With all the hype around crypto currencies the first thing new entrants into this space usually decide to do is mine or purchase mining contracts I know I did, first I tried mining with my own existing

Layering is a form of propagation where the desired material is not removed from the mother plant before it has formed roots. This utilizes a plants natural abilities and tendency to form new roots if

These are similar to softwood cuttings except they have matured a little more and can be taken later in the growing season. image source These are longer than your softwood cutting and so should typically

Bonsai can be made from existing trees or from trees that are raised from scratch. Those that are started from scratch can be grown from seed or from cuttings. Today I focus a little on cuttings. Cuttings

This is very different from branch or shoot pruning as it is a far more delicate task. image source Each leaf that is to be removed should be individually snipped off, taking care to leave a portion of

Shoots are new growth, they are very young branches that have not hardened yet. If shoots are not dealt with regularly they take over the tree and make it lose its shape very rapidly. image source Some

This is best done in bonsai when the tree is growing vigorously but spring or early summer is frequently the best time to prune branches. Pruning branches will often be the practice that most determines

Pruning is much of the art of bonsai. To achieve the miniaturized and varied shapes pruning is an absolute must. Both of limbs, leaves, shoots and roots. Pruning of limbs is some of the most visible above

Once you are sure you have correctly identified the critters, disease, fungus mold etc. that is infesting or affecting your tree and it is severe enough to merit use of a spray the following guidelines

Now that I have completed a series on the most common pest and some of the solutions there are a couple of guidlines that apply across the board. Be on the lookout for them every time you tend the plant,

This is really a bi-product of another infestation. Sooty mold thrives on honeydew, the secretions of aphids, scale insects and other sap suckers. In the below picture you can see the white scale insects,

Woolly aphids are much like regular aphids except these secrete a white waxy protective substance not unlike that secreted by scale insects and mealy bugs. They love to cluster at joints and junctures

These evil pests are a double edged sword in multiple ways. Both larvae and adults damage plants with the adults damaging visibly above ground not only the bark but also the leaves. The larvae do damage

These are a killer because they can go unseen for a long time and can result in the death of the tree if they are not treated. image source They are very similar to the foliage mealy bug except they grow

Anybody that has grown pumpkins and other squash plants should easily recognize powdery mildew, since it is very common in these large leafed plants. By The original uploader was Agne27 at English Wikipedia

As the name implies, they are white and fly around. When disturbed they are most easily noticed flying from plant to plant. image source Their larval stages are very similar to aphids in that the suck

Just like the name says these are mites, spiderlike and can often be red. image source Aside from red they can be many other colors from light yellow to green to orange in summer but they are commonly

Not really a common issue indoors but can be if your bonsai go out to catch some sun. By Jürgen Schoner - Originally uploaded on the German Wikipedia as "Weinbergschnecke 01.jpg". Own work of Jürgen Schoner.,

These little beasties are very hard to see but most often detected by looking very closely at flowers. Two can be seen below sucking away at the flowers sap at the base of the petals to the left in the

These get their name from the white powdery(mealy) wax coating they protect themselves with. By Obsidian Soul , CC BY 3.0, Link They look like miniature woodlice when you can see beneath this protective