Learn to create mame

[Rob_phillips]

Hi guys iv become intrested in the mame bonsai form and have decided maybe one day to have a go at creating one but I've been trying to do some research on the Internet on the best species ways to create and maintain a mame for the novice as I bet there difficult to develop and maintain. but the info on the net ive managed to find out there seems basic and few and far between. So my question is does anyone know of any good sources of information and advice the more detailed the better. And what species would be best to develop into mame in the uk I currently have maple, juniper and pine trees so have experience and im patient and willing to learn before jumping in at the deep end.

 

[Eric Group]

Maple, Juniper and Pine are THE best trees to do them with probably... Perhaps Chojubau as well... Let me get you THE link... Been needing to get this site in the cue on my new iPad anyway...

 

[Eric Group]

This is the greatest blog ever written regarding the creation of tiny trees! I am on about page 390... Can't read a single word of Japanese, but if you really need to, you can always use one of the hundred translators out there!
http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/fwnt1093/MYBLOG/yblog.html/?m=lc&p=383

You may notice there are dozens of links to other Japanese Bonsai blogs off this guy's blog as well... All those are pretty cool too, but none quite as good as this one. You will find he has a consistent strategy for creating movement and girth and taper... Changed my whole mindset about making mame and shohin sized trees!

 

[AlainK]

There are some excellent pictures there, with lots of different species:

http://shohin-bonsai.or.jp/

 

[JoeR]

This is the greatest blog ever written regarding the creation of tiny trees! I am on about page 390... Can't read a single word of Japanese, but if you really need to, you can always use one of the hundred translators out there!
http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/fwnt1093/MYBLOG/yblog.html/?m=lc&p=383

You may notice there are dozens of links to other Japanese Bonsai blogs off this guy's blog as well... All those are pretty cool too, but none quite as good as this one. You will find he has a consistent strategy for creating movement and girth and taper... Changed my whole mindset about making mame and shohin sized trees!

My mobile auto translates it and it still makes no sense most of the time lol. Their phrasing/wording is just so different

 

[Eric Group]

A couple screenshots to illustrate the way this guy gets down...

 

[Eric Group]

My mobile auto translates it and it still makes no sense most of the time lol. Their phrasing/wording is just so different

Which is the case commonly with Japanese names like for Satsuki... I don't believe we really know the names of half the trees we have dubbed "Shinni-no-duki-myuiki..." Just some American fumbling over Jaoanese words! LOL

 

[quietobserver]

Hi guys iv become intrested in the mame bonsai form and have decided maybe one day to have a go at creating one but I've been trying to do some research on the Internet on the best species ways to create and maintain a mame for the novice as I bet there difficult to develop and maintain. but the info on the net ive managed to find out there seems basic and few and far between. So my question is does anyone know of any good sources of information and advice the more detailed the better. And what species would be best to develop into mame in the uk I currently have maple, juniper and pine trees so have experience and im patient and willing to learn before jumping in at the deep end.

Maybe surf this site a bit:

https://shohinblog.com/

He's also written a nice book on shohin and mame.

 

[Rob_phillips]

Thanks I will check all the links out asap

 

[Cypress187]

Lol, that trunk chop! Find the tree.

 

[Waltron]

im very experienced on how to cremate mame trees..

 

[aml1014]

cremate

I don't think that's what he wants to do! Lol

Aaron

 

[Craigm]

Hi guys iv become intrested in the mame bonsai form and have decided maybe one day to have a go at creating one but I've been trying to do some research on the Internet on the best species ways to create and maintain a mame for the novice as I bet there difficult to develop and maintain. but the info on the net ive managed to find out there seems basic and few and far between. So my question is does anyone know of any good sources of information and advice the more detailed the better. And what species would be best to develop into mame in the uk I currently have maple, juniper and pine trees so have experience and im patient and willing to learn before jumping in at the deep end.

So many ways to start a mini/mame , you can start from seed, cuttings,layers or any other way you can think of.
Layering or taking a cutting from an already established section of a good bonsai provides good material,especially when
thinning or reducing a tree which has become too dense with branching.
Starting with smaller sized stock and training in a normal Bonsai fashion only on a smaller scale.
Taking the plunge into mame is the first biggest step after that it's just practice and more practice.
Watering is one thing which will require practice and probably some patience to grasp but careful thinking
like protecting from harsh overhead temps can help alot.

Trees like ficus, juniper, olives and deciduous Trees like hawthorn and elms etc.
Mini/mame's are lots of fun so give em a shot

 

[M. Frary]

We has a member on the forum who is no longer with us. He passed away not too long ago. Everytime I see mame bonsai I think of him. He had quite a few nice little trees that he grew. Look up his threads.
His screen name was JKL. Jim Lewis was his real name.

 

[Rob_phillips]

Just purchased a really cheap very small broom style Chinese elm off the internet from one of those mass produced "bonsai" websites advertising every tree as a indoor bonsai lol (just as a first experiment not wanting to spend too much on good material to potentially ruin) . It has an intresing direction to the lower trunk and a low down first branch so I'm going to use this as a cheap experiment and have some fun with it. the whole tree including its pot is 20 cm tall, I don't really know the source i purchased it from but for around £10 with delivery i cant complain. Hopefully it will arrive healthy and not into poorer quality soil. And I will just keep it alive for a while to improve its vigor and health then see what I can do with it. I'm looking forward to the challenge. I will post a pic when it arrives.

 

[jcrossett]

Make sure you post pics and good luck .

 

[Labreapits]

Nice trees pictured there @Craig I like your pots too.

@Eric Group Thank you for posting that link. Really good stuff. I have enjoyed looking through it.

I like the big stuff, and can find beauty in all sizes of bonsai, but mame and shohin are special. imo

 

[Giga]

Pretty cool tree's - I like to sprinkle shohin and a few mame around my big tree's

 

[aml1014]

I personally have several mame willows, a cottonwood, bougainvillea, mulberry and a few others. They definitely take a totally new skill set to keep alive and healthy.
My favorite and mame I've had longest (3 years) is this little ficus benjamina.
Aaron

 

[Rob_phillips]

Thanks for all of you help on my mission to learn and create very small trees as I said previously I purchased a small broom style elm of the Web and it arrived today very healthy although maybe not as interesting as I was hoping very straight trunk and nothing to low down but still a prospect for my first mame here are some pics it's only 15 cm tall and in a cheap pot and very root bound so first thing is first get it to full health.
Here are some pics as It arrived today.