Experts- safe oil to use on bark to darken it

[Ambientone]

I’ve got a RMJ that has some pale bark. Does anyone know of an oil I can use lightly to darken it? I have neem oil, but I really don’t think putting that on full strength is a good idea.

 

[Forsoothe!]

Bark needs to breathe. Anything that inhibits that free flow of air is counter-productive. You're asking for trouble. Neem oil is a preservative as are most or all other tree resins which when dissolved in a solvent or carrier flow in-between the fibers of wood, especially dry wood like bark, and glue the microscopic fibers together, often making them water-proof. The solvents used to make or keep them liquid are themselves poison to living tissue.

Other cheaters I have known use shoe polish.

 

[leatherback]

I’ve got a RMJ that has some pale bark. Does anyone know of an oil I can use lightly to darken it? I have neem oil, but I really don’t think putting that on full strength is a good idea.

I have seen walnut oil used to polish the cleaned bark on junipers, as well as camelia oil.

 

[TomB]

Camellia oil is the traditional one. People also use walnut among other things.
The effect is temporary and it would be done when preparing the tree for display.

 

[Dav4]

I've used mineral oil along with walnut oil to temporarily darken the bark prior to a show. The light weight petroleum based mineral oil is completely harmless and evaporates within a week or two.

 

[leatherback]

Bark needs to breathe. Anything that inhibits that free flow of air is counter-productive. You're asking for trouble. Neem oil is a preservative as are most or all other tree resins which when dissolved in a solvent or carrier flow in-between the fibers of wood, especially dry wood like bark, and glue the microscopic fibers together, often making them water-proof. The solvents used to make or keep them liquid are themselves poison to living tissue.

I am sorry. But this makes no sense at all. Quality neem oil has no solvents. Nor does walnut oil, camelia oil or any of the pther products used to enhance colour and shine on bark for exhibitions.
The effect is temporary and not a threat to plant health.

 

[sorce]

Bark?

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

 

[Adair M]

I use walnut oil to bring out the red cinnamon color of cleaned juniper bark. Camellia oil, too, is used for this purpose.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

I am sorry. But this makes no sense at all. Quality neem oil has no solvents. Nor does walnut oil, camelia oil or any of the pther products used to enhance colour and shine on bark for exhibitions.
The effect is temporary and not a threat to plant health.

And even if they would contain solvents, those solvents usually have a super low evaporation point. Even raw petroleum evaporates pretty fast on a regular day. Hexane is the most commonly used one in food oils, it boils at 69 degrees C. This makes it evaporate faster than regular ethanol.

 

[Cuchilo]

I was told to use boiled linseed oil , so i did . The tree lived .

 

[leatherback]

Other cheaters I have known use shoe polish.

Why cheaters? The whole idea of bonsai is to convey an image. There are many roads to Rome. Maybe you do not like all of them. But why revert to name-calling judgementalism?