewarding pastime, and one that is popular throughout the world. Bonsai for Beginners is a complete guide to starting this fascinating hobby, and chapters cover every aspect of your bonsai, from selecting suitable plants for your climate, through healthcare, styling, potting and troubleshooting to long-term development. A range of useful case studies take you through important techniques throughout the book, and a special chapter, The Bonsai School, looks at styling and development techniques in more detail, as well as providing species information on some of the major bonsai varieties.
How to care Bonsai
The bonsai trees are the miniature trees which are grown in pots or trays. Bonsai literally means bon (tray) and sai (plant). Growing bonsai trees has been an ancient art that is becoming increasingly popular with every passing day throughout the whole Wo

Bonsai must be placed in an area where enough light is available. If a bonsai fails to have enough UV rays, it dries. The bonsai needs warmth in the daytime - at least 60 degree Fahrenheit and the humidity to flourish. Regular spraying on the leaves with water is mandatory. However, bonsai can never be placed in a saucer or tray filled with water, as this can rot the roots. At night what the bonsai needs most is cooling down as it occurs in the nature as well.

Repotting of the bonsai once every two years or so is very crucial and this should be done in the spring. When the re-potting is made the roots should be pruned. Depending on the size of the roots, 1/3 to 2/3 should be removed from the tips. Repotting in a similar type of container as the original is necessary to create the same kind of effect. Drainage holes for the water must be cared of. If the roots come in close contact of much damp they will rot gradually.

Bonsai containers should be shallower than normal indoor pots used for plants. So if fertilizer is added dilution is to be accordingly otherwise the fertilizer will burn the roots. Bonsai should be fed this fertilizer about once every three weeks - but it should not be fed in winter.

Bonsai needs to be "pruned" and "pinched back" at a regular interval to keep it at the desired shape. Actually, this should be done in the spring before the season's growth begins, and then regularly throughout the season. Actually everything depends on perfect pruning .It must be taken care of what kind of tree was got before this pruning - for example, if a ficus is taken all the leaves should be cut back.

Take Care of the Bonsai to be amused

As the bonsai is kept in a shallow container, it can attract pets and prone to be diseased. Bonsai requires more care. Even more than any other plant we generally see at hand

1. The bonsai should be cleaned with a small brush on a regular basis. Any plant debris on the soil is not allowed after the finishing of pruning the bonsai.. It will decompose and hamper the growth with fungal diseases or moss.

There is a common idea that moss is decorative and is not removed. If this is the case it should be kept away it form the trunk and branches of the tree - using a special spatula, or a hard nylon toothbrush just scraping away . A pair of tweezers is needed to remove any weed and it must be remembered that any grass can steal nutrients away from the tree.

2. Pests always should be kept away. As bonsai is watered often to keep it humid, this attract

pests such as aphids (aka greenfly), caterpillars, ants and red spider mites.

Diseases to combat

Diseases like Powdery mildew are the most widespread fungus disease. If a white, floury layer on

the shoots and leaves of the tree is seen it is nothing but powdery mildew. Rust may appear as orange or brown patches on the leaves. You may be using too much potassium in the soil, if this begins to occur.

Iron deficiency will cause yellowing of the trees. The leaves or needles will turn yellow - while the veins will remain green. This usually takes place in chalky or lime soil, which "locks up" the iron.

Repot and changes in the potting compost should be done.

The four seasons to notice

Special treatments for the outdoor bonsai will need special treatment in each of the four seasons, but even the indoor bonsai needs special treatment at times, for the biological necessities, rather

than environmental ones.

There's no need to give fertilizer during the winter, for example Pruning for shape should be done in early spring, and, as stated earlier, repotting should take place in the spring of every second year, and the roots trimmed.

How to Grow Bonsai Trees From Seed

How to Grow Bonsai Trees From Seed

1.Bonsai Seeds

Collect mature bonsai seeds. If you collect your seeds from a fruit tree, you will have to plant them right away. If not, you can store them in a dark and dry area with a nice air flow. If you plant your seeds right away, remember to use an environmentally safe plastic bag as well.

2. Refrigerate your seeds before planting. You need to have your bonsai seeds in the refrigerator for about a week before you plant them. Soak them in water the night before you plant them. The ones that are the ripest will sink to the bottom. These are the ones you will have to use when planting your bonsai seeds.

3. Select a container to plant your bonsai tree in. This can be tricky because if you choose a smaller container, you will have to re-pot it quite often as it grows. Line your container with plastic and have a way for the water to drain from the container. Roots that sit in water too long will rot leaving you with a dead tree and you will have to repeat the entire process over again!

4.Add a layer of sand to your container first then cover the sand with rich potting soil. You want to choose a potting soil that is rich in nutrients and well balanced. This will ensure your bonsai tree roots will grow healthily.

5.Dig small holes in the soil using your finger then place seeds into the holes. Once you have placed the seeds in the soil you can add another layer of soil on top of the seeds.

6.Place your containers in a dry and dark area with a nice air flow as before. Be sure you cover the container with a light net material or even a cotton sheet just to keep the dust away. Using a spray water bottle, you can mist the tops of your seeds with enough water to dampen the soil. After a month or so they will start to sprout up and this is when you can move them into direct sunlight and be fertilized as well.

Visit here : Bonsai Mall

How To Collect Bonsai From The Wild

Great bonsai trees can be found in your own backyard (or your neighbors) if you
know what to look for. In this tutorial I will show you how to I collected a stump
from an old Ligustrum tree.

The tree I am working with is an old ligustrum that had to have one
half removed to make room for a fence. It was allowed to grow for a
year and this was the result. The left side of this tree is about 20'
high and very healthy.

Collecting The Tree
(not as easy as collecting berries or rare coins)

This stump looks daunting but I think I can take it.. The first thing
I need to do is find out what roots there are to work with. I use my
fingers to dig down beside the trunk so I do not damage whatever
roots are there. In the photo it looks like there are plenty, but
actually all of those are coming from the parent trunk.

I am using the simple hand tools below and a reciprocating saw to
make the cuts. Also not pictured is an 18" crowbar and a small
sledge hammer that I ended up using.

I decided to use a scissor jack to spread the two halves while I cut
underneath. It ended up working pretty well but this is of course
rare and I did damage the two trees a little.

Once I put significant pressure on it with the jack it was easier to cut. I
started with the reciprocating saw and then moved on to the hand saw.
It took about 20 minutes but it finally cut through.

As you can see, there were not many roots to work with. I tried to
salvage everything I could. If you will notice the roots that are left are on
the side of the trunk that the new growth is on so there is a good chance it
will survive. The growth on the right side in the photo was directly
connected to the parent trunk and will probably die.

I then planted it immediately into a large 24" well draining container
in a mix of black garden soil, turface, lava, pine bark and sand.

Last but not least, I watered it in thoroughly and fed it a little
b1 starter solution. It will need to stay on the patio, out of
direct sunlight for a couple of weeks until it begins to show
signs of new growth again. Thanks for reading and I will
post new pics as I work on this one.

credit : Bonsai Buddy