The Secret of Bonsai --------- bang ------- Anthony slumps over...........

[Anthony]

Fortunately, I invented a personal force shield that surrounds my body -,
ahhh no harm done.

Well the secret ----------- Or how to spend little on Bonsai --------

Health and Design

[1] Seedling in a colander until it handles all of the soil mix.

[2] Place in the ground , allow to develop branches.

[3] Plan the first six branches allow to extend .

[4] Cut a second, third , fourth .............

[ 5] Know what trunk size you want and let the 1st branch bring you close the size.

[6] Cut first branch and begin to train for ramification.

[7] Do second same way, paying attention to proportion of trunk to branch.

[8] You may have hit the trunk size already.

In which case remove from ground and leave in colander to recover.

Remember the colander air prunes the new feeder roots and helps encourage
more feeder roots.

[9 ] Transfer to over sized container and go for refinement.

Do at least 10 attempts with one type.
Take notes.
Don't be afraid to try other types after this.

Design -----------

If you draw the design before hand, it makes all the difference.

Try a formal or informal first.

Well this is what we do and it is easy..............
Good Growing
Anthony

This was first a design



Then an attempt

 

[chicago1980]

Fortunately, I invented a personal force shield that surrounds my body -,
ahhh no harm done.

Well the secret ----------- Or how to spend little on Bonsai --------

Health and Design

[1] Seedling in a colander until it handles all of the soil mix.

[2] Place in the ground , allow to develop branches.

[3] Plan the first six branches allow to extend .

[4] Cut a second, third , fourth .............

[ 5] Know what trunk size you want and let the 1st branch bring you close the size.

[6] Cut first branch and begin to train for ramification.

[7] Do second same way, paying attention to proportion of trunk to branch.

[8] You may have hit the trunk size already.

In which case remove from ground and leave in colander to recover.

Remember the colander air prunes the new feeder roots and helps encourage
more feeder roots.

[9 ] Transfer to over sized container and go for refinement.

Do at least 10 attempts with one type.
Take notes.
Don't be afraid to try other types after this.

Design -----------

If you draw the design before hand, it makes all the difference.

Try a formal or informal first.

Well this is what we do and it is easy..............
Good Growing
Anthony

This was first a design

View attachment 154221

Then an attempt

View attachment 154222

How many years did this grow in your climate? Well done.

 

[my nellie]

... ...Well the secret ----------- Or how to spend little on Bonsai --------
Health and Design
[1].........
[2].........
[3].........
..............................................
[9 ].........

I think... perhaps there should be added one more item in that list... "Choose fast growing species"

 

[Anthony]

@chicago1980 ,

this gmelina is entering it's 30 something years, but was like that probably 5 years ago.
Now we are waiting to see if it really only lives 50 years.

Also grows in Florida and can be had at Wigerts, can handle down to lower 30's deg.f

http://www.wigertsbonsai.com/gmelina-philippensis-2/

@my nellie ,

Alexandra,

Hmm, I am not sure what a slow growing plant would be on this side.
Even the olive from South Africa grows steadily.
Good Day
Abthony

 

[Anthony]

@my nellie ,

Alexandra,

could you check something for me ------- it is known as, the spring burst.

Where trees coming out of the cold and going into spring shoot up, around 6 feet / say 2 m.

When we take the Celtis out of the fridge, the response in to grow at least 3 feet / say 1 m
in a month or so, in the larger pots.

Just wondering if you have this and if you have learned to use it ?
Good Day
Anthony

* I know there is supposed to be a second burst of growth in autumn ?

 

[gallina1594]

Very cool step by step, can you explain the colander method more? Or direct me to a previous form?

 

[StoneCloud]

Very nice job, and the branch placement is literally spot on!!!

I like it, thanks for sharing!

 

[StoneCloud]

Very cool step by step, can you explain the colander method more? Or direct me to a previous form?

Just search "colander" on this forum tons of info!

in a nutshell the roots will air prune (die and dry out when growing past the basket) this will cause more feeders to grow.

 

[gallina1594]

We

Just search "colander" on this forum tons of info!

in a nutshell the roots will air prune (die and dry out when growing past the basket) this will cause more feeders to grow.

Well what do you know they can also double as a nice training pot!

 

[drew33998]

Your title is amazing.

 

[my nellie]

Hello, Anthony!

... ...Where trees coming out of the cold and going into spring shoot up, around 6 feet / say 2 m.
When we take the Celtis out of the fridge, the response in to grow at least 3 feet / say 1 m in a month or so, in the larger pots... ...
Just wondering if you have this and if you have learned to use it ?

Yes, I know what you are talking about certainly.
I also think I am doing use of spring burst to my advantage - or better my trees' advantage.
But when you say growth of 1m. you are referring to growth lengthwise.
I am concerned more about increasing by thickness.
And I do know that letting the tree to grow free you will get taper and thickness, but you will agree it takes time to achieve!
I mean it is needed more time than one would guess reading the list above...


P.S.: Please don't think I am lazy... but I would like faster results.

 

[Anthony]

@my nellie ,

check this - for every 1 m of height, how much do you get on the trunk thickness ?
Is it at around 2 m of height you get 5 cm at the trunk ?

On my side anything over 80 cm as branch length goes will pack on 2.5 cm of trunk.

So theory wise you might hit 5 cm in one year, and 7.5 by the next year.

How tall do you expect your Bonsai to be ?
Good Day
Anthony

*No I don't think you are lazy, but do believe you need to develop a metre stick [ yardstick ] idea
of what branch length will give you how much trunk diameter. Or height of tree to trunk.

 

[Anthony]

@my nellie ,

Alexandra,

here an image of a newly germinated tamarind. Used to be K's avatar on IBC.

What we do is cut 1.25 or 2.5 cm below the cotyledon, dip in rooting hormone and replant.
What it does, is allow the seedling as a 1 to 2 m sapling to be cut down to say 2.5 cm.
It can then restart and go again.

So you can have really low branching if you want.

The same goes for a cutting.

Thus you can place this plant or cutting into a small, shallow colander and then when it is
ready into the ground.
You can have any thickness of trunk and branches as you desire.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[my nellie]

*No I don't think you are lazy, but do believe you need to develop a metre stick [ yardstick ] idea
of what branch length will give you how much trunk diameter. Or height of tree to trunk.

This is not a bad idea!
I can use my measuring tape which I use in sewing

... ...On my side anything over 80 cm as branch length goes will pack on 2.5 cm of trunk.
So theory wise you might hit 5 cm in one year, and 7.5 by the next year.

On YOUR side! I doubt it is likewise in my side... although we have long spring and summer weather goes well into autumn.
Do you mean 2.5cm plus to the diameter of the tree or to the perimeter of the tree?

 

[Anthony]

@my nellie ,

diameter, always diameter.

My next question would be, what height of tree are you aiming for ?

I would imagine you are 60 ish and not built like a Mac Truck , so say 30 cm or less.
Which is just 2.5 cm trunk diameter = 15 cm of height and
Thus a 5 cm trunk to 30 cm and easily attainable in a year or two or three.
Plus comes with 6 branches.

In other words Bonsai in around 5 to 8 years.

So you can turn those 300 cuttings / seeds into at least 30 excellent tree efforts

I have faith in you, plus just ask the questions.

Do you have Celtis nearby ?
Pomegranates, Olives, Spirea, Gingko, Mallsai ?
I am going to ask K [ not on the island presently for 4 months ] to see about sending
you some Sageretia t seed, if you don;t have it as a mallsai.

We shall get you to Bonsai Mistress level, yesum we will.
Go Alexandria go!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't worry, we have lots of experience with mature folk and anxiety over time with
regards to Bonsai.
Always remember our mature lady and the Klim milk pan with her tree of years tending.
Good Day
Anthony