aml1014
Masterpiece
Agreed no nitrogen in early spring, then feed heavy the rest of year to regain vigour.
Aaron
Zelkova
- Thread starter cmeg1
- Start date
Aaron
cmeg1
Imperial Masterpiece
Perhaps it is important to emulate the feeding regime as stated in the magazine.
My fert does contains kelp meal,but I should add it monthly ,along with some 0-10-10.Like the author states.
My fert is Earthjuice bloom 0-3-1.It is composed of fossilized guano,steamed bone meal and kelp.It is applied every watering.
My fert does contains kelp meal,but I should add it monthly ,along with some 0-10-10.Like the author states.
My fert is Earthjuice bloom 0-3-1.It is composed of fossilized guano,steamed bone meal and kelp.It is applied every watering.
cmeg1
Imperial Masterpiece
This is obviously a species specific feeding regime I am emulating from Bonsai Focus.
Instead of 0-10-10 I am going to use the earth juice bloom 0-3-1 with every watering.
Instead of a kelp meal,I am going to use Earthjuice Catalyst .03-.01-.10 weekly,which has a bit of nitrogen.
I can use a rather strong application of both fertilizers if needed.
Both fertilizers have kelp,especially the Catalyst.
Will add micro nutrients too.
I will give a couple shots of quarter strength 20-20-20 while the tree is beginning to leaf to start the tree in the right direction,which may seem counter productive with some species,but Zelkova always have very short internodes at base of stem during first flush no matter how much you fertilize.
So,I am going to test this approach.
Will defoliate at least once,maybe not so much as last year(three times).I hope to have less shoot growth with this feeding regime to maintain much smaller Zelkova and more compact trees,really no rush.
Instead of 0-10-10 I am going to use the earth juice bloom 0-3-1 with every watering.
Instead of a kelp meal,I am going to use Earthjuice Catalyst .03-.01-.10 weekly,which has a bit of nitrogen.
I can use a rather strong application of both fertilizers if needed.
Both fertilizers have kelp,especially the Catalyst.
Will add micro nutrients too.
I will give a couple shots of quarter strength 20-20-20 while the tree is beginning to leaf to start the tree in the right direction,which may seem counter productive with some species,but Zelkova always have very short internodes at base of stem during first flush no matter how much you fertilize.
So,I am going to test this approach.
Will defoliate at least once,maybe not so much as last year(three times).I hope to have less shoot growth with this feeding regime to maintain much smaller Zelkova and more compact trees,really no rush.
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barrosinc
Masterpiece
this thread is wanting me to start a couple zelcovas
Max, these are easy to start from seed. Plant about 10 times more than you think you'll want. Easier to cull out excess trees than "fix" ones with bad attributes!
barrosinc
Masterpiece
Ebaying seeds now
Kodama16
Shohin
I also just ordered 40 seeds lol. Can't have to many trees I say.
cmeg1
Imperial Masterpiece
I have a plan.....
With the air layers I am so excited about,not all will likely be good for broom.Some are possibly too tall,still though ,with nice radial roots at the start.
I made these big goofy wooden grow boxes,so I am going to let some of these layers rocket away this season with tons of nitrogen and then chop off at base every Spring and create clump Zelkova.Actually pretty excited about this
A couple few are headed to broom territory ,but the rest are destined to become interesting clump zelkova.
I have a few good articles in Bonsai Focus on how to make clumps.Essentially just cut back all the way down to the base every year until you are satisfied with the resulting clump of Zelkova.
I will see how these radial roots form when the tree is left to grow vigorously
The clumps should bud extremely well when chopped off.
With the air layers I am so excited about,not all will likely be good for broom.Some are possibly too tall,still though ,with nice radial roots at the start.
I made these big goofy wooden grow boxes,so I am going to let some of these layers rocket away this season with tons of nitrogen and then chop off at base every Spring and create clump Zelkova.Actually pretty excited about this
A couple few are headed to broom territory ,but the rest are destined to become interesting clump zelkova.
I have a few good articles in Bonsai Focus on how to make clumps.Essentially just cut back all the way down to the base every year until you are satisfied with the resulting clump of Zelkova.
I will see how these radial roots form when the tree is left to grow vigorously
The clumps should bud extremely well when chopped off.
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JoeR
Masterpiece
That reminds me....
I forgot to do some zelkova seeds, dangit!
Next year.
Anyway, tremendous roots on those! I dont think it even needs to go on a tile.
I forgot to do some zelkova seeds, dangit!
Next year.
Anyway, tremendous roots on those! I dont think it even needs to go on a tile.
I like the box idea better than colander for zelkova. The colander thing is better for pines. You typically leave them alone for 4 or 5 years. Quite frankly, it's not needed for juniper because they naturally form a fibrous root system.
The Ebihara technique in a box is better for deciduous trees. They tolerate bare rooting, and you can get in there and make adjustments every year. Using a tree screwed to a board, then letting the roots run wide yields that plate nebari. In a colander on a bowl, or a plate, they turn down faster. And you can't really secure the trunk of the tree to a bowl, or plate or tile the way you can when you screw the trunk to the board from the bottom.
The Ebihara technique in a box is better for deciduous trees. They tolerate bare rooting, and you can get in there and make adjustments every year. Using a tree screwed to a board, then letting the roots run wide yields that plate nebari. In a colander on a bowl, or a plate, they turn down faster. And you can't really secure the trunk of the tree to a bowl, or plate or tile the way you can when you screw the trunk to the board from the bottom.
I agree. Not on a tile. Screw it to a board! The roots will try to grow down. Eventually, they will start to push the trunk up. Screwing the bottom of the trunk to a board prevents that.
cmeg1
Imperial Masterpiece
@Adair M. Hi ,Adair.Yea the only reason I was using the colanders for my trees was drainage ,using straight organic potting soil.
My goofy boxes are going to good use after all this year.I just could not picture these boxes all lined up with very young Zelkova layers in them on my table.Now I am glad to set most of these grow boxes in the fenced in grow bed and make some clump Zelkova.With good soil.
My goofy boxes are going to good use after all this year.I just could not picture these boxes all lined up with very young Zelkova layers in them on my table.Now I am glad to set most of these grow boxes in the fenced in grow bed and make some clump Zelkova.With good soil.
cmeg1
Imperial Masterpiece
cmeg1
Imperial Masterpiece
The top picks from the air-layers.
I unraveled the layers from the winter wrap up.Four of the seven looked appealing to me ,so I applied some more wire to start them on the right path this season.Will be easier to wire in the autumn too.
The other three will be used for cuttings and clump Zelkova and be grown out in the grow boxes in a good aerated soil.
I will tweak the wiring I did yet further to get every last branch perfect(as posting I noticed a few out of place).
Ready to see how the Nebari looks on these at repotting.
I unraveled the layers from the winter wrap up.Four of the seven looked appealing to me ,so I applied some more wire to start them on the right path this season.Will be easier to wire in the autumn too.
The other three will be used for cuttings and clump Zelkova and be grown out in the grow boxes in a good aerated soil.
I will tweak the wiring I did yet further to get every last branch perfect(as posting I noticed a few out of place).
Ready to see how the Nebari looks on these at repotting.
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cmeg1
Imperial Masterpiece
Air-layer experiment.
I've seen this technique online to induce flare at the base of future air-layers for mini trees.
After the tree bridges over the wire tourniquet and the wire disappears,you can proceed to layer just below the newly made flare.
I did 5 straight ones and I did a clump also.
The layers are turning out great,so it will be cool to see an even gnarlier one where the trunk flares out into the radial nebari.
I wonder how many seasons till' the tourniquet is completely concealed?
The trees are growing upwards of 6' tall,so I imagine it will be soon
I've seen this technique online to induce flare at the base of future air-layers for mini trees.
After the tree bridges over the wire tourniquet and the wire disappears,you can proceed to layer just below the newly made flare.
I did 5 straight ones and I did a clump also.
The layers are turning out great,so it will be cool to see an even gnarlier one where the trunk flares out into the radial nebari.
I wonder how many seasons till' the tourniquet is completely concealed?
The trees are growing upwards of 6' tall,so I imagine it will be soon
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dirk hoorelbeke
Omono
It will be very soon. I don't know if it will be a huge difference after a few years. Correct root treatment will do the same i think.
cmeg1
Imperial Masterpiece
Yes.I see your point and come to think of it the technique was performed on very small trees under 6" probably.
One way to find out though!
Not exactly sure what size tree I am going for with these.Definately create something for sure.
I enjoy layering these trees and make a lot of cuttings every year.
cmeg1
Imperial Masterpiece
Potted this air-layer today.
This tree had buds just starting to pop,so I pruned roots and potted up.
Forgot to take a photo of the roots
The roots were nothing special really.The layers were made summer of last year, so are only about 8 months old.It seems the small plant shed some of the roots it had no use for,but there is some fairly radial Nebari left on the tree regardless.We'll see how they look next year.I am going to put 4 of these in pots this year.
Going for some mini-trees with excellent branching with these,slow growth.
A picture from tonight and last year.
I do see that little twig out of place
This tree had buds just starting to pop,so I pruned roots and potted up.
Forgot to take a photo of the roots
The roots were nothing special really.The layers were made summer of last year, so are only about 8 months old.It seems the small plant shed some of the roots it had no use for,but there is some fairly radial Nebari left on the tree regardless.We'll see how they look next year.I am going to put 4 of these in pots this year.
Going for some mini-trees with excellent branching with these,slow growth.
A picture from tonight and last year.
I do see that little twig out of place
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Cmeg,
I screwed a young zelkova to a piece of plywood using a coarse sheet rock screw. The trunk wasn't much bigger than a pencil when I did it, so I drilled a pilot hole up the center of the trunk. Even still, the screw kinda split open the bottom of the trunk for 3/4 inch.
I buried it under a couple inches of soil. When I pulled it out, OMG! The lower trunk had healed, and where the screw had pushed it out, the lower trunk had a fabulous buttress! And, oh yeah, wonderful radial roots!
I remember seeing pictures in some of my old bonsai books where wedges had been driven up under trunks to make the bottom of the trunk wider. The screw did the same thing!
I screwed a young zelkova to a piece of plywood using a coarse sheet rock screw. The trunk wasn't much bigger than a pencil when I did it, so I drilled a pilot hole up the center of the trunk. Even still, the screw kinda split open the bottom of the trunk for 3/4 inch.
I buried it under a couple inches of soil. When I pulled it out, OMG! The lower trunk had healed, and where the screw had pushed it out, the lower trunk had a fabulous buttress! And, oh yeah, wonderful radial roots!
I remember seeing pictures in some of my old bonsai books where wedges had been driven up under trunks to make the bottom of the trunk wider. The screw did the same thing!
cmeg1
Imperial Masterpiece
Here is another angle,straight on.Aiming for less shoot growth and I want to wire as I go,to control every twig.
A totally different approach than the agressive defoliations of last year.Will probably defoliate once this season.
