Pancake nebari vs distinct roots

Potawatomi13

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BVF's photo is one that came from the yard of Mr. Ebihara in Japan. I'm not sure if I shot that image or Boon, Jonas or Sam Edge perhaps. Regardless, the man was a retired engineer who had taken it upon himself to design a process for creating nebari on Japanese Maple and Zelkova that was unrivaled. His technical skills were unmatched even in Japan. The closest grower is perhaps Jonas' favorite, Ooishi:

http://bonsaitonight.com/2009/03/19/ooishi/

You can argue that the look is good/bad/unanural/perfect but what you have to acknowledge is that Ebihara and Ooishi are people who know how to create what they want with a plant.

To add to BVF's instructions:

"Graft, prune, plane, spread, repeat" is a good start. But Ebihara used every technique that you've ever heard of when working with JM's, and probably a lot that nobody else knows about. Here are some I know he used:
  • Growing the trees attached to a board (screwed from below)
  • arranging every single root at repotting using nails, chopsticks and wire on top of the board.
  • Pumice below, akadama and sphagnum above. Fence of mesh around to prevent roots from running, causing more wood production near the nebari. This technique requires diligent watering as Ebihara's apprentice, Jun attested to. Hot summer days meant constantly circling the yard with a hose. The roots are confined to an ideal growing environment that is very small.
Ebihara explaining some techniques to our group in 2008:
22961986594_1093a520e8_b.jpg


A shot of the fence technique, the bottom of the pot is pumice, the top is akadama and sphagnum moss:
22963130493_e7a30cef02_b.jpg


I uploaded a set of the images from 2008 to my Flickr stream, unfortunately many of them were shot on the wrong color setting and I no longer have the raw files to correct it (long story):

https://www.flickr.com/gp/28643050@N06/759zWG

These are some great looking trees!:D
 

Anthony

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Natural for some Ficus, Flamboyant, Silk Cotton on our side, but for other trees ?
Good Day
Anthony
 

sorce

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Bacon with maple syrup is excellent. I also have a weakness for bacon and dark chocolate bars.

Thanksgiving......

Had me some bacon wrapped mini weenies, cooked in brown sugar.....

Sugar dates too.....

Mmmmmm....

Can't do straight bac and mape though.
I love bacon.

Long as it ain't ketchup!

Sorce
 

klosi

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I don't care much about naturalness when it comes to such a masterpiece as the trees I've seen with massive pancake nebari. They work visually and aesthetically.
Thanks Eric for posting amazing pictures and detailed answer.

I understand the function of wooden board. But...
I still don't get it why they place akadama and sphagnum on top and pumice on bottom. I know top is much more water retentetive then bottom part, but not sure what this means for roots. And why does this soil choice develop pancake nebari.
 

Brian Van Fleet

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Roots thicken faster when they are covered. When out in the open, exposed to air, thickening slows to a crawl.
 

klosi

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OK, thanks. They could still be covered by pumice though, or this would not count? Does more humid environment thicken roots faster?
 

sorce

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I also read a lot of fert near the trunk aids this process....haven't seen it mentioned.

Isn't this why a high CEC material like akadama is used in top.
Plus excess moisture?

Sorce
 

Adair M

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Generally speaking, pumice is more open than akadama. Akadama does break down, whereas pumice does not.

Roots grow faster in a more open soil. They grow slower in a more dense soil. To develop the plate, there has to be substantial root growth. The pumice allows that. The roots that grow there are "sacrificial" roots. Similar in concept to sacrifice branches for developing trunks.

Around the nebari, we want even development. As Brian said, roots thicken better when they are covered. A layer of akadama does the job nicely. Keeping fertilizer close to the edge of the developing nebari does feed the feeder roots there.

One thing that's not been mentioned is continued stewardship required to assure there are roots growing evenly, on all the outside edges of the developing plate. There will be areas where a crotch develops. And there's no little root there to fill in.

If that happens, at next repotting, cut little Windows where you want roots and place a bit of damp spaghnum moss there. Roots should form.
 

jk_lewis

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I wouldn't say they are unnatural. We have a lot of Banyan trees in So Cal and I see roots like this all the time. Maybe not as awesome as this one but there are many nice ones.


Well, exotic figs are a LOT different than the maples you find out in the woods.
 

jomawa

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You can argue that the look is good/bad/unanural/perfect but what you have to acknowledge is that Ebihara and Ooishi are people who know how to create what they want with a plant.

Well said, a lot of arguing is merely difference of opinion / expectation. May we all be responsible and strive to know what "we" want, the methods and tools to use, and the time and fortitude to get there. And when we criticize a work of "art", may we know the intent of the artist before we utter a word.
 

Adair M

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It's ok to not like a style of bonsai. For instance I don't care about tropicals. Or boxwoods. Others love them. That's ok, too!
 

M. Frary

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mini weenies

Bet you that toad of Smokes with the monkey boyfriend was praying the weenie was mini.
And definitely hoping it wasn't wrapped in bacon.
I know someone wasn't sitting down for breakfast.
 

Smoke

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Bet you that toad of Smokes with the monkey boyfriend was praying the weenie was mini.
And definitely hoping it wasn't wrapped in bacon.
I know someone wasn't sitting down for breakfast.
Thats how you can tell if the monkey boyfriend is muslim or not. He will eat the weenie but not wrapped in bacon.
 
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