Njyamadori
Chumono
Thanks so much everyone! My plan now is that I will get 9 seedlings of Japanese maple twist them together with tubing with wire . Then put that is a container with lava akadama and pumice . And around early spring . Thanks again
Watch the Esei en maple clump part 1 video on YouTube. Bjorn didn’t remove the cambium because it fuses but it’s self . Also it’s recommended to do 9 in a clump expecting 1 or 2 to dieHas anyone removed the cambium at the contact points of the seedlings to promote fusing?
I have a bunch of tridents on their way and I'm going to give it a try.
Also, what is a good number to fuse? 5,7,9? I'm trying to account for the loss of one or two.
Watch the Esei en maple clump part 1 video on YouTube. Bjorn didn’t remove the cambium because it fuses but it’s self . Also it’s recommended to do 9 in a clump expecting 1 or 2 to die
@Njyamadori this is a fantastic resource, please go read all of @Shibui articles on that page. You’ll see the benefits of the plate method. Although Bjorn’s wire binding method is also excellent, the plate method does result in a better nebari as well as possible faster fusingMuch will depend on the thickness of these seedlings. Taking even a very small amount of bark off very thin trunks can cause dieback. By all means try if you want but I only cut bark on pencil thick and thicker trunks when I want specific areas to graft. For clump style I thread the seedlings through holes drilled in sheet metal. As the trunks expand they are constricted by the metal sheet and form callus which swells then produces new roots above the metal and the enlarging callus readily grafts to others nearby. Some really good multi trunk trees grown this way.
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More details of this technique on Shibuibonsai.com.au. This link should go straight to the search for plate technique - Shibui Bonsai seedlings through metal plates
The JM clump from the shoots is a great idea. I did something similar where I layered off the top of a branch that had 5 shoots growing from one spot. I only layered it earlier this season but it’s growing really well so far. The branches (now the trunks) are all different sizes so should be a nice clump once I start working it.When I did it, I followed @Smoke guide and it worked really well for my trident clump. Because I’m in the UK, I didn’t want to plant this in the ground in case it froze so I planted it in a big round pond basket so I could put it indoors over winter and it grew really well. I severed the top from the bottom after two seasons and when I repotted this year, could see loads of fusing of the roots. It works really well.
Another technique I tried, was to buy a vigorous straight green maple, and cut it down to about 6” from the base. The tree then threw out loads of buds all over with about 8 or 9 buds from the top ring. I rubbed off everything below this top ring and let the shoots grow. Some grew much much faster than others so I trimmed them back a few times to try and balance the vigour. I left this to grow for two seasons and then airlayered it off last summer. It looks really cool so I’m going to try it again this year with a cultivar and see what happens
Was that a maple you did it on Sean? Any pics?The JM clump from the shoots is a great idea. I did something similar where I layered off the top of a branch that had 5 shoots growing from one spot. I only layered it earlier this season but it’s growing really well so far. The branches (now the trunks) are all different sizes so should be a nice clump once I start working it.
How thick was the trunk that you chopped? Asking to get an idea of how far apart the trunks are and the size of the wound in the middle. I may try that too at some stage.
Yours is very good and I love them but I don’t have any metal to cut and I already bought stuff for the Bjorn way . Is there a way I can help nebari when using the tubing method ? Also how long ago did you start these ?Much will depend on the thickness of these seedlings. Taking even a very small amount of bark off very thin trunks can cause dieback. By all means try if you want but I only cut bark on pencil thick and thicker trunks when I want specific areas to graft. For clump style I thread the seedlings through holes drilled in sheet metal. As the trunks expand they are constricted by the metal sheet and form callus which swells then produces new roots above the metal and the enlarging callus readily grafts to others nearby. Some really good multi trunk trees grown this way.
View attachment 350428View attachment 350429View attachment 350430
View attachment 350431View attachment 350432
View attachment 350433View attachment 350434
More details of this technique on Shibuibonsai.com.au. This link should go straight to the search for plate technique - Shibui Bonsai seedlings through metal plates
It’s the cluster of branches circled in the naked pic. All the bright green foliage is the new growth since I separated last November. The roots of the layer are filling the pot and every now and then one pops up at the edge and has to be covered up.Was that a maple you did it on Sean? Any pics?
Trunk was just pencil thickness so not that big but when the shoots were thin, I did wire them out a bit quite low down to give them a bit of movement. When I set the air layer, I cut the trunk right up tight against the bottom of the ring of shoots and then scraped off the bark of the bottom of those wired out shoots. Roots came from everywhere and created quite a big pad. I’ll try and get out and get a picture today / tomorrow
Those ones pictured 2-3 years since the seedlings were threaded through the plates.Also how long ago did you start these ?
Good root pruning will definitely help build good nebari. You will have to wait until all the trunks have fused so they can share roots but after that prune all vertical roots really hard - as close to the base of the clump as possible. Also cut lateral roots quite short to promote better root ramification. Nebari is not just about a few strong lateral roots. Roots should divide and taper like branches and trunks above so pruning down below is just as important as up top.Is there a way I can help nebari when using the tubing method ?