A little Zelkova grafting

[Adair M]

So, this Zelkova was chopped a couple years ago, some new shoots emerged, but not all around the top, unfortunately. It did create a callous under the bark, so the trunk isn’t dying back.

The first thing I did was to guy wire some of the branches to better positions. The reason I guy wired and not traditional spiral wiring was the tree is at Boon’s, and I only visit here every few months, so I can’t closely monitor the tree for wire scarring. So, guy wires are less likely to scar.

Then, I found a branch that was long enough, and flexible enough to pull down to where I could position some of its branchlets into position.



I made a V cut in the callous tissue with a grafting knife.



Then positioned The branchlets in place, and lightly scraped away the bark from the twigs. I also cut little pieces of Zelkova to place over the branchlets, so that they forced the branchlets deep Into the V cuts I made. I hammered grafting nails on either side of the branchlets.

H

I then covered the whole mess with putty to keep the water out.



The final step was to cut back on all the long whips.



Now, we wait...

 

[Norcalkbonsai]

Pretty great idea using multiple branches off a single

 

[Tieball]

Nice web of wires. Spider-Man would be proud if you.

 

[leatherback]

Nice little sapling you have there. That must be a 5 inch trunk?

 

[Daniel son STL]

Haha was just checking this tree out in some pictures with boon on bonsai America. Hell of a project!

 

[Cadillactaste]

Thread grafting...was not anticipating such a concept of one branch servicing many branches. Like a raft version. Thanks for sharing. I'm trying to look into a yamadori which will need all branches grafted since the tree with Will didn't fall into place. Extremely raw material. All branching will need thread grafted. It's something I've not done to be honest. But the concept seems possible in my minds eye. Our internet is out...I'm in a spot where I have one bar floating in and out..I was surprised the photo of your work even loaded. But, Again...I've come to expect the above par work when you share something. Thanks for the post.

 

[Adair M]

Pretty great idea using multiple branches off a single

That wasn’t “planned”! But when I looking for branches I could pull down and around, that branch just happened to have 4 small branches that just happened to line up exactly where I wanted place grafts! Sometimes you get lucky, I suppose.

 

[GreatLakesBrad]

Really cool technique, thx for sharing/explanation Adair.
Where does one purchase these “grafting nails” - appear to have plastic around heads to help flatten graft material?

 

[Adair M]

Really cool technique, thx for sharing/explanation Adair.
Where does one purchase these “grafting nails” - appear to have plastic around heads to help flatten graft material?

They’re from Japan.

Jonas has them, www.bonsaitonight.com.

By the way, those that have read my posts here know that I rarely suggest any books on bonsai. Well, Jonas has just published an amazing book for people new to the hobby! It’s “the little book of bonsai”, and he writes in the intro that it’s the book he wished he had when he first started in bonsai. And I’ve read it, and I concur! It’s only about $15, the pictures are great, and Jonas writes better than anyone else in bonsai. Highly recommended!

 

[GreatLakesBrad]

They’re from Japan.

Jonas has them, www.bonsaitonight.com.

By the way, those that have read my posts here know that I rarely suggest any books on bonsai. Well, Jonas has just published an amazing book for people new to the hobby! It’s “the little book of bonsai”, and he writes in the intro that it’s the book he wished he had when he first started in bonsai. And I’ve read it, and I concur! It’s only about $15, the pictures are great, and Jonas writes better than anyone else in bonsai. Highly recommended!

Will check it out, still re-reading Principles of bonsai design which is quite in depth. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[bwaynef]

Awesome improvement to this tree Adair. I've pondered what to do with it a couple times, but never came up with this idea. Well-spotted. Whose idea was it?

 

[MrWunderful]

Thats going to be a great broom in some years @Adair M do you know the story of the lower trunk?
Ground grown and chopped?
Are any of the existing branches grafts? I just did an intensive with Jonas and we did grafting so Im dying to try a formal broom using an older zelkova base with branching just from grafts like in the old article (Ebihara I believe)

 

[Hack Yeah!]

@Adair M what is the approximate diameter and height to chop on this one

 

[Adair M]

Awesome improvement to this tree Adair. I've pondered what to do with it a couple times, but never came up with this idea. Well-spotted. Whose idea was it?

Mine.

 

[Adair M]

Thats going to be a great broom in some years @Adair M do you know the story of the lower trunk?
Ground grown and chopped?
Are any of the existing branches grafts? I just did an intensive with Jonas and we did grafting so Im dying to try a formal broom using an older zelkova base with branching just from grafts like in the old article (Ebihara I believe)

This has been a bonsai for a long time. Boon has it when I first started with him in 2012. It had been created by a chop, but it had bad swelling at the chop. I mean, it wasn’t awful, but it was not great.

So, when Paul Kellum was Boon’s apprentice, he chopped it again. He stuck it in the greenhouse, and left it. Unfortunately, it only sprouted shoots on one side. Paul terminated his apprenticeship, and the tree has had nothing done to it until now. So, let’s see what happens!

 

[Carol 83]

Was that so stressful that you emptied your prescription and left the bottle in the box? Pretty cool.

 

[Adair M]

Was that so stressful that you emptied your prescription and left the bottle in the box? Pretty cool.

Lol!!! I had to get the little nails out of Boon’s travel bag. He keeps stuff like that in medicine bottles.

 

[Carol 83]

Lol!!! I had to get the little nails out of Boon’s travel bag. He keeps stuff like that in medicine bottles.

Just playin'. As usual impressive and educational.

 

[Adair M]

Here’s an update:



Boon sent me this picture. It’s too early to say the grafts have taken, but they’re still alive! And they look like they’re growing!

The next time I go to Boon’s (who knows when that will be?), I’ll carve out the middle of the center of the chop. This will give space for the callous to swell and bulge. I’ll wrap raffia around the outside to prevent it from swelling out, so the swelling will go in, where I will have carved it out. Well, that’s the plan, anyway! Lol!!!

 

[Mikecheck123]

Sometimes there's a fine line between genius and madness.

Not this time. This is pure genius.