Organising an efficient workstation

This turned out to be an enormous yr within the backyard for repots. Along with Adam, Steve, Christian, and JC, we repotted round 195 bonsai and pre-bonsai plus 14 flats of younger timber – way over the traditional routine.

In hindsight, this wouldn’t have been doable with out an environment friendly workstation. I’ve taken totally different approaches to repotting based mostly on the area I’ve to work in however solely really feel like I acquired it proper this yr.

The very first thing I did was transfer the repotting station out of the workshop and into an adjoining shed. I didn’t need to fill the workshop with mud as in previous years so I arrange an area devoted to repotting that would get soiled.

I positioned a turntable subsequent to tables with ample area for instruments, provides, and attempting out pots. Simply having further desk area close by proved invaluable as I might simply set the tree apart whereas prepping or attempting out totally different pots.

Repotting workstation

I saved tie-down wire, drainage display screen, a receptacle for wire scraps, a can for natural waste, and a bin with the instruments I relied personal all inside arm’s attain.

Repotting gear

These are the instruments I used most this yr.

Repotting instruments
(not pictured – a lot of bamboo chopsticks!)

I saved soil mixes proper behind the workstation. At any given time I maintained no multiple or two buckets every of the fundamentals: a drainage combine, a medium combine, and a small combine (see “What sort of combine ought to I take advantage of for my bonsai?” for particulars).

Bonsai soil mixes

For timber going into present pots, I saved a turntable open in entrance of a white sheet so I might stand again and ensure the planting angle was proper the place I wished it.

Clear backdrop

After all, merely having a spot with good mild that allowed me to work when it was raining was key as we ended up recording one of many wettest years on report.

After discovering such a helpful setup, it’ll be exhausting for me to return to the outdated method of doing issues (specifically, stopping what I’m doing each time I have to search for one thing or discover a place to set one thing down).

On that word, I’m already dreaming a few new and improved repotting station for subsequent yr!

Information and updates

• This weekend is the American Bonsai Affiliation Sacramento’s 63rd(!) annual exhibit. Come see Todd Schlafer demos Saturday and Sunday and store on the members’ sale and vendor cubicles. The occasion is held on the Shepard Backyard and Arts Middle in Sacramento’s McKinley Park at 3330 McKinley Blvd. Hours are 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Saturday, April eighth and Sunday the ninth. Study extra from ABAS.
• In case you’ll be within the Seattle space subsequent month, plan to cease by the Pacific Bonsai Museum’s BonsaiFEST! on Mom’s Day weekend, Saturday, Might 13 and Sunday, Might 14. Along with seeing the backyard at a ravishing time of yr, there will likely be demonstrations, tree gross sales, an exhibit by the Puget Sound Bonsai Affiliation, and the opening of the backyard’s newest particular exhibit, “Avant-garden.” Study extra concerning the fun-filled weekend from the Pacific Bonsai Museum.
• Pre-orders at the moment are out there for an exhibition ebook for the forthcoming “Bonsai as Effective Artwork” occasion from the Blue Ridge Bonsai Society and Blue Spiral 1 Gallery. Study extra concerning the occasion right here. Pre-order the ebook from the Blue Ridge Bonsai Society.
• Additionally in June is the American Bonsai Society’s 2023 Studying Seminars offered by the Rocky Mountain Bonsai Society in partnership with Denver Botanic Gardens. The occasion is likely one of the premier Norther American bonsai occasions with workshops, seminars, demonstrations, distributors, and exhibition. A whole lot of effort goes into this yr’s occasion – study extra on the ABS Denver 2023 web site.