I'm gonna make mini-forests

[cmeg1]

I am kinda' excited.I have ordered a bundle of Fagus Crenata and Korean Hornbeam from International Bonsai.
I was almost having second thoughts with my purchase and almost giving in that it was an impulse buy,but then my second issue of Bonsai Focus,Jan/feb 2013 came in the mail and there is the perfect article on how to make mini-forests from simple material(like 7" seedlings).And wouldn't you know it ,the two examples they give are with Fagus Crenata and Korean Hornbeam.
I feel so fortunate to have subscribed when I did to Bonsai Focus cause' the first issue I recieved did an amazing job of providing direction with how to proceed in the 2nd year of my zelkova brooms from seed project.It is almost like the first two issues of the magazine had parts that were tailored to my bonsai interests specifically.I am really excited for spring.Anyway,I plan on posting the progress of these two endevours in the appropriate threads I have already created,'I'm gonna make brooms' for the zelkova's and this thread here for the mini-forests.Sorry I can't make links.
thanks for reading.
*we will see how the 'Turczaninovii's' do as opposed to the 'coreana's' in mini-forest setting because I purchased the Turczaninovii's(hornbeam).
* I imagine I could do some leaf cutting(like in half or something) on the larger leaves of the 'turczaninov' hornbeams

 

[chris38383838]

I really do like your threads that start with ''I'm gonna make'', like ''I'm gonna make brooms'' or this one!

Sounds really determinate! ^^

 

[RichKid]

I'd like to see how that turns out. I have a bunch of japanese maple seedlings myself I'm wondering what to do with.

 

[mcpesq817]

Forests are fun projects. I have a trident and european beech forest that I started a couple of years ago from seedlings that I bought from Bill V. I also bought some Japanese beech seedlings from Bill V and korean hornbeams from Matt Ouwinga that I'm going to try out this spring also.

Check out the Saburo Kato book on forest plantings - it's very good.

 

[cmeg1]

Well,I guess Bill V. is not going to ship in this arctic blast.I have everything prepared though.I am considering,possibly,to plant them in clumps of two or three per air pruning pot to let them develop some fibrous roots for a growing season before I cut the tap roots.I really like the mini-forests in shallow final pots.I am putting in clumps of two and three in the air pruning pots because they will be closer together when in comes time to make the forests.No rush really.The pond baskets and colanders really make some nice fibrous roots and than I can feel better about cutting the tap roots harder for a shallower bonsai pot.I will probably make the forests the following spring.I will post pictures of my progress though,this growing season.Here is a picture of the 5" pond baskets and the 8" colanders.

 

[rockm]

I'd skip putting them in two or three clumps--unless that's how you want your final forest. Planting them all together will produce better results, as they will develop interated root masses that you won't have to carve to get them together later...

Bill V. amur maple seedlings planted together as whips out of the box 15 years ago:

 

[cmeg1]

thanks for the tip rockm.The amur's look great.The only reason I am considering this is from the material that was demonstrated in my Bonsai Focus article.We'll see how the seedlings look when I get them.Maybe they will fit in the pots I like.Thanks again

 

[rockm]

If you're getting them from Bill, they will be whips with only a few feeder roots that extend only a few inches. You should be able to get them all into a bonsai pot, or an Anderson flat type container with very little trouble.

If you want to get them in a flat container, (and this pertains to seedlings, not so much for more advanced trees with larger root masses) START with a flatter container...Deeper containers will fuel growth, but, the trees will develop deeper root masses that will have to be significantly pruned when you're trying to fit them together.

I did that with these amurs and with a dozen korean hornbeam seedlings I got from Bill a long time ago. The trees never saw a container deeper than two or three inches. The Korean hornbeam finally gave up the ghost to the hot summers here, but it took 12 years to kill them. They grew like weeds for the first five years, then slowed. They started as whips, but developed extremely ramified branching in that time and the trunks thickened pretty well too.

 

[cmeg1]

Well,my seedlings arrived.I planted them in clumps of 2 and 3.I really just want to prepare them a little more and bring them to abundant health.I planted the clumps in 5" pond baskets.It was very tempting to plant directly into bonsai pots,but it was freezing outside and I really did not feel like it.I am still very excited about the mini-forest idea.And I like the fact that there is tips in my jan/feb Bonsai Focus for mini-forests.I will keep this post updated throughout their growth this season.10 each of korean hornbeam and fagus crenata.

 

[lackhand]

How did the forest project go over the summer? Any updates?

 

[cmeg1]

How did the forest project go over the summer? Any updates?

Forest project was abandoned.Thanks for checking though.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Forest project was abandoned.Thanks for checking though.

So totally no intent of future possibilities? What made you decide to abandon it if you don't mind my asking? Since...not something I plan to do anytime soon...but...possibly on my "bucket list" so to speak.

 

[cmeg1]

So totally no intent of future possibilities? What made you decide to abandon it if you don't mind my asking? Since...not something I plan to do anytime soon...but...possibly on my "bucket list" so to speak.

What made me abandon it was the fact that I just did not feel into growing out any other seedlings except the zelkova brooms I make from seed and I was also just wanting more room and time for some Ojishi air layers I was making.I also have come to realize that I am not the hugest fan of Coreana hornbeam,although they look fantastic and I do have some growing in the ground.I am now leaning toward the more vigorous trees along with short internodes and back budding potential and that take to pruning like a champ.Hey,maybe a mini forest with some ojishi JM layers.I am going to have a bunch of them.The little mini forests are cute if you can find the right container.Thanks!

 

[timhanson81]

I like to grow from seed and I've found these little mini-forests to be a good way to use a few of my excess seedlings.

Japanese maple


Trident maple


I need to get some suitable pots for the spring.

 

[cmeg1]

I like to grow from seed and I've found these little mini-forests to be a good way to use a few of my excess seedlings.

Japanese maple
View attachment 44651

Trident maple
View attachment 44652

I need to get some suitable pots for the spring.

Looks great!

 

[Wee]

Tim.....I love that mini-forest. I just got some maple seedlings yesterday.....My daughter broght them home they were growing under a Japanese Maple with red leaves.

How often do they need watering in such a small container....?

Brian

PS....I know I brought up a post over a year old.

 

[timhanson81]

The past couple of years, to keep these little forests from drying out too quickly in my hot and dry summers, I set the pots in a tray filled with damp sand. Roots quickly grow out of the bottom of the pots into the sand and keep the the trees sufficiently watered at least for my once or twice a day watering schedule. I trim the roots back a couple times a year to keep them in check.

 

[evmibo]

Any up to date photos of these 'mini-forests'?