Hey guys- Just posted some pics of my Ginkgo bonsai on my blog and would LOVE some feedbacks from the experts! I suppose I should really change my name to 5th year at this point, but it really still feels like I have so much to learn. I re-potted this guy last spring with the help of a bonsai master who has a bonsai farm out here. I used a 14" Houtoku unglazed pot that I purchased at a tag sale for $1. (Deal of the century), and the companion plant is just a little grass/moss thing I threw in the picture for fun : P The leaves are still large, and I would really like to induce smaller foliage growth, as well as more branching (a couple new branches already this season). Anyway, please take a look and let me know what you guys think. This is my favorite tree and I look forward to having it for many years! Thanks in advance for all your expert comments and tips. -3rd yr Here is a link that might be useful: My ginkgo bonsai

James, I have no issues with the heat because they grow inside my house. I never put them outside, even for a couple of minutes. I grow them in a spare room that has a large window that gets early morning sun. I also have them under cheap grow lights that clip onto something that's near the plants. The grow lights take an ordinary grow bulb or you can use those long square grow light bulbs. Either type will work and the total cost is really cheap. Ever since I found out about the water my plants are growing fast. I use only organic fert. since the other types of fert. can burn the roots. The organic can not burn the roots. A guy that I purchase miltoniopsis plants from told me that since most tap water is purified to get rid of bacteria and other things most tap water contains chlorine and chorline burns the delicate roots. I never thought about this before and since I found out about chlorine being in most tap water, this makes sense plus you can smell the faint odor of chlorine in the tap water. I can't tolerate the heat so I stay inside and I set my thermostat at 70 degrees. If I'm happy with the temps. the plants are probably happy too. I almost forgot one important issue. I have a humidifier working 24 hours. It's a real cheap humidifier that I purchased off of Etsy. The humidifier looks like a fat white stick. I stick it in an old plastic water jug and you can see the mist coming out. Apparently it works real well. I can't tell you the brand because it came in a company box and everything is in Chinese including the instructions. I think that the humidifier cost me around five bucks. My set up is cheap but I haven't killed any plants. I currently have about seven plants putting out spikes. I have about twenty plants and I don't want anymore. I'll probably get another one only if the flower color appeals to me or if it's a cross that I don't have.

After 40+ years of infallible service with never a repair from my loyal classic Maytag, I am shopping for a new washer & dryer. I am considering Miele compact Classic W1 and T1 (for its regular 120 electric outlet plug) because all regular sizes have become too large for my small laundry area. Yes, it is an investment to pay $400 more (plus taxes) for each Miele, but I was justifying the solid German quality. But now reading about Miele bearings failing in such a short time (5-7 years) makes me wonder if any brand can assure us of its reliability. I never heard of washer bearings with my classic workhorse Maytag; are these bearings a technology of modern times that has proven problematic for all brands? Of course, the company would encourage you to buy their extended warranty for $320 (after you overpaid $400 for each Classic Miele. I understand the frustrated Miele customers who opt to just buy cheaper brands that they would not be upset replacing every 7 years.

I have three Ginkgos. None of them are as nice as yours. The smallest was started by a cutting. I was surprised it worked. It's still an infant, and is just now figuring which way is up. It's in a sheltered damp spot and has all it's bright yellow leaves. One of the others is on a high, open spot. It lost it's leaves in the storm we had a couple of days ago. Not many leaves ended up under the tree where sometimes can make a good picture. The last one loses it's leaves in threes. Always does, every year. First to go is the top third, then the middle, and finally the bottom third. It's on a small hill in a valley. Cold air drains there. Yours is a real specimen among specimens. Mike