2024 Development

Both my trees (and saplings) and myself will transition from collector & propagator to development and rest.

• Let the repotted trees’ roots develop. High drainage—perlite should allow for aeration and seeking water. Felt discs below roots to force flat root development for future bonsai pots.

• If primary branch has been identified, let it run long and grow thicker—wire tip upwards.

• Let the shoots run crazy and prune late/later. May wire or selectively prune to avoid lower branch shading out.

• Water & fertilize like crazy (out of pet & rodent reach).

• Let collected trees de-stress and grow roots. No pruning, but guy-wire (twine) biasing of branches downward or new apex upward.

  • Will need to protect teabag feeding under chicken wire, stapled over the grow box.

• Let acorns and seedling take (possible tap root trim.

• Enough Japanese Black Pines in a wide range of development—no more.

• Enough Tridents & Japanese Maples—refine them, slow taper & primary branch selection.

• Enough junipers—can Shari or development prune & wire Itoigawas, Shimpakus, San Jose. Let some bigger, let some be Shohin but thicker.

• Refine deadwood on boxwoods.

• Enough oaks in range of development—let larger trunks grow roots and healthy growth—likely trunk taper hard cut in the winter or next spring. Grow out saplings, grow out acorn seedlings.

• Repot last year’s deciduous cuttings for forest development next year. Create new stock of cuttings for forests in future years.

• Collect/grow approach grafts of same species (boxwood, oak, alder, etc) as needed.

• Identify and train long shoots for thread grafting—try thread grafting this year, caution to not cut free until signs of it “taking”.

• This is a year of pottery practice for next spring—for self or to sell.