AusBonsai

Don't get me wrong, I am not against wiring, it's been done on some of my trees already. But some of my trees have been slightly trained before I got them, and some are about 11 years old, I've had them only 4 or 5 of that. However, as I say this, before copper wire most bonsais were either clip and grow or the use of string, raffia and weights. And some Asian countries still follow this method. It's slower of course, but gentler. I have gained the impression from some masters that success has been achieved only using the clip & grow method depending on the tree? I think you will find on Bonsai Farm.com.au, he also mentions this. When I get more pics, I'll show you what I mean. EG. I have a gingko biloba. As you know already, they depend on the clip and grow to produce a candle effect, and it takes years. They tend to resent hard wiring and branches easily break. I tried it once, and the tree branch partly broke, I fixed it with sellotape and it survived. But mine I have decided rather than be a long tall Lizzie, I am bending the trunk and branches around a pole, with just Christmas parcel ribbon, like raffia really, less likely to perish.

I am looking for thicker wire, the one I have right now is very thin, and I need a larger gauge. I have some wire but I can hardly bend it, used for fencing. As far as this particular tree is concerned, it will be a cascade, and I will re-pot it so the majority hangs over the rim. (Sometime soon rather than later).

Most of my trees are young, pre-bonsai, in fact all are I would say. I like the formal upright, as some are or informal uprights. Weeping I have a few. And one looks as if it is favoring broom style, too young yet to gauge. A trident maple, that nearly died of thirst last summer, but I saved it. It grew smaller leaves. Voluntary de-foliation eh? Needs a trim later this summer getting a bit rangy rather than bushy. Anyway, thanks for all the comments, and I'll keep U up to date on this particular tree. For young trees (and I have not as many years left in me to culture a 30 year tree,( Ahhh what a cop out I hear you say? ) I rather like creating landscapes and rocks etc.

One has to face reality Bush Bunny. We only have so much time on this mortal coil, so we must enjoy what we have. clip and grow can be a slow process on a juniper, so I think getting some shape and definition into it with one firm wiring session on the trunk and primary branches will set this up as a nice little tree in a short time. Good luck with it, and most importantly, enjoy it. That's why we do this. . . . right!

Absolutely, I intend not to exit this world for the next 15 years. I hope, coming from a long line of mid-90 year olds, other than my mum who nearly got to 91, they were mostly males, grandfathers too. (Looked after well into their old age by women ) My arthritis is a worry even now, so that might curtail some of my activities. By the way, my comment on Afrikaans accent was made as a joke. So was the screwdriver. I have friends from the Cape, and they are mostly just have British style S.A's. accents, with just a hint of SA accent. Like the Aussies and New Zealanders. But I do know Afrikaans was used when Mandela took over the reins. From the movies of course.

Bonsai, Yes I love it. But it has opened my eyes and mind to the natural environment in its untouched state of course, that I loved before anyway. I kinda have been able to bring that peace and tranquility of nature into my own living space, to view and appreciate anytime. And no snakes to worry about when bush walking. Luckily unlike Africa we don't have any man eating land predators, unless you go into the sea or near water.

Hi Bunny,

In one of your replies you said you are using some wire that is used on fencing.
Are you having difficulty sourcing wire? I know Bunnings is very expensive for wire but there are other places much more economical, and it doesn't need to be copper. Let us know and we can guide you.

To me my first impression was also a cascade. I have one similar but much bigger. It is still in it's plastic pot and more than likely root bound but i will leave it there until i am finished butchering it. It also has most of the growth at the top which is not the best for a cascade. Just gunna make it look good and bugger the rules.

Leave the tree in it's pot and keep it healthy until the time is right for you to change things. Just enjoy your trees in what ever pot you like, I used to put plants in Bonsai pots when clearly should not have. But it was right for me. I liked them in little pots, it made me feel good and gave me so much enjoyment. A nice tree in a nice pot is still a nice look, Bonsai or not. Eventually it will become one, you will make it so. (Hope you do a better job than me)
Regards
Rudy

Hi Rudy, actually when I have bought starter bonsai, they stay in their plastic pot, until I see them throwing out new leaves. Then put them in a bigger plastic pot. That tree pictured was only bought a few weeks ago, but I couldn't feel much of a trunk, it is a ground cover juniper.
The pot I chose I was having doubts about, it didn't look right. I have a smaller rectangular glazed pot, but I am not sure about that just yet. And when I mean wire, I have some copper covered wire but a very thin gauge, used on only small starter bonsai, if at all.
Yeah, No 8 fencing wire Might be OK for a fully grown in ground tree Yes I went to Bunnings they had some wire for bonsai. 1 metre for $30.00. I'll try my faithful hardware store then gives me pot plants for free. I told one bloke I was from the National Institute of Plant Rescue, and he took me seriously. I would have got the pot plants for free, but offered $1. each for the pots. When I told my friend in the nursery, she laughed, broke off a tiny bit off the top of a Chinese wisteria. " Damn, you can have this for $5.00. Damaged stock" Now that is service with a smile eh.

Hi Bonsai Bunny,

Wow 30.00 bucks per metre is a real rip off. I have some spare bonsai wire in various guages. I'll check exactly what I have over the weekend but I do have spare if you want some. I can post to you if you want to PM me your address. If your a bit short on pots I may have a couple of those also but again will need to check. I'm not a hoarder

Just let me know and i will see what i can do.

Regards
Rudy

Hi Rudy, what a pal. I am staggering under the offer. Just to up date on wire, my friendly little hardware/cum garden centre store. I went in today, regularly for me. Got some potting mixes etc., and asked about wire. They didn't stock any bonsai wire. Anyway, they said, what about this. Soldering wire, no too thin. Fuse wire, even thinner. Then tie wire. Whoopee.
Thin wire covered in plastic. Flexible, strong and won't cut into the bark. I'll try that. Thanks a mil. Gee I am getting more friends now.

Cheers Pat.

Hi Bunny,

PM me your address (Private Message Me) and i will sort you out with wire.

I can't stand to see you struggle with what you have

Best Regards
Rudy

Try Ebay for wire
This seller ex Victoria
$4.5) per 100g and $1.40 postage is cheap

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Special-pric ... 3a71511302

I always buy from a local Bonsai shop, but if they were not available then would definitely give alternatives a go.
Save the angst having to make do with ineffective substitutes.

Ken

Can I have the last 5 minutes of my life back please?

trident76 wrote:Can I have the last 5 minutes of my life back please?

Couldn't have put it better myself pmsl

Haha where's the 'like' button!?

Bush bunny wrote:Hi, oh I can almost hear your Afrikaans accent coming over? I did ask for advice on pots, and I did leave the thicker roots, just removed the fine ones from the 'trunk'. Yep, will re pot and change it's direction. Oh - don't car mechanics have screw drivers in the Cape? They do here

BB You are going to kill me! Dont know to laugh or to cry...You have done everything wrong...Lets hope this tree will be OK.
What did you plant it in>?
You said it is still alive....Juniper even if it is going to die will look OK 2 days after the repot...They take long to dry their foliage.
You need feeder (fine roots) You always keep those...and remove the big heavy roots, that dont have feeder roots...they are not needed for a bonsai.
For now:
Put in the shade
dont disturb it...you will only damage it further the way you are going.
do not over water...let the soil dry on top before you water...Mist the foliage often...Just the foliage
For the next 1 year just grow it...dont touch it!

Neli, This bonsai starter had only thin fibrous (?) roots,only a few thicker feeder roots and that's where I stopped trimming them, left them as is. Now I have a three inch long trunk at least. It is after all a ground cover bonsai. They don't have much of a trunk and do send out fibrous roots from that under the soil. No tap root (not one I could feel) I trimmed these roots from what was a trunk, NOT the main root mass. It hardly had any when I started maybe less than an inch of trunk. NOT from the lower root mass. Other than one extra long thin straggler. But it was top heavy of course without a tap root.

But what I noticed was in the middle of the root mass the soil was dry? That's how thick it was! I got rid of that.

It's raining today not heavy, the birds are singing and I went and had a chat with it as I normally do to my new bonsais. And it told me, he appreciated his new home. In dappled sunlight under a Photinia tree. So have a laugh with me, not at me, eh?

Oh to get to know who you are preaching at, this is what faces visitors to my home.

It personifies my personality or part of it.

Trident et al. "I would willingly give you back five minutes of your life, if that's all you had left."
Sarcastic comments about me or my posts is almost flaming, and not necessary. I am here to learn and know that I haven't a long history with bonsai. But - I am sensitive to my environment, like bonsai. I have noticed some newbies are not coming back that is a shame to me. Have you wondered why