Black Monkey Thorn, finally

[It's Kev]

I went to a day market this morning, the surroundings were disappointing because all the stalls were selling crap. Then at the 2nd last one was selling some succulents and a couple of trees. So I picked up this one.

 

[leatherback]

That is a nice tree. How will you get it home though!?

 

[It's Kev]

That is a nice tree. How will you get it home though!?

Gonna have to wrap it very carefully.
Maybe wedge something between the 2 main branches and then wrap it tightly. Also, carefully remove most of the soil and then wrap a wet rag or wet newspaper around the roots and then cover the whole lot in glad wrap.
However, I might also just build a double layered, triangle shaped box, the same way my trees get packed when I buy them online. But then also wrap it like above so they can retain some moisture during the trip.

 

[Forsoothe!]

Gonna have to wrap it very carefully.
Maybe wedge something between the 2 main branches and then wrap it tightly. Also, carefully remove most of the soil and then wrap a wet rag or wet newspaper around the roots and then cover the whole lot in glad wrap.
However, I might also just build a double layered, triangle shaped box, the same way my trees get packed when I buy them online. But then also wrap it like above so they can retain some moisture during the trip.

Doesn't it have to go through 12 months of quarantine to enter the USA?

 

[leatherback]

Doesn't it have to go through 12 months of quarantine to enter the USA?

Thought Kevin was in Azia?

 

[Forsoothe!]

Sounded to me like an American living in China who was asked how he would get it home to the USA. He obviously already bought it and got it back to his computer location. Extrapolated incorrectly?

 

[It's Kev]

@Forsoothe!

I have researched the 2 countries concerned (South Africa and China) regarding my import (smuggling) and nobody seems to have an issue. Also, it’s only 1 tree and not a whole suitcase full of plants that would raise suspicion.

@leatherback

Yes, I am in Asia, and my experimental import made it to South Africa safely
https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/ror-literati.34998/#post-644682
This is the tree I transported 12000km to give to my mom, and it got here without any issues.

 

[It's Kev]

I’m here, I made it, and my tree also made it. I couldn’t find any laws against bringing in trees into either China or South Africa, and the airline didn’t have any rules against it either. However, I also didn’t declare my goods, not sure if that’s completely lawful or not. But nevertheless, I think it traveled ok, and I’ll post some “unboxing” pics as soon as I get around to unpack.
Watch this space.

 

[Potawatomi13]

Would be very wise to treat for bugs. fungus soonest possible for present country safety. Also clip off thorns if using for Bonsai.

 

[It's Kev]

Also clip off thorns if using for Bonsai.

But I like the thorns

Ok, so here goes:
I needed a container that’s sturdy and that can hold a bit of moisture. My brother works at a liquor store and gave me a metal cylindrical container that was used for a bottle of wine.

In order to not stress the tree to much (because this whole trip alone will be stressful as hell) I didn’t cut anything. I put the roots with minimal soil in a ziplock bag which I closed with tape around the trunk to retain moisture. Then I dropped it in the cylinder and on the way down I folded the branches upward to make them fit.
Fast forward to a few days later on arrival, after 2 days in transit and 2 days for visa applications.
At this point I was confronted with a bit of a problem. My root mass was a bit too tight and branches too delicate to pull the tree out the way it went in. It can’t go the opposite direction so I had to make a plan. I bought a pair of cheap scissors and started cutting away at the bottom of the cylinder. I figured it will be the easiest way to get the tree out without damaging it.

Unfortunately I lost most of the flakey bark in transit, but that’s a small price to pay. The branches stayed bent upward, so it looked a little weird.

The pot I chose would look better after I trimmed the roots, but I want to let the tree recover for a while first. Luckily I came into summer so it can chill out for a bit and I’ll do some root work in the winter.
I wired the branches only very lightly and used pieces of a chopstick to position them. The thorns do come in handy to “anchor” my chopstick bits.
I considered this a bit of an emergency potting, I didn’t want to wait a few more days for soil to arrive before I pot it, so please don’t judge my substrate.

Think I’ll do a typical flat top style with this, and I’d like the foliage to dense up a bit. Also, it had a couple of thick roots pointing downward but I didn’t want to cut anything off just yet.

 

[leatherback]

nice. Congrats!

 

[Milly]

Your tree has just been relocated from southern to northern hemisphere. It was just going to winter and now it will be entering summer. It needs at the very least one year to acclimatize before you start doing root work or styling.
Enjoy!
Do not allow moss to grow up the trunk. It happens very easily on this tree. The bark is thick but very soft. The moss will cause the bark to peel off and cause inverse taper on the trunk.

 

[Ali Raza]

Cool you smuggled it. What about customs ?

 

[It's Kev]

What about customs ?

As said before, the countries involved didn’t mention this as illegal. They didn’t find/see it because they weren’t looking for it.

 

[A. Gorilla]

South Africa's crops will now fail due to a new blight.

Good going.

 

[Ali Raza]

As said before, the countries involved didn’t mention this as illegal. They didn’t find/see it because they weren’t looking for it.

Most of them are considered as illegal here.

 

[It's Kev]

Most of them are considered as illegal here.

I didn’t research which ever country you’re in.

 

[It's Kev]

Adjusting well to its new climate
We had a few days of torrential rain and now the tree’s bursting with new growth.

 

[penumbra]

Glad it made it.

 

[Ali Raza]

Keep updating.