Forest care...

[Cadillactaste]

I have admired forest groupings...assuming quite heavy. Which is a deterrent for me. But seen one on the program House Hunters International. The couple they did it on...the man was into bonsai and they showed us a group setting and it was amazing.

1. What does one do...when they outgrow the pot...doesn't the roots become tangled?

2. What are some pros and cons to doing a forest grouping? If you care to share photos I am cool with that as well.

 

[bonsaibp]

They don't really outgrow the pot-just like any other bonsai they get repotted periodicaly. The roots eventually become a single mass. Here is a link to a blog post I did about creating one.
http://bonsaibpsbonsaiblog-bonsai.blogspot.com/2011/02/creating-forest-planting-part-1.html

http://bonsaibpsbonsaiblog-bonsai.blogspot.com/2011/02/creating-forest-planting-part-2.html

 

[jkd2572]

What you created a forest? I have never read that before.

 

[bonsaibp]

What you created a forest? I have never read that before.

LOL this is a different one.

 

[Poink88]

They don't really outgrow the pot-just like any other bonsai they get repotted periodicaly. The roots eventually become a single mass. Here is a link to a blog post I did about creating one.
http://bonsaibpsbonsaiblog-bonsai.blogspot.com/2011/02/creating-forest-planting-part-1.html

http://bonsaibpsbonsaiblog-bonsai.blogspot.com/2011/02/creating-forest-planting-part-2.html

You disappoint me ...why not share the progression of your avatar?

 

[Cadillactaste]

Thanks for sharing the blog...I guess the trunks won't overly thicken in our lifetime. (That was my concern) Your forest is AMAZING! I can't imagine moving it. Thanks for sharing!

I tried to do a search on "forest"...but couldn't find anything...yet I know its been discussed here.

 

[gergwebber]

When is it okay to mix species in forests? Does anyone have any good examples off this?

 

[lordy]

I started this one from a single 6" pot of Ficus Benjamina from Home Depot about 15 years ago. I have repotted at least 4 times since the original planting. When I do it now, I carefully comb out the roots, prune any big tuberous roots, then wire each tree to a mesh sheet cut to fit the bottom of the pot, then I wire the mesh to the pot. These dont miss a beat. I neglect this forest because it needs pruning quite frequently and I can get lazy.

 

[jkd2572]

I could not imagine just lifting the pot it's in without anything else. wonderful piece. Talking about Mr Pressler's forest of course something I don't have is a forest. I would like to create one. It's hard and expensive to find all the right trees.

 

[Poink88]

Darlene, check these...

http://www.fukubonsai.com/5a3a.html
http://bonsaitonight.com/2013/03/19/repotting-a-red-pine-forest/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXNLIJgjD_Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU4exwoZeSU

 

[lordy]

When is it okay to mix species in forests? Does anyone have any good examples off this?

I think it is OK when the trees are what you might see in nature. Many times different kinds of trees share a piece of landscape. Beech with maples, junipers with spruce, pine, etc. In bonsai culture, it probably has more to do with what kind of soil, light, and watering the trees need with respect to being in the same tray together.

 

[jkd2572]

Lordy
Have you thought about chopping this one down shorter?

 

[lordy]

Lordy
Have you thought about chopping this one down shorter?

I have, pretty much every time I walk past it in my office. Then I think, hell, you can let it go for now, it's doing great...(for now). I need to thin it a lot and prune it down too.

 

[jkd2572]

I like the idea of different trees in the same landscape. Don't see it much in forest
, but quite a bit in penjing. Although in penjing it's usually the same type of tree with different accent plants like ferns and moss. I think like you said you would need to pick trees with the same horticulturalist requirements. I very much like the idea.

 

[jkd2572]

The tree in front at least needs to be planted at a different angle. It is leaning as the others are not. It might allow you to read up on artist design of forest and replant the entire group to appropriate artist design. Sounds to me like a fun project.

 

[bonsaibp]

You disappoint me ...why not share the progression of your avatar?

If you insist
http://bonsaibpsbonsaiblog-bonsai.blogspot.com/2011/09/9-11-memorial-bonsai-forest.html

 

[gergwebber]

I like the idea of different trees in the same landscape. Don't see it much in forest
, but quite a bit in penjing. Although in penjing it's usually the same type of tree with different accent plants like ferns and moss. I think like you said you would need to pick trees with the same horticulturalist requirements. I very much like the idea.

Same requirements would only be step one, but then what? Similar leaf sizes? Bark in proportion to one another. Perhaps you could use a real giant as the center, (like a chunky Trident) surrounded by trees of a more delicate form (...catlin elm, uh, olive...???) to suggest the extreme age of the focal. Like seeing that one egregiously older tree in the copse that is on a different scale all together?

thinking about trees that would work in this regard is more difficult. It could probably work better with a stand of conifers.

or perhaps 3 types of Ulmaceae sized dependent to general species leaf size? Celtis (largest) to zelkova (Mid) to elm (smallest)

 

[Cadillactaste]

If you insist
http://bonsaibpsbonsaiblog-bonsai.blogspot.com/2011/09/9-11-memorial-bonsai-forest.html

Thank you for sharing...that you brought your vision,turning it into a real forest...as a memorial...makes it even more..."special" in its own right. I must admit...I was in awe of the size trees you used. They looked to be about as thick as a mans wrist.

This burning technique I need to also read up on. I think a good plan going in would bring about better results for someone like me...maybe a class on the subject matter too would help.

I would have to shoot for a mini version...one I maybe able to handle. They have always intrigued me...but seeing the one on television brought it more into grasp of their regal beauty.