Chinese medicine has developed acupuncture, acupressure, herbal remedies, diet, exercise, lifestyle changes, and other remedies as part of its healing methods. Nearly all of the forms of Oriental medicine that are used in the West today, including acupuncture, acupressure, shiatsu, and Chinese herbal medicine, have their roots in Chinese medicine. Acupressure is the non-invasive form of acupuncture. The goal with Acupressure is to learn the points that will produce the Healing Response for the conditions we want to fix.

More ….

Acupuncture is based on the theory that there is an invisible force or energy in nature that the Chinese call qi. In a manner similar to blood circulation, qi flows to each cell via a complex network of pathways usually called `channels` or`meridians`. If qi gets stuck, it causes an imbalance as upstream cells are flooded with too much qi and downstream cells receive too little. Acupuncture points are those spots where qi has the greatest tendency to get stuck; hence stimulating them with needles (acupuncture) or finger pressure (acupressure) helps free stuck qi and restore normal circulation. Once normal qi circulation is restored, the cells eventually return to their normal, healthy state.

For most of us, troubled times are a crisis which we would like to get over with as soon as possible and move on. For some, however, they are the trigger to finding a much larger purpose in life.

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Warnings

Do not use acupressure to replace standard emergency procedures or licensed medical treatment. If you are seriously injured or have persistent symptoms seek urgent medical treatment

Acupressure should not be used:

• As the only treatment for illness; if you are sick, see a doctor
• If you have a heart condition
• Just before or within 20 minutes after heavy exercise, a large meal, or bathing
• If the point in question is under a mole, wart, varicose vein, abrasion, bruise, cut, or any other break in the skin
• If you are pregnant, especially if more than 3 months

Note that symptoms marked (M) indicate that the need for medical attention is likely, and those marked (EM!) indicate that emergency medical attention may be needed if the condition is severe or life-threatening. For these symptoms, only use acupressure to supplement professional medical care, or when no professional medical care is available. Only try acupressure for these symptoms after seeking professional care and after using standard first aid and emergency techniques.

Directions for Using Acupressure

To stimulate an acupoint properly, you must apply deep probing pressure. Therefore, only apply pressure with:

Finger Tip	Knuckle	Pencil Eraser

Before beginning, try to accuratley classify your problem. For example, if you have a backache brought on by stress, you might be better off treating the stress rather than the backache itself.

The figures and text give the approximate location of a point. Explore the area with a deep probing pressure, until the exact point announces itself to you with a sharp twinge. It starts as a jolt, and after a moment becomes a numbing sensation, or a tingling radiating from the point. It can be quite a shock the first time, but sensitivity decreases with experience.

When you have found the point, apply pressure for 15 to 30 seconds. Repeat using the same point on the other side of your body. You should feel immediate relief. You may feel a release of tension, sinus drainage or perspiration. Sometimes points on opposite sides of the body will have different effects. If symptoms increase, do not use that side or point.

If the first point doesn’t work, try the next point or points until you find one that does. There may be more than one approach to your symptoms, such as “kidneys” vs. “backache.” When you find a point that helps, use that point. If the relief is temporary, re-stimulate the point. Sometimes a pain will go away and return three or four times, lesser each time.

REMEMBER: IF YOU HAVE A SEVERE OR PERSISTENT
PROBLEM, SEE YOUR DOCTOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

You are trying to harmonize your inner environment, so isolate yourself from the external environment as much as possible. Find a quiet place, sit down, and try to relax. Avoid loud music, exercise, food, and any drugs, including alcohol, while stimulating your acupoints.

Once you are familiar with using acupressure on yourself you can try it on others, but be cautious. Most states have laws against the practice of remedial massage, or medicine of any kind, without a license. I suggest that you only attempt to use it on your family and friends.

When you do use it on others, be cautious of the warnings listed. Also, be sure to explain what you are doing and what they can expect. Remember that thumb widths and hand widths shown on the diagrams refer to the width of the thumb or hand of the person being treated. Ask for feed-back from them to be sure you’ve located the right spot, as exact locations of points vary from person to person.

1. FireFox 3

2. Internet Explorer 8

3. Netscape

Official End of Support
Given AOL’s current business focus and the success the Mozilla Foundation has had in developing critically-acclaimed products, we feel it’s the right time to end development of Netscape branded software. Read the history page for more details about this decision.

4. Flock

The award-winning Flock browser has all of the advantages of Firefox, with your favorite friends, photos and videos along for the ride.

…..

5. Google Crome

Google Chrome: a new web browser for Windows

Google Chrome is a browser that combines a minimal design with sophisticated technology to make the web faster, safer and easier.

6. Safari 4

…..

7. SeaMonkey

8. K-Meleon

If you need Light-weight Firefox-like browser try this one.

9. Midori

A delightful haven of both migratory and common birds, Nal Sarovar a natural lake, situates 70 – 80 kilometers away from Ahmedabad is a perfect retreat to those who want to absorb themselves in absolute serenity. Spread across a rambling expanse of 116 sq km, this natural asylum of rare and exotic birds looks as if it were a fairyland. Avian flock from Siberia is the most precious visitors in this park.

Around 250 varieties of wet land birds, along with the winter and spring guests like Pelicans, White Storks, Rosy Flamingos, Brahminy Ducks and Herons gives a magnificent look to this sanctuary. Bird lovers should reach here at dawn since most of the avian flock is seen visible during that time. Country boats hired on rent would suffice you with the unique opportunity of viewing the bird flock in a close angle. Another important spectacle in this region is the vast number of atolls where you can spot nomadic populace.

The Nal Sarovar Lake also arranges for a boat ride which will cost you INR 50 per hour. But mind it, the entire ride would take around 3 hrs. The good thing is that they don’t charge anything per person. But then this ride is worth the price as its really beautiful in the interiors! There are also arrangements of a night stay or camping around the lake. O if you want to see the Nal Sarovar and be back in time the sane day then you have to began early in the morning at least at 5 a.m. . It takes around 5 hrs to reach Nal Sarovar from the main City of Ahmadabad. Don’t forget to take binoculars along and some snacks too. Lunch can be had in any of the nearby restaurants of Nal Sarovar.

Route :

Take left turn from Sanand (18 kms from ahmedabad) itself. This is a lovely route with moderate roads. This route goes through few very lovely villages where you can feel deeply immersed in the natural beauty.

Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary Travel Information

Location : Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.

Area : 116 Sq. Kms.

Time to Visit : November to February

Established : 1969

Climate : Tropical

Nearest Town : Viramagam

How to Reach

By Air : Only 80 kms. Ahmedabad is the nearest Airport from Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary.

By Train : Ahmedabad is also connected by direct train services from Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Goa , Kolkata and Chennai.

By Road : Ahmedabad which connects all the Gujarat Cities.

Ahmedabad offers the traveler various interesting and historical places. Ancient mosques, temples and forts are the main attraction for tourist. Visitors like to visit Jumma Masjud, Hutheesingh derasar and famous sabarmati ashram.

Week-End in Ahmedabad.

Around Ahmedabad.

Visit Gujarat.

Jamnagar has India’s first marine National park (Pirotan Island), since 1982

It is located 12 nautical miles (22 km) off the coast (Bedi Port), consists of mangroves and low-tide beaches, and has an area of 3 square kilometers. The center of the island is at 22°35′59.7″N 69°57′20.8″E / 22.599917°N 69.955778°E / 22.599917; 69.955778. Rozi island is located about 10 kilometers to the southeast.

Of the 42 islands in the park, Pirotan Island is the most popular and is one of the two islands where visitors are normally permitted. Visitation is strictly limited, permission is required from the Forest Department, Customs Department and the Ports. The mangroves consist mainly of species of Rhizophora, Avicennia and Ceriops.

This is one of the rare places in the world where one can look at corals without having to dive down into the water. One just has to walk in the water, when the tide ebbs, in about 1 to 2 feet of water and watch this fascinating underwater world of corals.

The fascinating underwater world of the Marine Sanctuary & National Park.

162.89 Square Kilometers of Marine National Park and 457.92 Square Kilometers of Marine Sanctuary in the Gulf of Kutch at Jamnagar offers exotic sightings for people willing to go on an adventure trip in this area.

In the Gulf of Kutch, 42 islands sit like little gems in the Arabian Sea. Fringed by coral reefs, sandy beaches and mangrove swamps, these islands are a treasure-trove of marine species and a paradise for birdwatchers.

One can see, octopus, jelly fish, star fish, colourful corals, exotic marine flowering plants, puffer fish, sea horse, huge green sea turtles, lobsters, dolphins, etc.

And if one is very lucky then maybe a dugong which resembles seals.

Of the 42 islands, the most popular island is Pirotan (old name is “Pir jo thaan” meaning the place of the holy Saint Khwaja Khizer Alaihisalaam).

• Excellent Coral Reefs
• 37 species of Hard & Soft Corals
• 70 species of Sponges
• 27 species of Prawns
• 30 species of Crabs
• 200 species of Molluscs
• Endangered Sea Turtles like the Green Sea, Oliver Riddley & Leather Back.
• 3 Speices of Sea Mammals
• 94 species of Water Birds
• 78 species of terrestrial birds
• 108 species of brown, green & red Algae
• There are beautiful islands here where one can see pristine & non corrupted sandy beaches…

Population

The only people there on the island are the Forest Guard, the Light House people & the Mujhavar (Server) at the Holy Saint Khwaja Khizer R.A. shrine (Durgah).

Most visitors come in the morning with the high tide and leave by evening. Weekends in winters may bring more than 200-300 visitors.

Visiting Pirotan

The island being protected marine park, several permissions are required for visiting. For Indian Nationals, permission from local forest office and Custom office is required. Foreign nationals additionally require permission for Police Office.

There are no routine ferry service to island. Local fishing boats can be hired from Bedi Jetty or Sikka Jetty. These boats take about 1.5 hours to reach the island. Since the beach is very shallow, the boats can only reach the island during high tide and leave the island during high tide.

Marine

Marine life-forms found include:

• Various types of Crabs
• Neptune
• Wolf
• King crab
• Hermit crabs
• Ghost crabs

• Sea Scorpions
• Wiper- Isosceles
• Sea snakes
• Sea slugs
• Sea Horse
• Squid
• Sea Anemone
• Octopus
• Sea Worms
• sabella
• Mud Skipper
• Sea Bonellia
• Coaster Cather
• Sea Urchin

Sea-birds

Flamingo, Cranes, Sea Gull, Harring Gull, Blackhead Gull, Crab Plover Gull, Puffin.

Part of Pirotan Island from the top of the lighthouse.

Yellow Carpet sea Anemone at Pirotan Island

Connectivity To Jamnagar

By Road: Jamnagar has a well-established road link to various cities of Gujarat like Rajkot, Porbundar, Bhuj, Bhavnagar, Ahmedabad, Baroda and Surat.

Bus : ST buses go hourly to Rajkot and every 30 minutes to Junagadh; other buses go to Dwarka, Porbandar, Bhuj and Ahemdabad and other places of Gujarat.

There are various private bus companies having modern buses in good condition and which are air conditioned; plying between Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Baroda, Surat, Mumbai, etc

By Rail: Jamnagar Railway Station is well connected with Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Calcutta and other important cities of India through regular trains.

The Saurashtra Mail and the Saurashtra Express are the popular trains that run between Jamnagar and Mumbai. Inter City Train Between Jamnagar and Ahmedabad leaves in the early morning. There are also trains to Dwarka.

By Air: Jamnagar Airport 10 km. The Jamnagar airport has daily flights connecting it with Mumbai.

There is no minibus service to the airport, which is a long way out. Hotel President has Courtesy Coach to the Airport.

Local Connectivity

Auto-rickshaws: Auto rickshaws are available in Jamnagar for covering shorter distances within the city.

Taxis: Taxis are widely used in Jamnagar for commuting outside the city, contact the Front office of the hotel where you stay, they will arrange, or you can go directly to the Taxi stand near S.T. Bus stand to hire them.

Anything in Jamnagar city is within 10 minutes traveling distance…

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Pirotan Island Connectivity

Presently one can charter 25/30 seater boats for visiting the Pirotan Island.
Pirotan Island is about 12 nautical miles from Bedi port. Its a 2 hours journey by the boats available.
Sailing in the marine national park by boat is also a wonderful experience…
You are sure to see lots of birds on the Islands and you also have a chance of spotting the playful dolphins.
Sailing of tourists in fishing boats, is not permitted.

For access to the Marine National Park, one has to take permissions from the Forest Department, The Customs Department & the Port. In case of foreign tourists additional permission from the Police Department is also needed.

The fact which makes it worth planning a trip beforehand is that, one has to confirm the tide timings, as the boat can reach the pirotan island only when its full tide, the tide has a 12 hours cycle…ie; if today morning the full tide is at 6AM then again at evening 6PM it will be full tide…
The tide timings keep changing everyday, so one should checkup the tide timings with organizers as to when the day will be favorable… As a rule of thumb, the lunar or the Gujarati dates of 5th, 6th & 7th are the most favorable, when the tide is there in the morning.
Please carry necessary beverage
NOTE: -”Alcohol is not permitted in Gujarat”

Island is so unexploited that no facilities have been developed yet… Not even drinking water is available on the island.
The only people there on the island are the Forest Guard, the Light House people & the Mujhavar (Server) at the Holy Saint Khwaja Khizer R.A. Dargah.

For doing the coral walk, its advised to wear thick soled shoes or sandals, because some of the places in the reefs are sharp.

For assistance with regards to tide timings & the booking of boats, you may contact Hotel President, Jamnagar

Hotel President, Teen Batti, Jamnagar – 361 001, Gujarat, India.
Phone: +91 288 2557491 Fax: +91 288 2558491
Email: info@hotelpresident.in

The favorable dates for
visiting Pirotan island in 2010 are
:

There are 4 steps to creating a wireless network:

1. Choose your wireless equipment

2. Connect your wireless router

3. Configure your wireless router

4. Connect your computers

For Windows XP users, Windows XP Service Pack 2 is not required for wireless networking, but it does make things much easier. Service Pack 2 also helps protect you against hackers, worms, and other Internet intruders.

The first step is to make sure that you have the equipment you need. As you’re looking for products in stores or on the Internet, you might notice that you can choose equipment that supports three different wireless networking technologies: 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g. We recommend 802.11g, because it offers excellent performance and is compatible with almost everything.

Shopping list

A wireless router

The router converts the signals coming across your Internet connection into a wireless broadcast, sort of like a cordless phone base station. Be sure to get a wireless router, and not a wireless access point.

A wireless network adapter

Network adapters wirelessly connect your computer to your wireless router. If you have a newer computer you may already have wireless capabilities built in. If this is the case, then you will not need a wireless network adapter. If you need to purchase an adapter for a desktop computer, buy a USB wireless network adapter. If you have a laptop, buy a PC card-based network adapter. Make sure that you have one adapter for every computer on your network.

Note: To make setup easy, choose a network adapter made by the same vendor that made your wireless router. For example, if you find a good price on a Linksys router, choose a Linksys network adapter to go with it. To make shopping even easier, buy a bundle, such as those available from D-Link, Netgear, Linksys, Microsoft, and Buffalo. If you have a desktop computer, make sure that you have an available USB port to plug the wireless network adapter into. If you don’t have any open USB ports, buy a hub to add additional ports.

Since you’ll be temporarily disconnected from the Internet, print these instructions before you go any further.

First, locate your cable modem or DSL modem and unplug it to turn it off.

Next, connect your wireless router to your modem. Your modem should stay connected directly to the Internet. Later, after you’ve hooked everything up, your computer will wirelessly connect to your router, and the router will send communications through your modem to the Internet.

Next, connect your router to your modem:

Note: The instructions below apply to a Linksys wireless router. The ports on your router may be labeled differently, and the images may look different on your router. Check the documentation that came with your equipment for additional assistance.

If you currently have your computer connected directly to your modem: Unplug the network cable from the back of your computer, and plug it into the port labeled Internet, WAN, or WLAN on the back of your router.

If you do not currently have a computer connected to the Internet: Plug one end of a network cable (included with your router) into your modem, and plug the other end of the network cable into the Internet, WAN, or WLAN port on your wireless router.

If you currently have your computer connected to a router: Unplug the network cable connected to the Internet, WAN, or WLAN port from your current router, and plug this end of the cable into the Internet, WAN, or WLAN port on your wireless router. Then, unplug any other network cables, and plug them into the available ports on your wireless router. You no longer need your original router, because your new wireless router replaces it.

Next, plug in and turn on your cable or DSL modem. Wait a few minutes to give it time to connect to the Internet, and then plug in and turn on your wireless router. After a minute, the Internet, WAN, or WLAN light on your wireless router should light up, indicating that it has successfully connected to your modem.

Using the network cable that came with your wireless router, you should temporarily connect your computer to one of the open network ports on your wireless router (any port that isn’t labeled Internet, WAN, or WLAN). If you need to, turn your computer on. It should automatically connect to your router.

Next, open Internet Explorer and type in the address to configure your router.

You might be prompted for a password. The address and password you use will vary depending on what type of router you have, so refer to the instructions included with your router.

As a quick reference, this table shows the default addresses, usernames, and passwords for some common router manufacturers.

Internet Explorer will show your router’s configuration page. Most of the default settings should be fine, but you should configure three things:

1. Your wireless network name, known as the SSID. This name identifies your network. You should choose something unique that none of your neighbors will be using.

2. Wireless encryption (WEP) or Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA), which help protect your wireless network. For most routers, you will provide a passphrase that your router uses to generate several keys. Make sure your passphrase is unique and long (you don’t need to memorize it).

3. Your administrative password, which controls your wireless network. Just like any other password, it should not be a word that you can find in the dictionary, and it should be a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. Be sure you can remember this password, because you’ll need it if you ever have to change your router’s settings.

The exact steps you follow to configure these settings will vary depending on the type of router you have. After each configuration setting, be sure to click Save Settings, Apply, or OK to save your changes.

Now, you should disconnect the network cable from your computer.

If your computer does not have wireless network support built in, plug your network adapter into your USB port, and place the antenna on top of your computer (in the case of a desktop computer), or insert the network adapter into an empty PC card slot (in the case of a laptop). Windows XP will automatically detect the new adapter, and may prompt you to insert the CD that came with your adapter. The on-screen instructions will guide you through the configuration process.

Note: The steps below only apply if you’re using Windows XP Service Pack 2. If you’re running Windows XP and you don’t have Service Pack 2 yet, plug your computer into your wireless router and download and install Windows XP Service Pack 2.

Windows XP should show an icon with a notification that says it has found a wireless network.

1. Right-click the wireless network icon in the lower-right corner of your screen, and then click View Available Wireless Networks. If you run into any problems, consult the documentation that came with your network adapter. Don’t be afraid to call their tech support.

2. The Wireless Network Connection window should appear and you should see your wireless network listed with the network name you chose. If you don’t see your network, click Refresh network list in the upper-left corner. Click your network, and then click Connect in the lower-right corner.

3. Windows XP prompts you to enter a key. Type the encryption key that you wrote down earlier in both the Network key and Confirm network key boxes, and then click Connect.

4. Windows XP will show its progress as it connects to your network. After you’re connected, you can now close the Wireless Network Connection window. You’re done.

Note: If the Wireless Network Connection window continues to show Acquiring Network Address, you may have mistyped the encryption key.

originally from Microsoft site.

Overview

Ahmedabad is a city having present population of 45 lakhs (4.5 million), which is likely to be 11 million by the year 2035. This would lead to agglomeration of surrounding settlements like Gandhinagar and other smaller villages, which ultimately increases the area of the city, which may become 1,000 sq.km in the year 2035. Moreover, about 1/3rd of total as well as student population reside within walking distance from the proposed BRTS network. Thus, there is a growing need for greater accessibility to basic amenities and opportunities for mobility in the city. In such a state of rapid urbanization, it is very essential to have an efficient and rapid transit system, which will sustain and accelerate the growth of the city. In order to cater this future demand, the city and State Government has initiated a Plan for Integrated Public Transit System, in which Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) is one of the components. This will facilitate the major mobility need of the people. In future, this system will get integrated with Ahmedabad Metro by the addition of two lines running through east to west and north to south.

In addition, after the openings of Ahmedabad BRTS and Ahmedabad Metro, Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT) can be reached easily through multi modal mix of Rapid Transport Systems.

Unlike other Indian BRTS projects, this project is on full-swing construction mode, and the system designs are quite similar to Curitiba’s Rede Integrada de Transporte and Bogota’s TransMilenio which are exceptionally better than Delhi BRTS and Pune BRTS

Ahmedabad Janmarg Limited

Ahmedabad Janmarg Limited (AJL), the parent company which would govern BRTS operations in the city, is constituted as a Special Purpose Vehicle by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority and Government of Gujarat.It is presently envisaged that private operators selected through competitive bidding will carry out bus operations.The AJL logo has been designed by National Institute of Design and released on 3rd May 2008.The logo has two arrows showing movement symbolizing motion of moving ahead.The two big dots along the arrows represent the people who will use them. Between the two arrows is the alphabet ‘M’ which has been derived from Marg. It also symbolizes the central path where the buses will be plying.

Selection of Corridors

Based on an analysis of the socio-economic factors, travel demand patterns, road network characteristics, proposed metro plan and existing Ahmedabad Municipal Transport Service (AMTS) route network as the criteria, a network of roads covering about 155 kilometers in length have been identified for developing the Bus Rapid Transit System within Ahmedabad.

[ GMDC Station - Interior. This station will cater Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation Office, University Ground, AES(Ahmedabad Education Society's) Ground and Physical Research Laboratory ].

Corridors

Given the expected travel demand on each corridor, BRTS solutions are structured. The following are the typical BRTS corridors.

1 Vasna – Sabarmati – Naroda – Narol (47.5 km)

2 Vasna – Sabarmati (15 km)

3 Naroda – Narol (18 km)

4 Thaltej – Kalupur (9.1 km)

4 Sattadhar – Kalupur (9.55 km)

5 Ghatlodia to Vadaj (4.92 km)

6 Sabarmati to Sarkhej VIA Ashram Road (17.63 km)

7 ISKCON Temple to Kalupur (11.09 km)

8 Station-Narol-Lambha (8.44 km)

9 Station-Jasodanagar Crossroad-Hathijan (12.81 km)

10 Kalupur to Odhav (9.49 km)

11 Kalupur to Naroda (10.29 km)

12 Thaltej-Narol-Lambha (University Road) (17.15 km)

13 Sarkhej to Gota (12.45 km)

14 Paldi to Station VIA Jamalpur (OPTIONAL CONNECTION) (3.25 km)

15 ISKCON Temple to Vasna VIA Nehru Nagar Circle (6.35 km)

16 Sabarmati – Kalupur (8.98 km)

17 Vadaj-Gota (5.75 km)

18 Shivranjani Crossroad-Kalupur VIA Shreyas, New Bridge, Station(11.57 km)

Janmarg Transit Map at GMDC BRT Station

Steering Committee

The Bus Rapid Transit Project for Ahmedabad city has been guided by the steering committee chaired by Shri. K. Kailashnathan, (I.A.S), Secretary, Urban Development and Urban Housing Department, Government of Gujarat.

1. Mr. Anil Mukim – Former Municipal Commissioner, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC)

2. Mr. P.J Pujari – Secretary, Economic Affairs, Finance Department

3. Mr. Jayant Parimal – CEO, Gujarat Infrastructure Development Board (GIDB)

4.Mr. K. Srinivas – Managing Director, Gujarat Urban Development Company (GUDC)

Ahmedabad BRTS Vehicle Technology Choice

At present Ahmedabad JanMarg Ltd, the special purpose vehicle conceived by AMC, AUDA and the state government has stalled their decision for the selection of buses due to rise in global fuel prices. Below is the list of Buses AJL is considering for city BRTS project.

1.Tata starbus low floor

2.Tata starbus Ultra low floor CNG

3.Volvo 7700

4.Volvo 8500 city bus low floor

5.Volvo 8500 intercity bus

6.Ashok Leyland Viking BS-II

7.Ashok Leyland 12 M bus

8.Ashok Leyland 222 CNG Bus

9.Swaraj Mazda Wt-50 LWB

More information.

How to use moss in Bonsai

Use of Rocks in Bonsai

What containers to choose (pots)

Bonsai soils, and how to mix your own

Moss for Bonsai…

There are functions for everything in bonsai, and mosses and lichens, used as ground covers, are no exception. They, of course, look great, covering the soil surface with ‘green velvet’ and helping to retain water while holding the soil in the container. For people buying bonsai, the presence of moss is always a good sign. There are a great number of types of mosses and lichens and these can be mixed to provide a very effective result overall. When not used for ‘conservation’ purposes, they should be planted sparingly so that their effect is natural, and they do not prevent water from reaching the soil. There is a particular method of mossing a potted bonsai that will produce a smooth mat of deep green, with none of the lumpy growth that can be typical of piecing bits of moss together. With a sharp knife, slice the moss from its growing place, taking as little soil as possible. Put this moss in a container lined with paper, and moisten it lightly (it should be moist, not wet). Remove most of the remaining soil from the moss using sharp scissors, pulling each little tuft away from the larger piece. Prepare the surface soil in the bonsai pot by scratching it to roughen it up. With long handed tweezers, start inserting each tuft of moss close to, but not against, the trunk. Work out and away from the trunk until you have the look you want, then brush off most of the tufts. Sprinkle dry soil over the moss and press it down with a flat spatula or small trowel (even your hand if you are careful). Mist gently two or three times and the soil will settle down between the tufts. As an alternative to collecting moss and going through this somewhat time consuming process, you can use dried moss. Gather it, then place it in the shade for a few days until it is completely dry. Put it through a fine strainer – a sieve will do – to crumble it. Mix the particles with some soil and spread it over the bonsai soil in the pot, making a thin, even layer. Press it down with a flat spatula or small trowel and gently mist continually until the soft green moss begins to grow. Some people just scrape soil off the bottom of the moss and put this on the soil of the bonsai, but takes a much longer time to root and is a delight for small birds when looking for worms if left exposed. Along with the growth of a healthy crop of moss often comes the appearance of a silver fungus around the soil line at the trunk of the tree. This is a sign of a healthily growing bonsai. The fungus develops as the moss takes hold, and it cannot be artificially implanted. In the heat of summer, moss may turn brown. Do not despair – it means the bonsai is getting the water it needs. As soon as cooler temperatures and higher humidity return, so will the ‘green velvet’.

Using Ornamental Rocks…

If you want to increase the impact of your bonsai, introducing one or more rocks is a good idea. Solid, elemental-looking rocks can give the impression that a bonsai is part of a landscape. A single rock can resemble a rugged cliff, a towering mountain, or a rocky island. A group of smaller rocks, positioned as outcrops protruding from the soil of the bonsai container, can recall the rocky terrain in which the tree lives.

The use of ornamental rocks with a bonsai tree was always something of great importance in ancient times. This practice has become less used these days, but can add just that one final touch to your bonsai masterpiece. Excessive use of rock and statues around a bonsai is known as Saikei, but a single one or two rocks along with the tree still classify as a bonsai.

The choice of what type of rock to use basically is up to the bonsai artist. Personally, I use interesting and weathered pieces of granite and slate that I have collected from the wild, but you could basically use anything that looks natural and suits the type of tree for the bonsai, and the pot. Note that if you are going to use rocks collected from the sea, or estuaries, that these have been exposed to the elements for two years at least (such as in a corner of your garden) where this has allowed the salt and any other chemicals to leach from inside. If you do use a rock that has been exposed to chemicals or substances that are detrimental to your bonsai – either do not use it, or make sure that these substances are properly eliminated.

For your rock ‘planting’ you obviously need to find a beautiful rock that is harmonious and complimentary to the tree’s structure and colours. Many types of rock exist around the world, but some are better than others for bonsai. The best kind for bonsai work is a hard type that will not crumble away. It should also have an important colour, shape, and texture. Pay particular attention to the rock’s shape and type. It should be intrinsically interesting. A round, smooth rock, for example, suggests a watery scene, so it would enhance trees such as willows. A bland rock is unlikely to produce a good effect. On the whole, pick a rock with a natural-looking shape, but you should not find this a limitation, because nature produces a wide range of fantastically contorted mountains, boulders and rocks. Pleasing texture and colour are also important: black and shades of grey are usually impressive.

A popular choice of rock is the Japanese Ibigawa rock. It is a volcanic conglomerate, a mixture of several rock types welded together by the heat of volcanic activity.

Do not use marble or quartz because their intensively shiny, glittering textures will detract from the natural effect of the trees. Frost may split the strata lines of sandstone and other types of sedimentary rocks.

You can use soft rocks such as lava rock and tufa, but don’t rely on these too heavily as they can erode quite quickly. Soft rocks should never be used for clasped to rock or root-over-rock styles.

Containers/Pots for Bonsai…

When it comes to bonsai, it is not just the plant and its styling that makes the bonsai appealing to the viewer. The choice of the container that the bonsai is in is also quite important to the overall look and ‘feel’ of the tree. The container is as important as the tree in a bonsai design. Usually, growers select the pot after styling the tree, so that the two harmonise in shape, size, colour and texture. Practical and aesthetic factors affect the choice of pot. The purpose of the container is of course to provide suitable accommodation for the tree’s needs, but also to compliment its branch structure and seasonal or year-round colours.

The pot must hold enough soil for the roots to develop over a year or two. It should be frost-proof with enough drainage holes. Bonsai containers are usually shallow, but sometimes you may use a deeper one to hold a fruiting tree for example, that needs plenty of water to swell its fruits. (Never try to save on watering time by using a pot too large for the tree, as the roots may become waterlogged and rot.

It is said that unglazed, dark-coloured containers are usually chosen for classic bonsai or to impart a look of age. Evergreens such as conifers, look best in neutral brown pots, but glazed containers should be used for flowering trees or trees with unusual colours or characteristics. Pots of the colour featured above work well with plants such as Cotoneasters – with their bright red berries. Over the years, it has become traditional to select rather neutral shades of brown, grey and red for evergreens and the more colourful pots of green, blue and white for deciduous trees. It has also long been recognised, for example, that flowering trees look good in green, blue and deep purple pots. The exception to this is that trees and shrubs with red flowers look best in white pots. Fruiting trees can handle the competition of coloured pots and certain traditions have developed around them. For instance, it is considered the norm for trees with red fruit in white pots, and trees with yellow or orange fruits in blue pots. Basic brown pots are always correct.

Both evergreen and deciduous trees known for their highly coloured foliage follow the norms, with almost any vibrant colour looking well in green, red-leafed trees looking well in white, and yellow and orange looking well in blue containers. Again, the finishes can either be glazed or unglazed.

Generally, the more mature and aged the bonsai, the plainer the container should be. The more delicate the tree, the lighter in colour the container should be.

Feel free to chose whatever container that you think looks best for your individual bonsai, but as a general rule, oval containers compliment deciduous trees and rectangular ones suit evergreens best (particularly conifers). Hexagonal pots are softer in effect than other shapes – perfect for trees with arching or short and prominent trunks. The colour, weight and size of a pot should also be given great consideration, as well as whether it should have decoration or not. Larger pots are usually subdued in colour and texture, so that they do not dominate the tree. A smaller pot can be brighter. A container that is too overpowering, is too big, or is not the right colour, takes an enormous amount of the simple beauty of a bonsai away, and detracts from its overall aesthetic appearance.

Keep the container in scale with the tree: an individual tree should not look lost in a large pot, nor overwhelm a tiny one. A dense evergreen bonsai, for example, needs a deeper pot than a delicate maple. As a guideline, a mainly vertical tree needs a pot with a length between two-thirds to three quarters of the tree’s height. The pot’s length should be two-thirds and three-quarters of the overall width of a strongly horizontal tree. As a reservoir for soil and water, a smaller pot needs more depth in proportion to its width than a larger pot does. Certain styles and types of tree demand deeper pots.

One very important thing to remember when buying a bonsai pot is : never buy a pot with a glazed interior. It may look neat, but this drastically interrupts drainage and heat loss. The roots could rot very easily. Most good quality bonsai pots are very expensive, but it is better to pay more for a container that you know is good quality, than to buy a cheap pot that could turn out to be detrimental to your bonsai’s health. Some people might even want to use a slab of rock or slate instead of a traditional container to make a design look especially natural as an alternative to a pot for a forest planting or a bonsai that is spacious and dominating in design. These are usually granite, slate or volcanic rock, but can also be made from painted fibreglass and other materials quite cheaply.

Overall, the container of your bonsai should always suit your personal tastes – as you are the artist, but it also should compliment the basic design and layout. e.g. you would have to have a cascading bonsai in a tall, narrow pot. Remember, if you cannot make up your mind on what pot would suit the plant, experiment, and don’t be afraid to try something original. You can always repot the bonsai the following year into a more preferred style. Bonsai is a constantly changing process and one that requires a great amount of patience, but is never permanent.

An Introduction to Bonsai Soils

Article written by Harry Harrington, of Bonsai4me.com.

One of the most widely debated subjects for most bonsai enthusiasts is soil composition. Ready-mixed soils can be bought from bonsai nurseries and garden centres but these tend to be relatively expensive. Faced with more than 3 or 4 trees to repot in the Spring, most enthusiasts learn to mix their own soils.

There are a large number of soil ingredients that can be used when mixing your own soil; different mixes are used by different enthusiasts with varying degrees of success. For the beginner, choosing which soil mix to use can be a daunting choice.

This article is written as an introduction to Bonsai soils, it does not discuss every soil ingredient or mix that is available, nor does it tell which soil mix is the ‘best’. That question can only be answered by the individual enthusiast after experimenting over time with his own trees and care routines.

The Basic Requirements Of Bonsai Soils

A bonsai is confined to a relatively small quantity of soil throughout the year on which its very existence depends. Through the soil in the pot, the tree must be able obtain water, nutrients and gases in order to grow. For this reason, the soil that the tree is planted in must be of the correct quality. The quality of the soil that is used directly affects the health and vigour of the tree.

There are two basic qualities that are required in a good soil mix;

1. Good water-retaining and nutrition-absorbing capacity. Often provided by the use of dead organic matter/ Humus, the soil needs to be able to hold and retain sufficient quantities of water and nutrients for the tree to absorb.
2. Good drainage. If excess water is not able to drain immediately from the pot, the rootsystem will be prone to rotting. Drainage is normally provided by the use of grit or small stone which keeps the mixture ‘open’, allowing excess water to pass through the mix freely. Good drainage also allows air to penetrate the compost, which is required by the plant.

Varying Soil Mixtures To Suit Different Tree Species

Though all Bonsai require free-draining, water-retentive soils, different species vary in their requirements for water and nutrients and this should be reflected in their soil composition. Pines and Junipers for instance require less water than most other species; this in turn means that they require a less water retentive soil mix.

Alternatively, flowering and fruiting species have increased water requirements and tend to be planted in soil mixes with relatively high water retaining capacities.

When mixing your own soil, the ratio of water-retaining material to grit is varied according to the tree that the mix is intended for. By increasing the ratio of grit to the mix, the soil becomes more freely-draining; by increasing the amount of water-retentive material, the greater the water-holding capacity.

Organic or Inorganic Soils

Soil mixes are described as being either organic or inorganic; both types contain grit to aid drainage but the water retentive ingredient(s) differ. Organic soil mixes are made up of dead plant matter such as peat and the ingredients are easily available at garden centres and DIY stores. Inorganic soil mixes contain no organic matter; instead, specially-formulated soil conditioners ranging from volcanic lava to calcined (baked) clays are used. These materials can be harder to locate, but, are available from good garden centres and bonsai nurseries.

Basic or Organic Soil Mix

The basic soil mix for bonsai has, for many years been grit and peat, mixed to a ratio of around 50:50. The peat holds water and nutrients whilst the grit provides drainage and keeps the soil open. The peat used is moss peat rather than sedge peat, the grit, either flint grit or crushed granite. All ingredients should be sifted to remove particles smaller than 2mm.

There are other organic substitutes for peat; leaf mould and composted bark are sometimes used along with other peat substitutes. Farmyard manure, garden compost or garden soils should never be used as they are of questionable quality and frequently carry soil-borne diseases.

The standard mix for bonsai is 50:50 peat to grit, but when repotting Junipers, Pines and other species that require a free-draining mix, the percentage of grit should be increased to as much as 75:25.

Inorganic Soil

In the past decade, there has been a significant move towards inorganic soils. Though organic soils are cheaper and more easily available, they are also of inferior quality. Peat and peat substitutes have many disadvantages; they can be too water retentive, holding large quantities of water for long periods. This can lead to the soil mix being continually sodden, particularly during periods of rain in the Autumn, Winter and Spring. Conversely, during periods of high temperatures, dry peat can be difficult to re-wet properly. Organic soils also continue to break down and relatively quickly become compacted and poor-draining. All these factors can lead to root problems and in particular root-rot.

The advantage of inorganic materials is that they hold their open structure for a long time without breaking down into a mush. Inorganic materials retain a certain quantity of water and any excess is immediately flushed through the bottom of the pot; it is difficult to over-water a bonsai planted in a good inorganic soil mix.

There are a number of materials that can be used along with grit when mixing an inorganic soil mix, ranging from volcanic lava to baked/fired clay granules;

Akadama is a white Japanese clay, specifically produced for bonsai; it is normally only available from bonsai nurseries so can be difficult to buy. There are a number of grades of Akadama available including ‘double redline’ that is more costly but is of premium quality. Avoid buying low quality Akadama as it can lose its structure quickly in European and US climates where frequent watering during the Summer is necessary.

Seramis is an orange baked clay, similar to higher-grade Akadama. It is far more easily available in the UK and US where it can be purchased from good garden centres. An advantage of Seramis is that it turns a different shade of orange as it dries allowing an easy indication that it requires watering; the colour is not to everyone’s taste but when top-dressed with grit it is not particularly noticeable. It does however retain its open structure for a long period of time.

Fired clays are excellent soil materials but are costly and can be difficult to locate. They do however hold enormous amounts of water whilst remaining very free-draining.

There are also a number of cheaper soil materials available at most garden centres, they are often sold as soil conditioners. These products can be used instead of baked clays or alternatively they can be mixed with clays to bring down the total cost of the soil mix which is often necessary for re-potting large numbers of trees!

Perlite is a naturally occurring, volcanic rock that is heated to a high temperature. As with baked clays, it is very well structured but also holds large quantities of water. It is also a very light material that makes it useful for reducing the weight of large pots.

Vermiculite is a naturally occurring, mica mineral similar to Perlite. Again, it has excellent water retention and drainage properties. Its advantage over Perlite is that it is a more pleasant colour though Vermiculite tends to contain quite a lot of small particles; around 1/4 of a typical bag can be lost after sifting out fines.

Sifting out ‘Fines’

For a good soil structure that drains well, all soils whether organic or inorganic, must be sifted to remove dust and very small particles. Soil particles smaller than 2mm should always be removed. Dust that remains in the soil mixture clogs the open structure of the soil and disrupts the drainage of excess water.

Switching From Organic to Inorganic Soils

Almost all deciduous varieties will tolerate the transition from organic to inorganic soils as long as they are healthy; coniferous species, in particular Pines, benefit from the retention of some of their old soil which will contain mycorrhiza fungi necessary for growth. If in doubt, make the transition slowly increasing the amount of inorganic material at each re-potting.

The Best Soil Mix for Bonsai

There is no single soil mix that is best for cultivating bonsai; variables such as local climate and rainfall, personal watering regimes and individual tree species all contribute to variations in enthusiasts’ soil mixes. Ultimately, experience of using different soil types and ingredients will shape your own particular preferences. It is recommended that in the first instance, find out the soil-mix of local enthusiasts who have found a successful mix and take it from there. I would however recommend the use of inorganic soils and not organic as they are nearly always of a better quality.

My personal preference when mixing bonsai soil is as follows; (by volume, not weight)

30% Seramis clay granules, 40% Vermiculite and 30% Grit. For additional water retention I increase the volume of Vermiculite at the expense of grit and Seramis, for a very free draining mix the volume of Grit is increased to 50%. My experience of this mix is that even in the height of summer, watering is necessary no more than once or twice a day though excess water is allowed to run straight through drainage holes of the pot. I have yet to experience any drainage or compaction problems, nor have I had any trees suffer with root-rot. Lastly, all these materials are readily available at all good garden-centres at a reasonable cost.

Copyright © Written by Harry Harrington, of Bonsai4me.com.

Here, we will be examining the processes used to grow a tree over a rock (in the root-over-rock style) and create quite an effective bonsai. In this example, we will use Ficus Microcarpa over a Japanese Ibigawa Rock.

Bonsai is an art which in many ways (according to the artist’s perception) tries to mimic the sights and processes seen in nature. To follow this, the ‘root over rock’ style has been widely used in bonsai. This is when the roots of a plant are made to ‘cling’ to and grasp a rock – spilling over it and eventually disappearing into the soil. This is to mimic when a tree has started growing in a small rock crevice (the seed usually deposited by birds) and has to use its roots to ‘venture out’ and find more nutrients once its major source has been depleted. As soon as the roots reach soil, they harden up and grow ‘around’ the rock – the roots now acting effectively as the tree’s trunk.

Another instance of this happening in nature is when a tree actually starts growing on another and eventually overpowers its host by ‘strangling it’ with its roots.

This can be seen in the above photo, where a young strangling fig sends its roots down a paper bark tree into the soil to search for more nutrients.

Because figs are so tenacious and very well suited to the ‘root over rock’ style – I will use that species for this example.

The first step for a ‘root on rock’ style is to prepare the subjects. Both the plant and rock are important – so choose a suitable rock for this planting that looks appealing, attractive, natural and is a suitable size – but doesn’t overpower the tree. More information on which rocks to choose - A fig will be used, so choose one that looks healthy and that has an extensive root system. What is essentially needed is a plant which has long, tough roots that you can ‘drape’ over the rock when you position it to create the effect that the roots have grown over and down it. If the plant does not have a very long root system (at least one and a half times the height of the rock you have chosen), plant the tree in a tall, yet thin pot to encourage the roots to grow downwards. A sawn off PVC pipe can even be used – as long as the correct alterations have been made. Grow the tree for a year or so, until the roots have grown long enough.

Materials needed :

Suitable Rock (Japanese Ibigawa Rock); Plant suited to root over rock style (Ficus Microcarpa); Plastic Grafting Tape; Scissors; Concave Branch Cutters; Bonsai Secateurs; Knife; Root Hook/Fork; Clean, Sharp Sand.

(1)

Once the roots are long enough, cut off all unsightly or unnecessary foliage and wash as much soil as possible away from the root ball of the plant – taking care not to damage the roots. (Try to remove as much soil possible by hand first – and then wash with a standard garden hose).

(2)

Next, take your chosen rock and your plant and place the plant over the rock. From here, experiment, and see what arrangement looks best. Try to not place all of the roots to one side, as a bonsai should be able to be viewed from all directions. Find the interesting crevices, nooks and crannies of the rock and implement the roots of the plant into these – to make the finished bonsai look as natural as possible. You can even ‘overlap’ thin, undeveloped roots, which, if left long enough, will merge together.

(3)

The next step is to set the roots in place. Although there are many methods – using grafting tape in my opinion is the easiest and most effective. (It is best to do this with an assistant). With one person holding the roots in place, wrap the grafting tape around the rock reasonably tightly, making sure to cover it completely except for the bottom, were the roots will protrude into the soil. Also make sure that there are no areas where roots can escape from gaps in the grafting tape where they are not supposed to be.

(4)

After the roots have been set in place – making sure that all of the roots protrude from the bottom of the rock – bury it with the plant in a pot of clean, sharp sand. It should be planted so that no part of the rock is visible and the bottom part of the trunk of the tree is visible.

(5)

Now thoroughly water the bonsai – leaving it in the pot for one to two years. Although the roots may seem small and weak now, in just one growing season they will really thicken up, and if you have placed them right – produce a really great show.

(6)

Here is the fig I used growing in a large pot after having been trained to grow over the rock (under the soil) for a period of 2 years. I usually leave figs growing for two years – just so the roots can really thicken up and attach themselves to the rock. If the plant is fast growing (or you’re just impatient!) it is possible just to leave it for one year. If you do happen to take the plant out of the soil and see that it hasn’t really developed properly, you can just re-pot it back for another year.