Colander Growing Progression (JBP, Shimpaku, Spruce)

[eugen_onegin]

Well, I'm basically experimenting. I know it's just a seedling, but fortunately time is what I have.

I cut out the bottom of the black plastic pot and nestled it into the colander slightly. As the roots take into the colander, which will hopefully allow for stronger and more vigorous growth, I'll slowly peel away the black plastic pot for an exposed root style JWP.

 

[Vance Wood]

Well, I'm basically experimenting. I know it's just a seedling, but fortunately time is what I have.

I cut out the bottom of the black plastic pot and nestled it into the colander slightly. As the roots take into the colander, which will hopefully allow for stronger and more vigorous growth, I'll slowly peel away the black plastic pot for an exposed root style JWP.

You did not say at first or I missed it, that you wanted and exposed root style. generally an exposed root style starts by growing the subject in a taller and disposable container that can be peeled away from the top down where the roots are encouraged to grow deep. Some people us an old 1 qt mild carton where it is peeled away little by little bit by bit over a period of years. Using a screensided container like you are thinking will not give you the kind of lengthening roots you need for the style.

 

[RKatzin]

Four-man carry

If size counts, then here's your champion. This is a garden wagon made of the same material as the plastic milk crates. It has seen many yrs of sun exposure and is just beginning to show a little deterioration on the surface.

It measures roughly 2'x4'x8"deep. The bottom holes are 1/2" and the sides are bigger. I lined the whole with sheets of plastic mesh and covered the bottom with a good inch of 1/4"+ pumice.

I used a board and two stakes to shorten it down to a 2'x2'. My original thoughts were to plant a forest in this and once this mugo is done in here it wiill still make a good forest planter. I guess I could have used the whole for this tree, but that's another cuft of soil, and that stuff is more precious than gold around here right now and the tree fix the 2'x2' without cutting any root. Perfect!

PS: That's not bad looking garden soil in the first pic is it?

 

[eugen_onegin]

Couple progress photos...

Smaller is from Julian Adams at last years PBF and the bigger JBP is from last years festival as well.

Removed roughly 30% of the soil on the smaller JBP about a week ago and filed with equal parts pumice, lava, and turfice. Pinches of charcoal and sphagnum moss to the top. The candles are still pushing so it looks like it didn't even skip a beat (that's a great feeling when you see that).

On the bigger JBP, I removed approximately 50% of the foliage during the winter. There were many areas beginning to develop reverse taper because of the branching whorls. Wired some of the very small low branches and let some of the bigger ones go. Gonna let this one go crazy for some years. Literally want the trunk to be at least 5x the size which will hopefully make the typical S shape a little more graceful and appealing.

 

[Vance Wood]

I like the projects you have shared.