Pumpin trunks

[alpineart]

Hi all ,this is a reply to a request on another topic .Ground growing trunks ,mind you large trainer boxes do the same thing only a little unsightly .I use what i can lay my hands on ,"cheap and nasty" .

1/ Simply dig a hole around 400mm square by 100mm deep,bigger or smaller depending on the size of the trunk .

All we are trying to achieve is root run for 1 season , thus enlarge the trunk and improve the radial roots {narebri}

2/ Using any flat or solid material ,eg brick paver , ply , plastic bag , timber , drum lid ,corrigated or flat iron . treated timber is a NO NO as is fresh ply remember they are toxic .Aged old ply has degassed after about 5 years . We are trying to send the roots sideways and not downwards.

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3/Place the flat object into the base of the hole i have used a plastic potting mix bag as a demo so the hole was dug flat . allow for drainage if this product is used ,simple mound the centre of the hole up slightly and leave 1 side of the plastic flat on the ground .If the other sides turn up it doesn't matter .

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4/Sprinkle a layer of rich compost or similar about 20mm thick over the bag or item used .Root trim the trunk , score the bark and apply hormone powder . Reduce the height to the desired level and place into the hole .

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5/With the tree positioned ,spread the roots out and cover with rich compost or similar to a level desired around 50mm is enough .firm down and cover with compost , mulch or straw .IT'S EASIER THAN MAKING LARGE TRAINER BOXES . Next winter simply slide a spade or fork under the base item and lift your much improved trainer out , trim and repeat the process again until your happy . Cheers i hope this helps

[Jamie]

quick question for ya mate, the scoring of the trunk what does this accomplish?
is this to enourage new roots? and how far up is this done?

[alpineart]

quick question for ya mate, the scoring of the trunk what does this accomplish?
is this to enourage new roots? and how far up is this done?

Hi Jamie yes it encourages roots were they are required, i scored this trunk all round as the over large roots remaining will be removed in a year or 2 . Keep the scoring and hormone powder low, i prefer to score vertically about 20-40mm up from the bottom then trim the unwanted roots next winter .Hope this helps .Cheers

[Japh]

Thanks so much for posting this. Much appreciated!

And thanks Jamie for asking what I was thinking too

I can't wait to give this a try actually. I guess the idea is to fatten up the trunk, and also possibly to create new and more interesting nebari?

[alpineart]

Thanks so much for posting this. Much appreciated!

And thanks Jamie for asking what I was thinking too

I can't wait to give this a try actually. I guess the idea is to fatten up the trunk, and also possibly to create new and more interesting nebari?

That the idea ,its works for me .Cheers

[Jamie]

so with the scoreing of the trunk to fatten it up and create a better nebari i take it that the scoring is done then covered with soil to allow this to happen? probly a dumb question but i have to ask

[Jordy]

I was wondering, could this not be achieved by placing your tree in a larger bonsai pot?

or is this simply the cheapest way to do such a thing?

[Jamie]

I was wondering, could this not be achieved by placing your tree in a larger bonsai pot?

or is this simply the cheapest way to do such a thing?

i think the best bet is ground or grow box. a bonsai pot seems to slow trunk girth down and is more for development of ramification and such

[Jordy]

Sorry jamie, i don't think i was completely clear in what i meant
for exapmle if i had a beginners tree (which i most likely will very soon!).

Could i not place the small tree in a pot possibly 3 times as wide that would suit a far older, much thicker bonsai,

and achieve the same effect?

[Jamie]

i havent done much ground growing or trunk thickening myself but from what i have read and seen that ground or bow growing is the best and quickest method of choice. it would still work in an oversized pot i presume but i think it would take a lot longer
this is about all i know on that side of things.
cant help much more than that mate. sorry

[alpineart]

so with the scoreing of the trunk to fatten it up and create a better nebari i take it that the scoring is done then covered with soil to allow this to happen?

Hi Jamie , scoring the trunk and appling the hormone powder is to stimulate root growth .Yes the scored area is covered . You need root growth to feed the tree in order to build the trunk .Cheers

[alpineart]

I was wondering, could this not be achieved by placing your tree in a larger bonsai pot?

or is this simply the cheapest way to do such a thing?

Cheapest and easiest without the restriction of the pot

[alpineart]

i havent done much ground growing or trunk thickening myself but from what i have read and seen that ground or bow growing is the best and quickest method of choice. it would still work in an oversized pot i presume but i think it would take a lot longer
this is about all i know on that side of things.
cant help much more than that mate. sorry

Pots are work ,you cant just pot and forget .Once placed in the ground you set and forget except watering and fertilizing EVERY NOW AND THEN there i no restriction on the tree . If i used planter boxes i would have hundreds in the back yard AND YOU WOULD BE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME MONITERING THEM. I have close to 100 trident that need thickening mutiply that by 400mm square boxes no room for me . In the ground is where trees grow big in pots they grow very slow .Big planter boxes will work on a small scale for sure but i have too many trees for boxes and with 400sqm of custom made terraces that is what i use .Cheers

[Jordy]

Pots are work ,you cant just pot and forget .Once placed in the ground you set and forget except watering and fertilizing EVERY NOW AND THEN there i no restriction on the tree

So if i were to plant my bonsai in the ground, i don't have to water EVERY day? or are u saying the "EVERY NOW AND THEN" for the fertiliser?

[Japh]

Pots are work ,you cant just pot and forget .Once placed in the ground you set and forget except watering and fertilizing EVERY NOW AND THEN there i no restriction on the tree

So if i were to plant my bonsai in the ground, i don't have to water EVERY day? or are u saying the "EVERY NOW AND THEN" for the fertiliser?

You would probably still have to water it each day, it's the fertiliser that's "every now and then". In the ground is easier because the roots are completely free to grow as fast and far as they're able. There's no need to check on them and potentially move to a bigger pot etc. Set and forget, as alpineart says.