Collected California Juniper

snowsurf125

Yamadori
Messages
51
Reaction score
0
Location
Hesperia, Ca, USA - High Desert
USDA Zone
10
Hey all, I thought I'd share this Cal Juni with you. My brother and I collected it on 4/4/12. It's doing well now, so I thought I'd post it.
A few months prior to collection, we tried experimenting with the Dan Robinson "root enhancement" technique. I enhanced half of the tree. The tree was on my grandfather's property, so we were able to water it once every few weeks or so, which helped a ton. After a few months, I went back to do the other half. When I started digging the untouched half, the entire tree shifted. Turns out, it was 2 trees intertwined and growing so close it looked like 1 tree. The tap root seemed to have been pretty old and rotted out, so the 1st half (the enhanced half) was practically falling over. With the 2nd half dug up, I noticed it had some good white tipped roots too. Since both trees were not being supported by any major roots at this point and were both now falling over, I took them both home.
We let them soak in tubs of water and Vitamin B for a few hours. The 1st half had tons of white tipped feeders, while the 2nd half (the un-enhanced side) only had a few. We put them in a pot with pumice, sprinkled some mycorrhizal that I got from Stone Lantern on the roots, filled in the rest with pumice, and left it in our shade house until this year. A few months ago (Dec-Jan), I carefully checked the roots on both. The 2nd half seemed to have more white roots than the 1st half, however, I didn't dig down too far out of fear for disturbing them. About 2 months ago, It was pulled out into full sun and is looking good with some new mature growth.
This one has some nice nebari on 1 side of it. There is also some very nice natural old deadwood, as well as some newer deadwood that will be a nice blank canvas for some carving (when my abilities and technique get there). Here are a few shots. Hope you enjoy.

(sorry some of the pictures rotated. they imported properly, but rotated when i uploaded them)
 

Attachments

  • photo 1.jpg
    photo 1.jpg
    207.2 KB · Views: 164
  • photo 2.jpg
    photo 2.jpg
    202.3 KB · Views: 152
  • photo 3.jpg
    photo 3.jpg
    214.1 KB · Views: 150

october

Masterpiece
Messages
3,444
Reaction score
325
Location
Massachusetts
Old and beautiful material. I am not sure it should be the carving techniques you will need to work on, but rather rebar and heavy bending techniques. ;)

Rob
 
Messages
201
Reaction score
100
Location
woodbury MN
USDA Zone
4b
w
Hey all, I thought I'd share this Cal Juni with you. My brother and I collected it on 4/4/12. It's doing well now, so I thought I'd post it.
A few months prior to collection, we tried experimenting with the Dan Robinson "root enhancement" technique. I enhanced half of the tree. The tree was on my grandfather's property, so we were able to water it once every few weeks or so, which helped a ton. After a few months, I went back to do the other half. When I started digging the untouched half, the entire tree shifted. Turns out, it was 2 trees intertwined and growing so close it looked like 1 tree. The tap root seemed to have been pretty old and rotted out, so the 1st half (the enhanced half) was practically falling over. With the 2nd half dug up, I noticed it had some good white tipped roots too. Since both trees were not being supported by any major roots at this point and were both now falling over, I took them both home.
We let them soak in tubs of water and Vitamin B for a few hours. The 1st half had tons of white tipped feeders, while the 2nd half (the un-enhanced side) only had a few. We put them in a pot with pumice, sprinkled some mycorrhizal that I got from Stone Lantern on the roots, filled in the rest with pumice, and left it in our shade house until this year. A few months ago (Dec-Jan), I carefully checked the roots on both. The 2nd half seemed to have more white roots than the 1st half, however, I didn't dig down too far out of fear for disturbing them. About 2 months ago, It was pulled out into full sun and is looking good with some new mature growth.
This one has some nice nebari on 1 side of it. There is also some very nice natural old deadwood, as well as some newer deadwood that will be a nice blank canvas for some carving (when my abilities and technique get there). Here are a few shots. Hope you enjoy.

(sorry some of the pictures rotated. they imported properly, but rotated when i uploaded them)


what exactly is Dan Robinsons root enhancing technique?
 

Adair M

Pinus Envy
Messages
14,402
Reaction score
34,873
Location
NEGeorgia
USDA Zone
7a
w



what exactly is Dan Robinsons root enhancing technique?
It’s very unlikely you’ll get a response from the original poster. This thread is over 6 years old.
 

rockm

Spuds Moyogi
Messages
14,182
Reaction score
22,180
Location
Fairfax Va.
USDA Zone
7
w



what exactly is Dan Robinsons root enhancing technique?
The link below addresses it, but indirectly. If I remember correctly, this technique involves wrapping a potential collectable tree's roots in sphagnum most, then in plastic and exposing the bag to sunlight. The tree is left on site, uncollected for a year or so...the technique retains moisture around the roots to promote growth and extension, while the exposure to sunlight traps heat, which can also stimulate growth (although too much exposure can kill the roots with excessive heat.

http://artofbonsai.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2412
 

Brian Van Fleet

Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Messages
13,959
Reaction score
45,886
Location
B’ham, AL
USDA Zone
8A
Messages
201
Reaction score
100
Location
woodbury MN
USDA Zone
4b
The link below addresses it, but indirectly. If I remember correctly, this technique involves wrapping a potential collectable tree's roots in sphagnum most, then in plastic and exposing the bag to sunlight. The tree is left on site, uncollected for a year or so...the technique retains moisture around the roots to promote growth and extension, while the exposure to sunlight traps heat, which can also stimulate growth (although too much exposure can kill the roots with excessive heat.

http://artofbonsai.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2412
so its used on trees that haven't been collected yet?
 

rockm

Spuds Moyogi
Messages
14,182
Reaction score
22,180
Location
Fairfax Va.
USDA Zone
7
Search here for “papoose wrap” by member @grouper52 for information on the root enhancing technique.
https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/backpack-for-collecting.6450/#post-81817
I have used a version of it and it works.
I don't know if this is the "enhancement" technique. It's a groundbreaking collection practice. I may be wrong though. Wrapping smaller feeder roots on uncollected trees in plastic can accelerate their growth. I THINK that's what the enhancement technique is, if I remember accurately...
 

Brian Van Fleet

Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Messages
13,959
Reaction score
45,886
Location
B’ham, AL
USDA Zone
8A
I don't know if this is the "enhancement" technique. It's a groundbreaking collection practice. I may be wrong though. Wrapping smaller feeder roots on uncollected trees in plastic can accelerate their growth. I THINK that's what the enhancement technique is, if I remember accurately...
Yeah, that sounds right now that you mention it. Maybe Will can shed some light... @grouper52 ...?
 
Top Bottom