Growing Seed to Bonsai

[Anthony]

Well as you folk know, on our side the practice is to grow seeds into trees.
[ when the cold room is finished we will be trying with Northern stuff as well.]

In the beginning, trees got to 3 to 5" trunks more or less by accident.However it is understood with certain trees/shrubs how to get sizeable trunk in just say 14 x 4" deep pots.
So now the focus is to plan the trees from drawings and grow them into the design.

Some have mentioned that trees should have scars. Well if you want to, you can simply just put the scars on after the tree is where you want it.

Presently, trees are being grown and trained continuously, you know root, trunk say six branches and at this stage, the trunk will be roughly 1/2 " thick. The final thickening coming with the extension of the bottom branch, then shifting to the second and then the third and so on.
The tenichque produces a seamless tree, in a cool design, and as I said you can introduce the scars where you want them.

Takes between 5 to 10 years to do and it only gets better as time goes by.

The addition of the air-pot / smart pot / colander [ pond basket ] should improve the situation even more, with a much more efficient root system.
Just sharing -----------> no amazing arguments please, and thank you.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[Smoke]

I am growing trees here in the valley from seed to 7 inches across at the soil by accident. Ramification is fast with twigs fully ready to show in one season. Trees are 18 to 24 inches tall. My warehouse is full and ready to pop, should start selling this stuff soon.

Probably ask about $10,000.00 USD a piece since it is so good. No scars.

 

[bumblebee]

I'll take 3.

Libby

 

[Anthony]

Al,

ho ho ho. Actually, no bonsai are sold, the younger ones are given as gifts, often minus the pots, because they are hard to replace, and even plastic pots, still have to be paid for.

As the pots are replaced with stainless steel colanders, folk will have to bring their own containers. The plastic colanders tend to go brittle in a year or two. They last longer in the soil and the edges are covered with broken brick.

Presently, to help the other guys, tests are being done to see how well J.B.pines can be induced to grow from cuttings.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[Ris]

Hello Anthony,
How are you? I spoke to a relative of yours couple weeks back and he mentioned getting maples from seedlings if possible, managed to get a few seedlings in trident maples but no Japanese red maple. Just not sure if I can ship them over there will see if I can work around a few ideas.
How about those guys whom make clay diyas do you think those can be used to make pots may be get a few sizes to create molds from?

Rishi.

 

[Ris]

I am growing trees here in the valley from seed to 7 inches across at the soil by accident. Ramification is fast with twigs fully ready to show in one season. Trees are 18 to 24 inches tall. My warehouse is full and ready to pop, should start selling this stuff soon.

Probably ask about $10,000.00 USD a piece since it is so good. No scars.

Any pictures of these amazing 10k trees?

 

[Smoke]

Any pictures of these amazing 10k trees?

Good for you, you picked up on that too. My post was meant for the OP, like yours should have been.

 

[bumblebee]

What's OP?

 

[Klytus]

I was also thinking of dabbling in Bonsai sales,i'm weighing up the possibilities with a view to getting rich quick.

So naturally I would need a strong grower that lasts a good while after the sale,could put up with unsatisfactory conditions and would fill an overlooked and yet immensely prosperous niche.

What would you say to a Fig,ficus indica,Opuntia ficus-indica.

I'll pack it with three Scholars rocks and an image of a cute and fluffy anthropomorph in a Mica dish with it's name O.Ficus-Indica.

For a good thick stem I will opt for authentic oriental graft onto Cereus 'monsterosa' stock.

Why buy Jade when you can have Cholla ?!

Flowers would also be included,i'm thinking one bright and beautiful flower apiece.

 

[Smoke]

What's OP?

The OP is original poster.

My original reply had to do with starting threads like this and "telling" people what you do means nothing. Its like me saying I am growing 7 inch trunks and that they are so good I can sell them for $10,000.00. My story was so far fetched that someone "had" to ask to see pictures.

On a discussion forum typing without providing a window means that people can tell us anything, but to some (like me) without the window it means nothing.

 

[Anthony]

Ris,

if you are still coming in March, simply contact Plant Quarantine in Trinidad, and get a PhytoSanitary certificate, and show it to the US plant services. You will probably be asked to treat for nematodes, and bare root. The maples as whips will have no problems, they will come out of dormancy and can be entered into the refridgerator next year around January's end.

If you need me or someone to get the Phyto, just ask and it will be done, can Fedex to you.
No cost.
A fridge can also be supplied, just work with whips as the trident maple in the first year can grow to 2 or 3 " in trunk down here.

Hee, hee, Ris,
we have moved well beyond the deya potters. The local clay can be designed to do the same as the Yi xing clay and there are large kilns that fire efficiently not too far from you.
The Hobby companies in the US have created glazes that at around 1006 deg.C, will give you good matte/satin/gloss/high gloss finishes.
You can have porous earthenware for growing, sub-stoneware for non-porous and so on.

Mould cast or handbuilt as you wish.

Al,

the idea behind what I mentioned is simply this. The island is only 50 x 50 miles , and since 1978 or so has dropped from 48% jungle to 38%.
If a technique is evolved that allows for good results from seed, we can offer something that will challenge, and encourage the younger ones away from digging large wild trees.

Our soils are clay, and feeder roots are far away from the trunk. Very few will dig with sense and or take the time to prepare the soil zone over a time period.

So if it could be shown that a seed/seedling could be designed into something over a period of 5 to 10 years, then the collecting instinct could be perhaps controlled.
Additionally, the design would have to impress and as usual, the big trunk would be needed, since everyone wants a big trunk.

As I said, just sharing.
You can always ask questions.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[Klytus]

The girth of the bole is important,especially in later life.

http://www.monumentaltrees.com/en/content/measuringgirth/

 

[Ris]

Good for you, you picked up on that too. My post was meant for the OP, like yours should have been.

Honestly I replied based on post#4, so yeah I bit the bait on your post for 10k trees lol...

 

[Smoke]

Ris,

if you are still coming in March, simply contact Plant Quarantine in Trinidad, and get a PhytoSanitary certificate, and show it to the US plant services. You will probably be asked to treat for nematodes, and bare root. The maples as whips will have no problems, they will come out of dormancy and can be entered into the refridgerator next year around January's end.

If you need me or someone to get the Phyto, just ask and it will be done, can Fedex to you.
No cost.
A fridge can also be supplied, just work with whips as the trident maple in the first year can grow to 2 or 3 " in trunk down here.

Hee, hee, Ris,
we have moved well beyond the deya potters. The local clay can be designed to do the same as the Yi xing clay and there are large kilns that fire efficiently not too far from you.
The Hobby companies in the US have created glazes that at around 1006 deg.C, will give you good matte/satin/gloss/high gloss finishes.
You can have porous earthenware for growing, sub-stoneware for non-porous and so on.

Mould cast or handbuilt as you wish.

Al,

the idea behind what I mentioned is simply this. The island is only 50 x 50 miles , and since 1978 or so has dropped from 48% jungle to 38%.
If a technique is evolved that allows for good results from seed, we can offer something that will challenge, and encourage the younger ones away from digging large wild trees.

Our soils are clay, and feeder roots are far away from the trunk. Very few will dig with sense and or take the time to prepare the soil zone over a time period.

So if it could be shown that a seed/seedling could be designed into something over a period of 5 to 10 years, then the collecting instinct could be perhaps controlled.
Additionally, the design would have to impress and as usual, the big trunk would be needed, since everyone wants a big trunk.

As I said, just sharing.
You can always ask questions.
Good Day
Anthony

Paragraphs of text are OK, but is there some sort of aversion to photo documentation? It would be much more interesting to "see" what it is you are writing about. I know, as well as the forum, would love to see some of these 2 and 3 inch trunked maples in one year.

 

[Smoke]

As I said, just sharing.


Good Day
Anthony

What is it you are sharing?

 

[Anthony]

Al,

if you had asked nicely, I would have given you any images that I have.
Since you chose to be cynical, well ..................

The information used for the faster growing was out of Bonsai Today, the articles on J.B.pines, which you are well aquainted with.
They work on other trees as well.
When Ris [ Rishi] comes down, I have made arrangements for him to see.
He can take images and post here.

I tend to treat folk on this group as friends, and was sharing some ideas, as one might do in a group having tea togther.
Sadly.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[Smoke]

Well then, Dario II it is for you.



Since you have brought up the traditions of the tea ceramony, then maybe some background into its intent. Most tea is taken in the Tokonoma portion of the Japanese house where a brasier (BBQ) is fitted into the floor of the Tatami Matts. The brasier is the place where the tea is brewed. The subject of the ceramony is usualy on display in the tokonoma and can be a tree, flowers (ikabana) sutra, scrolls, and carvings as well as religious articles. The point is the tea is served and those in the room will talk of the display. They have something to see.

My cynicism is brought about through going on two decades of reading and watching bonsai discussion forums. I have seen plenty of my share of those that come and claim great things but never show any of it.

This line says it all for me:

if you had asked nicely, I would have given you any images that I have.
Since you chose to be cynical, well ..................

You have nothing to show and this is the easy way out. A common answer for those with nothing.

 

[Anthony]

Al,

sigh.
If you take a read on IBC, you will see where Khaimraj Seepersad says the tree died 2 years or so ago, because, he didn't know that the trident required a drier soil mix.
My cousin may have mentioned the trident, when talking to Ris over the telephone, and that is probably why Ris is looking at bringing down a few tridents or maples.

It grew from a whip, purchased in the UK in 1994, and went to around 2 to 3" in under 6 months. Is that something unique?

I am not on Trinidad and will not be back there until April or May, when I normally take over from Khaimraj to handle the watering etc. as he then goes away.

I can try and request an image of the trident, but don't hold your breath, because I am the photographer and I don't have that image on my lexar.

Khaimraj may still have the dead tree, can you recognise a trident from it's bones?

In future, would you please cut the attitude, and just ask?

I think I have always posted an image as proof, and multiple internet directions with images and apologised if I was wrong or was unclear.
Thanking you in advance.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[Anthony]

Al,

here you are, on IBC -

http://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t4547-two-for-tim-hawaii-and-science-lends-a-hand

second image.
Tell me if you can't see it, I can also post the image.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[Smoke]

Hakuna Matata,

I think you have provided ample material to allow the forum to render a decision on exactly what is you do. Usually when I see BS I side step it. Then there are those that will slip in it. That usually ends pretty ugly.

Must be a full moon in the Big Easy tonight.