RJGII's threadless projects

I've posted this before, but it's one of the first trees I decided to try - fell into the DAS trap.

Started as a Christmas tree in a red pot, then planted in our landscape for a few years.

Dug it up April 2020, thinned a bit over time, and just attempted some initial structural wiring. I know everything will probably spring back up, but it was fun, and good practice.

Haven't wired the very top, or done any smaller detail wiring.

Current plan:

1. Figure out if I want to keep the apex, or jin it and start a new one (there are a lot of bulges at the whorls towards the top). The branch with the bag over it in the last pic would probably be the new one.

2. Chase foliage back.

View attachment 402926

View attachment 402927

View attachment 402928

View attachment 402929

Sorry I didn't get it in front of solid backgrounds (in the recent ones it's been growing into the ground a bit).
A couple photos with slightly less cluttered backgrounds...PXL_20211016_183004649.jpg

PXL_20211016_182302381.jpg

Some day I'll have enough time to fully wire out the detail, I swear...
 
I know the "ranger" at a local private camp ground, and asked him if I could take some cuttings of the only maple leaf viburnum I've stumbled across. I hope they take:

PXL_20220630_161316599.MP.jpg

I'd love to dig up the parent plant, but he wasn't comfortable giving me permission yet. There's also an old interesting hawthorn I want... Hopefully he'll bring it up with the powers that be before next spring. Both plants are only about four feet above the high tide mark.

Here's the hawthorn trunk (a lot of it is dead):

PXL_20210707_224617519.jpg
 
How did these cuttings do?
I gave up on the root cutting, but the other rooted fine. Still going, but all my tropicals struggled this winter so it doesn't look great. Hopefully they'll gain vigor outside this summer.

Not 100% sure what the issue is, but I'm leaning towards my forced hot air heating (I'm using good lighting: HLG 100 V2's). Might close in my shelves a bit to keep the humidity up, and/or add a humidifier.

That being said, I don't think I'm a fan of ingens for bonsai. Larger leaves, a little slower to grow; harder to ramify.
 
I gave up on the root cutting, but the other rooted fine. Still going, but all my tropicals struggled this winter so it doesn't look great. Hopefully they'll gain vigor outside this summer.

Not 100% sure what the issue is, but I'm leaning towards my forced hot air heating (I'm using good lighting: HLG 100 V2's). Might close in my shelves a bit to keep the humidity up, and/or add a humidifier.

That being said, I don't think I'm a fan of ingens for bonsai. Larger leaves, a little slower to grow; harder to ramify.
I ordered one from wigerts a few days ago. There is very sparse information on here about their growth habits. They look like they would be a fast-ish growing species.
 
I ordered one from wigerts a few days ago. There is very sparse information on here about their growth habits. They look like they would be a fast-ish growing species.
I'll try and remember to send you what Jerry Meislik says in his book tomorrow. If I remember correctly, not glowing reviews.
 
I'll try and remember to send you what Jerry Meislik says in his book tomorrow. If I remember correctly, not glowing reviews.
That would be greatly appreciated. Have you had any luck getting yours to back bud?
 
Here goes nothing. Weren't as many roots in there as I expected, so not getting my hopes up. Maybe I'll throw a bag over it to keep the humidity up.

View attachment 392355

View attachment 392356

Some progress on my first neagari attempt.

PXL_20220726_143833872~2.jpg

Raked out:
PXL_20220726_144343001.MP~2.jpg

Roots wired a bit more conical:
PXL_20220726_144948017~2.jpg

Potted:
PXL_20220726_145906533~2.jpg

And mostly covered back up to expose slowly:
PXL_20220726_151442036.MP~2.jpg
 
@Carol 83 sent me a few cork bark P. Afra cuttings two springs ago, but they just keep reproducing and I can't give them away fast enough...

Had a Paul Katich forest pot laying around and nothing to put in it, so the rooted P. Afra cuttings got a home (until I get some more worthy material to put in it).

PXL_20220812_162109466.jpg

PXL_20220815_175645697.jpg

Now to just let 'em grow.
 
Here are my Nippon Daisies from you @Pitoon - didn't want to clog your thread or the Flowers thread (@Carol 83).

Surprised I hadn't posted it in here.

When they arrived (spring 2021) - (I killed the little azalea freebie trying to repot it this year 😔):
PXL_20210406_191322587.jpg

Didn't touch them aside from fertilizer and water in 2021 and they did well. Had them sitting in hanging planters, one of which still had a bit of dirt in it.

Flowering, end of 2021:

PXL_20210926_155118801.jpg

I cut them back just slightly prior to winter, and mulched them in with leaves. Was surprised they didn't die back at all up here in Maine.

Getting ready to repot, spring of this year (2022) - can you tell which one had the extra dirt in the hanging planter? ;) It also seemed healthier with the extra space:

PXL_20220405_155705097.jpg

Roots reduced and spread out (both were treated the same):

PXL_20220415_150229827.MP.jpg

Potted (other one):

PXL_20220407_151922955.jpg

Sometime this spring or early summer:

PXL_20220518_213336791.jpg

Now:

PXL_20220923_182839704~2.jpg

PXL_20220923_182853514.jpg

Roots are jam-packed. Will probably put them in Anderson flats next year, and preserve some more root than last time to get them a jump start. Maybe leave them on the ground for some escape roots.
 
Last edited:
Here are my Nippon Daisies from you @Pitoon - didn't want to clog your thread or the Flowers thread (@Carol 83).

Surprised I hadn't posted it in here.

When they arrived (spring 2021) - (I killed the little azalea freebie trying to repot it this year 😔):
View attachment 456776

Didn't touch them aside from fertilizer and water in 2021 and they did well. Had them sitting in hanging planters, one of which still had a bit of dirt in it.

Flowering, end of 2021:

View attachment 456779

I cut them back just slightly prior to winter, and mulched them in with leaves. Was surprised they didn't die back at all up here in Maine.

Getting ready to repot, spring of this year (2022) - can you tell which one had the extra dirt in the hanging planter? ;) It also seemed healthier with the extra space:

View attachment 456780

Roots reduced and spread out (both were treated the same):

View attachment 456781

Potted (other one):

View attachment 456782

Sometime this spring or early summer:

View attachment 456783

Now:

View attachment 456784

View attachment 456785

Roots are jam-packed. Will probably put them in Anderson flats next year, and preserve some more root than last time to get them a jump start. Maybe leave them on the ground for some escape roots.
Fantastic work! Next spring I plan to do so pruning on mine.
 
Nice, just reminds me I need to give mine a little more love. They are happy and healthy, I have just taken some cuttings and let them grow. Maybe next year I'll have more time...
 
Seedling jail. Stupid birds, squirrels and mice!

Just need to make a top, I ran out of hardware cloth.

Will hold 4 of my seed trays (a little smaller than 1020's). 8 if I make an extra shelf.

PXL_20221025_171327881.jpg
 
squirrels
The ones here have been particularly brutal this year. Totally decimated a couple of p. afras and have been digging like crazy in the pots and chewing on random branches and roots. I hate the damn things.
 
The ones here have been particularly brutal this year. Totally decimated a couple of p. afras and have been digging like crazy in the pots and chewing on random branches and roots. I hate the damn things.
I've seen a couple very disheartening posts on here this year, definitely ridiculous.

Last time I tried starting some seeds every single seed or seeling was eaten. Hopefully they make it a bit longer this time.
 
Back
Top Bottom