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- MARCH 9, 2002
- (Bonsai Day presentation)
Photo 1. Wonderful
aerial roots on a pot-bound plant without significant potential. |
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Photo 2.
The "substitute trunk" was a cleaned driftwood trunk treated with
waterproofing and bleaching stain. The bottom was trimmed, nails installed, and a
bottom cement base was made to hold the driftwood trunk upright. Note that the
driftwood trunk is about the same height and thickness of the original trunk. |
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Photo 3.
The tree was removed from the pot, the roots loosened, and the portions of the
branches with the aerial roots attached were removed from the original tree. |
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Photo 4.
Michael used a high speed die grinder with a router bit to bore a seat hole in the Kiawe
trunk. The branch with the aerial roots would be positioned and glued. |
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Photo 5.
Waterproof household "Goop" cement was used to attach the branch to the
driftwood trunk. The position was selected to compliment the driftwood branches.
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Photo 6.
With the first largest branch and aerial roots attached, Michael holds the
second and third sections. When looking from the top, the three main branches are
120 degrees apart to face three different directions. Once the branches are established
and growing well, it will be a simple matter to complete the training of the branches into
the illusion of a Dwarf Schefflera epiphyte which strangled the host tree that died and
evolved into driftwood. |
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Photo 7. The
completed planting (left) is potted and a temporary "pot" is made with aluminum
foil to protect the aerial roots that are not quite developed enough to support the
branch. So the foliage was largely removed to not over burden the aerial roots that
must now support the branch. Petroleum jelly seals the cut ends. The original tree was potted at a
strong angle. If new sprouts develop near the roots, the entire top section of the
original tree will be removed to begin a typical major reduction- building training
cycle. In tropical bonsai, even a tree with limited potential may be the basis for
exciting bonsai! |
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JUNE 10, 2002 UPDATE
Three
months after the major styling was completed, growth is strong and all three of the
outriggers will survive. It's likely that the crown will steadily enlarge and this
will be an interesting tree resembling a tropical epiphyte that begins high up in the
branches of a host tree that strangles its host, and takes on a unique shape!
Roots are
becoming well established and the foil wall and extra media will be removed in the coming
year. |