Unusual Dissectum Japanese Maple Niwaki Start

[penumbra]

I have been considering this for awhile now. This Waterfall Maple was planted yesterday from a bonsai pot to a dead and rotting tree stump. The idea is that eventually there will be a mass of exposed rots over time as the tree continues to further decay. Some back history of the stump. It was a Scarlet Oak that was slowly dying of "Oak Decline" and was cut down 9 years ago. The stump is disintegrating slowly and the inner most part no longer resembles wood at all but looks like rich brown topsail. I took a small hand ax and dug the center portion of the log out to allow for the planting of the JM. The maple was in a white glazed hex pot on top of this trunk, but the decay of the trunk was imminent and the pot display was jeopardized. I simply slip potted the tree into the hollowed out stump yesterday and slipped it directly into the hole. Of course I will be keeping a close watch on it and will put it back in the pot if the experiment goes off kilter, but I expect it to grow quite vigorously.
At my advancing age, I need to play a bit. I am looking at another stump that is a lot lower for a Japanese Black Pine.

 

[KateM]

I have been considering this for awhile now. This Waterfall Maple was planted yesterday from a bonsai pot to a dead and rotting tree stump. The idea is that eventually there will be a mass of exposed rots over time as the tree continues to further decay. Some back history of the stump. It was a Scarlet Oak that was slowly dying of "Oak Decline" and was cut down 9 years ago. The stump is disintegrating slowly and the inner most part no longer resembles wood at all but looks like rich brown topsail. I took a small hand ax and dug the center portion of the log out to allow for the planting of the JM. The maple was in a white glazed hex pot on top of this trunk, but the decay of the trunk was imminent and the pot display was jeopardized. I simply slip potted the tree into the hollowed out stump yesterday and slipped it directly into the hole. Of course I will be keeping a close watch on it and will put it back in the pot if the experiment goes off kilter, but I expect it to grow quite vigorously.
At my advancing age, I need to play a bit. I am looking at another stump that is a lot lower for a Japanese Black Pine.
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I'd love to see an update on it.

 

[namnhi]

Is that a dissectum JM? I don't see any trait of dissectum in the leave at all. It looks more like the weeping palmatum that @Cadillactaste has (I have one too but can't seem to recall the name right now). That should look really nice in the future.

 

[namnhi]

acer palmatum ryusen

 

[jevanlewis]

Very cool experiment. In the Pacific Northwest, plants commonly grow out of decomposing stumps and logs (Western Hemlock and Huckleberries seemed to be the most common). One thing to consider in your climate is how cold the winters get. Roots of plants growing in stumps probably are more susceptible to freezing as compared with in the ground. This isn't a problem in the PNW since winters are mild. Just something to consider in your climate. The lower stump you are looking for for your JBP will be less likely to freeze. I'm looking forward to following the progress of this experiment!

 

[penumbra]

Is that a dissectum JM? I don't see any trait of dissectum in the leave at all. It looks more like the weeping palmatum that @Cadillactaste has (I have one too but can't seem to recall the name right now). That should look really nice in the future.

I am sorry, you are completely correct. Thank you for staying sharp. Of all the things I have lost over the years, I miss my mind the most. This is Ryusen. Originally it was named Ryu sei which means Dragon Spirit.

Roots of plants growing in stumps probably are more susceptible to freezing as compared with in the ground.

I would have said this is not a problem here either, but this past winter with a late spring freeze was brutal. I am sure it will be fine though because there is a lot of diameter in this trunk. Ryusen is rated for zone 5 through 8. If we have a hard freeze I will cover it. Thank you.

 

[Michael P]

Hmmm, there is a possible "nurse stump" in my backyard. . .

 

[Cadillactaste]

I am sorry, you are completely correct. Thank you for staying sharp. Of all the things I have lost over the years, I miss my mind the most. This is Ryusen. Originally it was named Ryu sei which means Dragon Spirit.

I would have said this is not a problem here either, but this past winter with a late spring freeze was brutal. I am sure it will be fine though because there is a lot of diameter in this trunk. Ryusen is rated for zone 5 through 8. If we have a hard freeze I will cover it. Thank you.

I used to be a zone 5... my Ryusen was protected with stakes and burlap around it. Open air above it. I'm now a zone 4. The zone map has me now a zone 6. Laughable... my trunk was thick... but I lost the entire tree but 10 inches of the trunk. Best of luck to ya. They do fine if you don't see those crazy cold artic spells. When they began a thing... we lost a few things in the landscape.

Thinking the arctic spell was a fluke. We planted a second Ryusen. I'm not sure I ever told anyone that. We lost it the following year. but a short stub...that I gave the manager of the landscape company it came from...and I was given a colder hardy maple that weeped in its place.

 

[penumbra]

I used to be a zone 5... my Ryusen was protected with stakes and burlap around it. Open air above it. I'm now a zone 4. The zone map has me now a zone 6. Laughable... my trunk was thick... but I lost the entire tree but 10 inches of the trunk. Best of luck to ya. They do fine if you don't see those crazy cold artic spells. When they began a thing... we lost a few things in the landscape.

Thinking the arctic spell was a fluke. We planted a second Ryusen. I'm not sure I ever told anyone that. We lost it the following year. but a short stub...that I gave the manager of the landscape company it came from...and I was given a colder hardy maple that weeped in its place.

Really sorry you lost yours. I lost about 8 or 10 named cultivars. Some would be near impossible to find now. I have enough plants and I am going to enjoy what I have.

 

[namnhi]

Really sorry you lost yours. I lost about 8 or 10 named cultivars. Some would be near impossible to find now. I have enough plants and I am going to enjoy what I have.

Am also arrived at this stage. Lost a few good/old trees that really hurt but I have way too many trees to....
I like your attitude about life.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Really sorry you lost yours. I lost about 8 or 10 named cultivars. Some would be near impossible to find now. I have enough plants and I am going to enjoy what I have.

Sucks...losing things sorry to hear that. I'm not used to it. Truth be told. My flying dragon...is gone. I was so stoned on 8 or 9 prescriptions being so sick. I recall the roots looked...off at repot. Even spoke to a friend on it. It seemed fine. Then...I found it pale. I bagged it. It turned a nice green. I thought...It had recovered. To then...gone. I'm still unsure on the bougainvillea. I don't believe in scratching. I hope it's dormant. Yet it's never went dormant. My head it's gone...I gave the wrong watering regiment to the tropical when sick. When questioned...I got irritable for being questioned. Than ponder what was being said. I will wait until July...then I'll toss it too. I've can't recall all these meds they had me on. Possibly when I was bedridden with covid. I was daft in the head then as well. Horrible feeling.