I tried Catsasn, it broke down after 1 year... I had better luck with some cheap Spanish brand that was straight rock, but it still broke down after 3 years. Pozzolan, (or however one spells it) just doesn't break down! :)
I used the Tesco cat litter that is 100% baked molar clay many years ago, possibly 10 or so. The plants that I have repotted recently still had the clay granules intact - not used in a bonsai scenario but as a small (10% or so) ingredient in potting mix. Before I first used them I tested soaking and putting them through freeze/thaw cycles and again no noticeable degredation. Given the nature of molar clay some products are baked at different temps depending on end use and this might explain the products that do not last?
I have a potted one, grafted, that didn't show much of a cork bark in the past 6-8 years, but to my surprise, it's beginning to have "cork bark" now, even on younger branches. I should air-layer it now I think...
This one from a seed gathered in a street has rather long internodes, but I like the line of the trunk :
'Orange Dream' is leafing out : The nebari's no good and the trunk too thin and long before the first branch : I plan to air-layer it around the slight change of direction at about half-distance from the first branch... Late May to mid-June is the best time slot here, though it can be done later.
I think so, yes. I like trees with a long first branch. But that's an interesting suggestion, to be considered... I also thought I might tilt the tree a few degrees to the left. Something like :
Before I left home the buds were just starting to open. I didn't take any pics because of the low temps (teens and low 20s) and I've been trying to get everything protected before my trip. I'm away from home for almost two weeks. Which makes me very sad because most of my trees will probably be fully leafed out by the time I get back :( I will definitely be posting updates when I get back.
Just saw this article about stolen Bonsai. Sadly as the prices sky rocket I think we are going to see more of this. CHEK: Police seek suspects who stole bonsai trees. Police seek suspects who stole bonsai trees Hope bonsai criminals are not checking this forum out !!!
It regularly happens, unfortunately. For non-professionals like me, it's not the money value that matters, they're often trees that have been taken care of for years, a bit like when someone has a pet stolen...
Agreed, there was an instance in Australia recently where bonsai were stolen. 30-40 years of growing and caring gone in an a moment. Very sad for the victims.
Agreed, there was an instance in Australia recently where bonsai were stolen. 30-40 years of growing and caring gone in an a moment. Very sad for the victims.
I just like these three vine maples (I suspect to actually be a. circinatum x japonicum) of mine. Not much for bonsai (a nicer pot would help), but I think it would be more than adequate as an accompaniment in a real bonsai display.
Very nice d-hips-play. I mean display. I have a small collection of Guinness cans from the late 90s to the 21st century on a shelf in my garage, but I've never seen a white one. ;-)
Keeping with my Guinness white can theme, Amur maple in new leaves Orange Dream in this year's new foliage that is turning to its luscious (__?) yellow-green coloration BTW, this is an air layer from our landscape specimen.
Another white can special from today: A 6 year old big leaf maple (acer macrophyllum) bonsai of a volunteer found in the landscape around my home. I am fascinated by how maple leaf sizes automatically reduce in bonsai culture. In June 2020 I plucked a leaf from a young , 7 foot tall seedling in the local forestlands for comparison
