Seiju!

[Bunjeh]

I bought one very similar to this last year on an impulse. I just potted it and let it grow all year and gave it a slight stying in the fall. Due to the already reduced leaves you have a great "instant" bonsai. You will be surprise how rapidly it will grow.

 

[aml1014]

I like this idea, I'll probably do an airlayer on mine and also go for a super mini. Thanks for the idea and good luck with yours, it'll make a nice tree.

Aaron

 

[JoeR]

Sorry for taking so long, I went on vacation and then when I got home I became quite sick!



I am very happy to see all the green below the AL, gives me something to chop to.


Speaking of chop- should I remove the escape branch on top?

 

[sorce]

Speaking of chop- should I remove the escape branch on top

I'd take it off upon AL removal...
If it's done.

Why not leave it on?

Sorce

 

[Stan Kengai]

Speaking of chop- should I remove the escape branch on top?

No, keep it for now. More green on top equals more root production for the layer. You can remove it when you separate the layer, as Sorce said.

 

[fredman]

It is in perlite by the by.

So you used only perlite? No sphagnum.... that correct?

 

[JoeR]

So you used only perlite? No sphagnum.... that correct?

Yes thats correct. It does have pumice on top to weigh it down though.


Even if I did have any sphagnum I still would not have used it.

 

[fredman]

Even if I did have any sphagnum I still would not have used it.

Interesting. Please keep it updated. I have the same idea of using perlite instead of sphagnum.

 

[JoeR]

Doing good.

 

[JoeR]

Update:

Probably removed this prematurely but I got this Japanese pot the other day for $2.50 at a local nursery and I wanted to put this in it. I think it has enough roots to survive though; in spring I removed all but say 7 roots and it was doing fine so I think it'll be okay. I meant to plant it higher but it just kept sinking- it may be a good thing anyway. Stay damper. Removed about 50% of the foliage.


Should I-
1) Remove more foliage (I'm tempted to REALLY cut it back)?
2) Leave it in some shade for a week or two?


What Yall think?

 

[cmeg1]

I would leave all the foliage.No hard cutbacks till it is completely vigorous,if that is what you want to do.Looks interesting.

 

[JoeR]

I would leave all the foliage.No hard cutbacks till it is completely vigorous,if that is what you want to do.Looks interesting.

Thanks, my thinking is that if I removed more foliage it would lessen the load on the roots until they get established again. But, at the same time, more foliage=more roots, so it is a delicate balance.

 

[M. Frary]

What Yall think?

I think I would have waited until spring.

 

[10-brink]

nice to see all that growth.

I just got one that looks like the OP. probably too late to start an airlayer, right?

 

[JoeR]

nice to see all that growth.

I just got one that looks like the OP. probably too late to start an airlayer, right?

Yeah Its too late, I would do it next spring.

 

[fh05]

these layers have roots in 1 month. not late at all.

 

[10-brink]

hmm. well this is what I have to work with. uppotted slightly using bonsai soil when I got it. a lot of roots circling the bottom of the original pot.


got a another dwarf chinese elm as well. $15 each

 

[JoeR]

March 16 - June 26 is a little more than a month @fh05 , and I would have liked more roots than this too... So I would er on the safe side.

 

[JoeR]

hmm. well this is what I have to work with. uppotted slightly using bonsai soil when I got it. a lot of roots circling the bottom of the original pot.


got a another dwarf chinese elm as well. $15 each

That looks exactly like mine did when I bought it, funny. Lets hope it progresses as fast as mine has!

 

[JoeR]

I think I would have waited until spring.

Why would you have waited until next spring? That would just make overwintering verg hard.


Anyway, some good signs- budding.