Imperial Bonsai Fan or not?

This might be surprise but many times these high altitude or mountain trees that grow in rocks have very small root systems. Sometimes unbelievably:eek: small. This is one reason that some of best ones are eminently collectible and can even go in pot right away. Others have some unwieldy root systems that take some time(years maybe)in growing boxes to make them pottable. This particular tree was potted from a box after 2-5 years I think. This potting shown on Ryans old blog which unfortunately gone. There were about 5 people on this project. Old and developed Yamadori(pines at least)can be left 10-15 years or more in one potting. This I have gathered from folks far more knowledgable than self.
They generally come to us near ready for finish development as already have awesome trunk we've been dreaming of and just need lot of love and finessing(and wrestling and soul searching)to make beautiful tree. However once in first captive container whether box or pot should be left alone other than survival/adaptation care for 2 years or more. Good and healthy growth tells if well adapted. Always remember these Grandfather and Grandmother trees that have lived LONG time and move at much slower pace than we might want them to so patience grasshopper. These deserve to have patience and love that we would give to old and revered ancestor or we likely kill them. I believe normal procedure for pines is not to wire and repot same year. Might get away with on young Black pineso_O. One thing normally absent from these is great or even marginally good nebari unless have been growing with exposed roots. On these trees this lack seems "generally" accepted thing in Bonsai community as trees are otherwise so beautiful.
Personal example/experience: Last year my 300-350 year old Ponderosa from Randy had been collected just 4 months earlier but Randy felt was doing well enough he could sell it. Comes to ecstatic new home and one who is as nervous as new father. Tree placed in full sun location as past experience had taught even partial shade bad for Ponderosa at my location. Care consisted of generally daily watering(tree in pumice)except cool or rainy(Duh:rolleyes:!)days, fertilising generally 2 times a week, foliar fertilising(squirt bottle)2 times a week but only when sun low in sky very early or late in day to avoid chance of burning. Did use some systemic bugicide and sprayed with bugicidal soap but only on cool overcast day so would not get cooked into foliage but instead would be absorbed. And a lot of hovering:confused:. Came to me when new needles just getting into porcupine stage and watched daily to see if growing. By end of season needles as long as old ones and was very happy that instinct for care correct. Next hurdle to see how comes out of first winter here. Can hardly wait for Spring! Also glad to elaborate if desired.
 
Collectors like RN are making. . . I would love to live in the PNW were one can enjoy them and just set them on the ground come winter--but instead I suffer in the land of misery and mediocrity wallowing in a mundane diminishing existence surrounded by dull prairies covered in broken scrub and pervaded by agonizing frozen winds.
OMG
Crust do we need to forward you a suicide hotline number?
And DON'T reply that you have it on speed dial.
 
You plan on lifting it in the near future and trimming the roots back some ?

Short sighted Americans!

They fail to remember, that like we used the Chinese to build the Railroad......

The Chinese still use the Chinese as slave labor to repot those giant ass things....

It's like the Bonsai version of Pyramid building.

Some Sap!

Sorce
 
Yes, I'm a fan...just lacking the apprentices to help with repotting...
IMG_2373.jpg

The day of collection....
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I am a fan of "Imperial bonsai"--which really has no real meaning. Imperial bonsai are kept in palaces, but their size is irrelevant.
Some are small
http://bonsai.shikoku-np.co.jp/imperial/en/
If you skip the bogus term, yeah, I'm a fan of BIG bonsai. Always have been. Ninety percent of my trees are over two feet, some are four. Most weigh over 45 lbs, some weigh as much as 150.

Big bonsai don't have to be those sprawling, confusing western pines. As John shows, there are also big deciduous trees.

Big trees are more impressive, and EASIER TO PULL OFF as bonsai, more of them to work with and are more forgiving of mistakes because of that, as well as the amount of soil they are planted in. They can take lower temperatures, more rain, more sun, more of a lot of stuff that kills smaller trees...

Lifting them is an issue. the older you get, the more of an issue it becomes. I've screwed my back up several times lifting big pots the wrong way. You also face catastrophe if you drop a big tree, not only to your feet which will be smashed to pulps, but also financially from the substantial amount of cash you probably have in the pot...

Big trees, like big dogs, aren't for the faint of heart, or the physically weak
 
Collectors like RN are making a lot of $ and building up a God-like rep ripping off trees and can justify nabbing these multi-man monsters. They are mind-bendingly cool and I would love to live in the PNW were one can enjoy them and just set them on the ground come winter--but instead I suffer in the land of misery and mediocrity wallowing in a mundane diminishing existence surrounded by dull prairies covered in broken scrub and pervaded by agonizing frozen winds.
Purgatory
 
Not so sure that is true but misunderstanding. The place selling these is called "Imperial" as in Imperial Garden:confused:.
Nice link though.;)
Um, like I said, the term "imperial" really has no meaning. Westerners have made a big deal of the "size" system "omono, shohin," etc. for bonsai. The terms aren't all that important in Japan and have no real parameters. They're pretty fluid.

And, if I'm not mistaken, the link in my previous post is of bonsai AT the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. They are in the Imperial Palace collection.
 
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Roll them under a large oak tree or something than can manage the weight. Then carefully wrap the tree with a protective layer. Then wrap a strap around the tree and use a come along to lift it out of the pot.
 
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