One way to create nebari

[cmeg1]

Looks cool,Adair.I remember when you told me about that.It is nice to see how it turned out.I especially like to see how zelkova wood responds to techniques such as this.The base hase really flared.It seems I will be having some excess zelkova that are initially unusable and will go in the ground and then I was thinking of strangling a trunk section with wire and then letting the tree grow over the wire and bridge ,and then air layer just below the resulting bulge,for some flare on small bonsai.I seen it done to maples.

 

[cmeg1]

Do you think this will work on zelkova

Hey,Adair.This is what I was talking about.What are your thoughts with this technique for zelkova?

 

[Adair M]

Yeah, that ought to air layer just fine.

I think also, when I inserted the screw, it did expand the trunk a little. I buried it in soil, it's healed over. I see no scarring, but I do see significant flairing right at the base.

In my old bonsai publications, there are techniques illustrated where it shows a cartoon figures of someone driving a wedge up the bottom of a trunk to create more of a basal swell. My little tree was about the diameter of a sharpie at the base when I did it. It's probably twice that now.

Thinking about it, if I hadn't wanted to pot it, I could have removed the existing screw, and replaced it with a slightly fatter, and maybe longer one to further expand the trunk from the inside out. Then bury it back under the soil.

Hmmm... that's an idea!

As I stated in an earlier post, I'm planning to up pot after the show in May. I bet I will be able to get to the base of the trunk then. Drill out a new pilot hole, then insert new fatter, longer screw!

That's the new plan! Cool idea! Thanks!

(Eat your heart out, Dario! You aren't the only one willing to try new ideas!)

 

[cmeg1]

Yes,I seen the wedge technique you mentioned in Koreshoff's book.Interesting stuff.I am trying to utilize all of the zelkova I sprout from seed ,as I grow about ten every season.Thanks for the post.

 

[edprocoat]

Yes,I seen the wedge technique you mentioned in Koreshoff's book.Interesting stuff.I am trying to utilize all of the zelkova I sprout from seed ,as I grow about ten every season.Thanks for the post.

Cmeg they (zelkova) propagate real easy from the trimmings too. Usually needs no more than to be stuck in some soil and kept moist and they will root.

ed

 

[cmeg1]

Cmeg they (zelkova) propagate real easy from the trimmings too. Usually needs no more than to be stuck in some soil and kept moist and they will root.

ed

Hey,that is great to know.I will give it a try.

 

[Adair M]

Back in the day, I got mine from cuttings.

 

[Mwosje]

Here is a zelkova I bought last year. I thought it had potential as a shohin. Got it home, found that the top was cute, but the roots were awful. Two layers of roots, no structure.

So, I cut off the bottom, heavier layer, leaving only a few fine hair roots. I screwed the bottom of the trunk onto a piece of plywood, spread the roots out, stuffed some sphagnum moss under the trunk, backfilled with Boon Mix.

Here's the before pic:

How will it drain with the wood over the drainage holes?

 

[Adair M]

How will it drain with the wood over the drainage holes?

The wood is (was) sitting on a layer of bonsai soil.

 

[Mwosje]

Right, but won’t water still pool on the wood? Could possibly give root rot.

 

[Rid]

For anyone interested, last years soil was Boon mix.

This year it's 1 part pumice (Dry Stall), 2 parts small akadama.

I will cover the soil surface with some sphagnum moss to keep heavy rains from disturbing the soil surface.

Can you tell me where to fine dry stall in Georgia?

Ridley

 

[Dav4]

Right, but won’t water still pool on the wood? Could possibly give root rot.

Nope, will not cause root rot.

 

[Dav4]

Can you tell me where to fine dry stall in Georgia?

Ridley

Call around the local weed and feed stores. I bought some years ago up in at a feed store in Canton somewhere. I bought 4 bags and still have 1+ left.

 

[Adair M]

Right, but won’t water still pool on the wood? Could possibly give root rot.

Could that happen? I suppose. But it doesn’t. Really, you’re just resisting learning a technique that is used to create some of the finest deciduous bonsai.

I’m sharing techniques used by the Japanese Masters. They won’t work if you don’t try them for yourself.

 

[Adair M]

Call around the local weed and feed stores. I bought some years ago up in at a feed store in Canton somewhere. I bought 4 bags and still have 1+ left.

But dry stall is pretty small grained.

 

[bwaynef]

Re: Dry Stall, I've heard that the company went out of business. Their facebook page links a website that redirects to something that says I need to update my flash player.

 

[Paulpash]

Re: Dry Stall, I've heard that the company went out of business. Their facebook page links a website that redirects to something that says I need to update my flash player.

Don't click on any link on that page - it sounds like a phishing exploit.

 

[0soyoung]

There is Dry Stall from a company in California - it is pumice. They also sell sifted pumice for horticultural purposes
There is Stall Dry from a company in Canada - it is fine grained DE, sold at Tractor Supply and other 'country stores'
There is Dry Stall USA on Facebook appears to just be a store in Anza, CA that sells yet another product called "Dry Stall" locally.

None of these appear to have quit doing business.

 

[BonsaiButler]

Nailed/screwed to board method definitely works. I have done this to many deciduous trees and got great results after the first few years the root fusion actually seems to speed up.