new rmj

[yenling83]

Interesting, things like this are difficult to tell if they are really helping or not. You'd need a really big sample size. However I don't see how it could hurt. I also am just not sure if the trees lose much moisture through their live veins. I know they do through the foliage which is why misting could help.

Personally I've had good success establishing junipers in full sun right after I collect them. I do this only with a good root system. However this full sun helps to really push new growth. It will also kill a newly collected tree without a good root system. Have you thought about 100% pumice? I've tried a few different mixes and have settled on sifted pumice with a handful of Hort charcoal. However my sample size for collecting is small compared with some.

Love that Spiral tree as well!!! Nice work!

 

[wireme]

I've been playing with a heavy layer of moss on the surface this year as well for 2 reasons.

1- To protect the soil moisture levels from frequent misting especially junipers. The moss was 3 inches thick on the big juniper. The moss absorbs a lot of the misting water without percolating through. Maybe helps keep ambient humidity up around the tree as well.

2- I find that my soil dries quickly regardless of active roots and growth, just from evaporation, on the surface anyways. Heavy moss slows this keeping the new substrate moist without constantly saturating the collected root mass of mountain soil.

Here's a small spruce and juniper collected this year still mossed up. The juniper in perlite. Lifting the moss reveals nice roots traveling along the interface of moss and substrate.

 

[wireme]

Interesting, things like this are difficult to tell if they are really helping or not. You'd need a really big sample size. However I don't see how it could hurt. I also am just not sure if the trees lose much moisture through their live veins. I know they do through the foliage which is why misting could help.

Personally I've had good success establishing junipers in full sun right after I collect them. I do this only with a good root system. However this full sun helps to really push new growth. It will also kill a newly collected tree without a good root system. Have you thought about 100% pumice? I've tried a few different mixes and have settled on sifted pumice with a handful of Hort charcoal. However my sample size for collecting is small compared with some.

Love that Spiral tree as well!!! Nice work!

For sure I have thought about 100% pumice especially given the results people have with it. However ive been very happy with my results survival and root development.
On the theory that if it ain't broke don't fix it I continue to add a few other ingredients. Currently I'm probably at 80-90% pumice now and I do have a couple in 100% pumice this year.

How about particle size? I recently got my hands on a pile of pumice that's mostly 5\8" in size. I've used that size along with some smaller stuff a lot but I'm wondering how it will be if its 90% of the mix?

 

[yenling83]

For sure I have thought about 100% pumice especially given the results people have with it. However ive been very happy with my results survival and root development.
On the theory that if it ain't broke don't fix it I continue to add a few other ingredients. Currently I'm probably at 80-90% pumice now and I do have a couple in 100% pumice this year.

How about particle size? I recently got my hands on a pile of pumice that's mostly 5\8" in size. I've used that size along with some smaller stuff a lot but I'm wondering how it will be if its 90% of the mix?

I usually use medium to large size pumice for most collected trees. I think a smaller size particle might be good for smaller collected trees. The larger the particle size the faster it will dry out which is good for larger containers/boxes, the smaller the particle size the slower your box will dry out=better for really small trees. I think most high mountain trees like to have a soil medium that drys out quickly. It's also species specific for example Sierra Juniper seems to likes it's roots wetter than Ponderosa Pine.


I've used Turface, Perlite and Pumice in the past to pot up trees I think it goes like this:

Turface<Perlite<Pumice. However perlite and pumice are both not bad options especially it you can't find pumice.

 

[ghues]

I usually use medium to large size pumice for most collected trees. I think a smaller size particle might be good for smaller collected trees. The larger the particle size the faster it will dry out which is good for larger containers/boxes, the smaller the particle size the slower your box will dry out=better for really small trees. I think most high mountain trees like to have a soil medium that drys out quickly. It's also species specific for example Sierra Juniper seems to likes it's roots wetter than Ponderosa Pine.


I've used Turface, Perlite and Pumice in the past to pot up trees I think it goes like this:

Turface<Perlite<Pumice. However perlite and pumice are both not bad options especially it you can't find pumice.

Some interesting observations - however aren't the active feeder roots of trees (regardless of the size of the tree ) all the same size? Sure bigger older trees have some larger roots which are older however I've found that the feeder roots are almost always the same size within the same species.
Cheers G.

 

[amkhalid]

Some interesting observations - however aren't the active feeder roots of trees (regardless of the size of the tree ) all the same size? Sure bigger older trees have some larger roots which are older however I've found that the feeder roots are almost always the same size within the same species.
Cheers G.

Yes, and I've heard Ryan Neil make that point in a video too.

I think the logic people use in larger particle for larger trees is that a larger tree is often in a larger/deeper pot therefore larger particles can help improve drainage.

 

[0soyoung]

Some interesting observations - however aren't the active feeder roots of trees (regardless of the size of the tree ) all the same size? Sure bigger older trees have some larger roots which are older however I've found that the feeder roots are almost always the same size within the same species.

What are feeder roots? All this terminology confuses me - feeder roots, fibrous roots, etc.

My understanding is the 'root hairs' that actually adsorb oxygen, nutrients, and water are projections of single cells. Proteins pump protons into the soil to release the mineral compounds and then other specialized cell wall structures actively load those mineral ions across the cell wall and into the cell. Water then follows by osmosis. Individual cells are microscopic.


BTW, pretty mean looking RMJ, wireme.

 

[Dan W.]

Nice find! And amazing patience! I'm excited to see it develop.

 

[wireme]

Update, by all appearances a happy tree making me a happy collector! 30 trees collected last year and so far 100 percent survival, stoked!

Its still gaining green after the winter browning, looking better daily now and new growth just beginning to extend.

 

[Dav4]

Congrats! That's a killer tree...

 

[wireme]

Thanks Dave, I'm very happy with this tree and all of them actually are looking great.

To celebrate I went out the other day for another equally killer tree that I've also known of for 10+ yrs. Spent a brutal day clambering up down sideways over and under and never did find it! Usually my sense of direction is pretty good and I can find my way back to a tree but more than ten years in complicated terrain, maybe memory is fading, should GPS these things.
Managed to not come home empty handed though, searched almost all day then went back to some collectible trees found during the search and made the truck just at darkfall.

 

[Giga]

um.....I hate you.....

 

[barrosinc]

um.....I hate you.....

my feelings exactly! LOL

 

[wireme]

Ha, sorry guys, I understand but hey, we all do the best we can with what's available to us right?
I don't have bonsai clubs or nurseries or professionals or any of that stuff but with some effort I can find a tree or two!

 

[barrosinc]

Ha, sorry guys, I understand but hey, we all do the best we can with what's available to us right?
I don't have bonsai clubs or nurseries or professionals or any of that stuff but with some effort I can find a tree or two!

all jokes aside... that is amazing! World class material

 

[Giga]

Ha, sorry guys, I understand but hey, we all do the best we can with what's available to us right?
I don't have bonsai clubs or nurseries or professionals or any of that stuff but with some effort I can find a tree or two!

I know the feeling I have poop in my area for bonsai stuff, I do have a few good material spots too but that's great material you have

 

[wireme]

I know the feeling I have poop in my area for bonsai stuff, I do have a few good material spots too but that's great material you have

That's right I think I saw some pics from you holding onto rockslabs by your fingernails and finding some nice trees.
I noticed you carry a rock hammer too, I carry a variety of tools but these 3 are the ones I use the most. The shovel especially is super kickass.

 

[Giga]

That spot is 5 hours from me but yeah I carry a few items with me-rock hammer, folding saw, small shovel, large knife and since I saw lots of mountain lion poop a 45 and my dad carried an old school revolver

 

[Djtommy]

Amazing piece. Good luck with it.
When are you going to start styling? Maybe best to get some professional help.
This tree is worth it. It would be a shame to not get the most out of it.

Grtz

 

[wireme]

Amazing piece. Good luck with it.
When are you going to start styling? Maybe best to get some professional help.
This tree is worth it. It would be a shame to not get the most out of it.

Grtz

Hey DJ, I was just looking at the thread and saw your response, I don't plan to style too soon, next year maybe I will move a couple obvious branches a bit if it seems appropriate, guy wires to open the canopy and let light into the interior a bit probably, no pruning yet. I will probably repot the year after next and then we'll see about styling. As far as professional help, who knows what the future will bring, logistically it would almost have to mean bringing somebody here. We'll see, I'll be very careful in terms of removal to not endanger live veins or loss of options in the material during any initial work I may do in the meantime.
Anyways I was looking at the thread again because I just found an old pic taken when I first found the tree, is the old home in the hills. I thought it would be nice to include in the thread.
The tree looked very healthy all summer and fall, fully covered by snow today.