AusBonsai

Hi Grant

How hard do you work the roots on this guy? Do you find them like English elms - in that if they aren't worked annually they start to regress or is it a little more sensitive?

Thanks

Hayden

This tree has had more shoes than Imelda Marcos.

Haydenmc wrote:Hi Grant

How hard do you work the roots on this guy? Do you find them like English elms - in that if they aren't worked annually they start to regress or is it a little more sensitive?

Thanks

Hayden

I don't root trim this tree each year and it has gone some longish stretches without repotting. I haven't noticed too much major difference whether I do or don't repot; I think the trick to keeping it healthy has been the fertilising and the trimming.

Every 2 years to repot would be fine.

Grant

Great looking tree Grant, I hope my tree achieves ramification as good as yours.
Have you had any issues with corky barks dropping branches or having random die back....... is this a myth?

Regards
Shannon

Shannon wrote:Great looking tree Grant, I hope my tree achieves ramification as good as yours.
Have you had any issues with corky barks dropping branches or having random die back....... is this a myth?

Regards
Shannon

It is not a myth and I have seen many people have problems with it; but I explained how to guard against it partially earlier in the thread.

I believe that good/regular ferts, lots of sun and regular trimming to keep it even in vigour all over the tree; and thinning to 2 x 2s. By eliminating the weaker growth and keeping the stronger growth in the 2 x 2s you get nice healthy growth all over the tree.

Simple but lots of work.

Grant

Thanks Grant

Update.

This tree was repotted in full leaf in April(autumn) into a beautiful Japanese pot(53cm width) that I purchased in Japan in February.

Tree is 60cm high and 60cm wide and about 55cm deep.

Grant

Great tree Grant, great nebari, great pot and above all great placement in the pot, really makes the composition

Geez Grant, you are starting to get good at this Bonsai thing.

I second everything Kez mentioned, but to me it its such a powerful strong trunk, but yet in the same view seems elegant and almost dainty as well
I suspect the fine ramification of the branches does provide that aspect of the composition.

Nice Grant

Ken

Excellent tree Grant!

How do you decide which pot to put it in?

After reading the whole thread I have noticed that it changes quite a lot, are you having trouble finding the right one?

Would a more a darker pot with sharper edges suit such a masculine looking tree?

Sean M wrote:This tree has had more shoes than Imelda Marcos.

Very nice Grant. Congrats!

Jarad wrote:Excellent tree Grant!

How do you decide which pot to put it in?

After reading the whole thread I have noticed that it changes quite a lot, are you having trouble finding the right one?

Would a more a darker pot with sharper edges suit such a masculine looking tree?

Sean M wrote:This tree has had more shoes than Imelda Marcos.

I do love the muted colours of the Petra Engelke (I bought it in 1995!) but it just a smidgeon too small, whereas the very white previous pot is very shallow but around the right width.

When I went to Japan in Feb I was on the hunt for a pot that was good quality, nice glaze of any colour really, the right width and depth. I can't get an Australian pot big enough for it; as no-one(at least up till now) is able to make one big enough; because of the kiln size i believe.

I found 3 pots that fitted the bill approximately and of the 3 this was the best fit.

I am going back to Japan in late October to purchase a couple of pallets of Japanese pots; so I may have more to choose from early next year. The potter that makes this pot does the most amazing glazes so I will look there as well as the potter that made the current one.

Grant

Got one (a pot) that suits. Photos soon.

Grant