The Tai Chi of root control.

Anthony

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Well as we get closer to 40 years of Bonsai growing, roots are what we watch.

Thus far the simple soil mix of 5 mm silica based gravel, aged compost and at times the
addition of 5 mm water holding crushed red brick, has not let us down.

We have a pronounced dry season, and only our layer of clay soil and nearness to the
sea prevents us from going to desert conditions.
Though I believe the islands on the other coast of Venezuela, like Curacao, and Bonaire
are more desert-like.

So we are able to repot and hand water, which allows the tree to master the pot, before the
rains return as well as be fertilised weekly for about 6 months.
[ hand water = controlled watering ]

Anyhow, roots are remaining fine and delicate, root bound yearly or every two years before
repotting.
Growth on top remains healthy.

Our tests on the use of hydroponic pebbles [ 12 mm and 8 mm ] also shows the trees doing
well.
The compost supplies the water / fertiliser holdiing capacity, as well as the needed organic
/ microbe inter action.

Thus far it all works. Keeps everthing in natures way.
Good Day
Anthony
 

sorce

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Of the Shin, the Core, on your side.....

I believe it can be left with high water holding nursery soil in a pot, and left to reboot wet. To replace with bonsai soil.

Or in a basket and left to reboot dry.
As in a colander, the water doesn't have the physics to capillary back into the Core.

My drainless bottom baskets.....
Somewhere in between...

But that new Mirai Soil stream was an eye opener!

Strong Chi.
Directly from the earth through your pivoting back foot, where the power comes from...
That's how we hit homeruns!

Sorce
 

Anthony

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@sorce,

we use colanders in ground growing, once you hit that 3 to 5 inch trunk
and the planned for 6 branches.
[ what makes a tree is a few branches powerful and thick ]
We have no use for the colander after that.

Large plastic bonsai pot for refinement of branchlets.

K is a Fine Artist who draws trees continuously, and because he practices,
both Sight-Size and Memory drawing, plus did Sculpture, the Design
aspect is as breathing.

Bonsai is very simple.

Just taught very confusingly.

Of course if you want to win at displays, well you have to push your trees
further, and do more, often. damage to the tree.
Not part of anyone down here.

Older tradition ----------- tree provides stimulation of the imagination,
for use in inventing.
Slows the heart, improves life.
More of a reward than winning hollow trophies.
Good Day
Anthony
 

KiwiPlantGuy

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@sorce,

we use colanders in ground growing, once you hit that 3 to 5 inch trunk
and the planned for 6 branches.
[ what makes a tree is a few branches powerful and thick ]
We have no use for the colander after that.

Large plastic bonsai pot for refinement of branchlets.

K is a Fine Artist who draws trees continuously, and because he practices,
both Sight-Size and Memory drawing, plus did Sculpture, the Design
aspect is as breathing.

Bonsai is very simple.

Just taught very confusingly.

Of course if you want to win at displays, well you have to push your trees
further, and do more, often. damage to the tree.
Not part of anyone down here.

Older tradition ----------- tree provides stimulation of the imagination,
for use in inventing.
Slows the heart, improves life.
More of a reward than winning hollow trophies.
Good Day
Anthony

Hi Anthony,
Could you please explain (in a few words or more lol) your recipe for design using 6 branches. I have not read this anywhere and wanted to pick your brain please.
Also, does the 6 branch start to the tree mean that you still have to grow your apex as well?
Thanks, Charles
 

Anthony

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Hello @KiwiPlantGuy ,

Charles, the reason you see me suggesting that someone grow 10 or 20 of the
same type and take notes is because ---- to really train a plant you have to know
it.

So let us take for example a Celtis [ since they are world wide ]

Your first efforts would be to simply keep it alive and healthy. Taking notes on
branching, how it occurs and why.
Observations on how it thickens and so on.

Eventually, you would be able to make branches pop out where you want them or
make better use of those that are there.

So you would be able to take a seedling and wire or clip the basic shape, say pencil
thick and around the height you would like the tree to be.
This would require a great memory or a simple drawing as time passes.

So let us say you have wired the seedling, placed the branches, and understand
how the tree thickens.
How it will absorb the excessive curves you have placed in the trunk [ mallsai
elms with severe S curves making sense now ?]

You let your seedling absorb the curves, by first extending the lowest branch.
Say a metre is needed for 2.5 cm of trunk.
Then knowing how the tree heals, you cut back the branch to say 8 cm for branch forks.
At the same time you are growing the second and third branch.
Cutting back as the trunk thickens.

Now here is the confusion, in nature [ observations from our local mature trees in the savannahs ]
the main branch is normally around 3/4 or 1/2 the thickness of the trunk.

The Japanese use thin branches to emphasize the trunk's thickness [ extending this
to shallow pots as well, showing off the trunks ]

If you follow the Japanese ideas, what I am showing you will make no sense, or
will not fit into your ideal of a tree.

This is where the confusion comes in.
Naturalism by observation [ drawn studies from Nature are used here by my brother-in-law ] as
opposed to both Japanese Convention and Naturalism as projected by Mr.Walter Pall.

If you are able to produce many branchlets on 6 branches, you will see that the
tree is very full and probably will not need too many more branches.
Observed this on Chinese artificial tree ornaments. Using a few branches to make
a full canopy [ and saving money on materials ]

Combine the use of the ground, a colander and or a tile for surface roots if needed
and viola...................
Ask if you need more clarification.
Good Day
Anthony
 

Adair M

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@sorce,




Of course if you want to win at displays, well you have to push your trees
further, and do more, often. damage to the tree.
Not part of anyone down here.

Older tradition ----------- tree provides stimulation of the imagination,
for use in inventing.
Slows the heart, improves life.
More of a reward than winning hollow trophies.
Good Day
Anthony

Anthony, since you don’t show trees, you shouldn’t be speaking your opinion on what it takes to win a Show. Or even be invited to show at “invitation only” shows.
 

Anthony

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Sifu,

in the 80's to the 90's we did public exhibitions. Have certificates of winning, placement
and publishing in a magazine twice.
And we were invited as well.
Good Day
Anthony
 
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