✳️ AT/Shohin — 3/22/25

Shohin JBP Styling

In a colander to grow quickly
Wrapped tie down wires (4) around the trunk to equally oppose and stabilize the tree—or as guy wires.
Alternate example for extreme movement, where wiring would be too bulky and not enable tight bends—use zip-ties. (Gio-Adam)

Deign Inspirations

Shohin Pruning of an older JBP (3yr)

A tree that dips below the edge of the pot would be a semi-cascade.
No need for cut paste on pines.
Cut off stronger branches to be more Shohin and let smaller branches show taper.
If I want it more Bunjin and not grow the trunk much, repot now into a smaller training pot—otherwise in two years it will have a 1” trunk.
Currently there are many buds and small branches along the trunk.

Inspiration

Power of a development pot

Using a colander will accelerate growth. Even Japanese black pine might grow from a pencil size seedling to an inch in diameter trunk in three years. So if you wanna go in or slender trunk, get it out of the calendar and put it in a training pot.
When repotting a very young tree with very few roots, do not tie down the roots as it will not be very stable. Instead with the four tiedown wires, start to wrap them around in a balanced way from opposing sides, but wrapping spiraling up the trunk to stabilize the tree until more roots grow. You can even use The remaining wire to act as a guy wire to pull branches or the trunk in a certain direction, but always equal on opposite to hold it stable.
For development, Adam has even used 100% lava for a trident for increased growth. Once at the right size pot it in a training pot and use more Akadama.

Repotting

Prepare the pot first: tie down wires, drainage screens.
Feed 1mm or 1.5mm aluminum wire through holes. Make the bend tight and close to the holes in the pot—do not let the wire have slack—should be taut. Pre-bend the first bend but tension well and pull towards the opposing hole—not away.
Trim any roots too large, to balance energy to lesser radial roots, prune any ugly roots above the soil. Think ahead how roots will fit into a smaller pot in time. Continue to mist roots if hot out or to prevent stress on the tree.
Place larger soil particles on the bottom for drainage. Mound soil under the rootball, do not tie down yet. Add soil around the rootball and pot.
Chopstick in one direction, pressing down or stabilizing the soil with the left fingers and chopstick towards the left hand soil. Do not break down soil but compress and compact soil under the roots. Remove pockets of air. Move to the right until fully chopsticked at the level of the roots. Add more soil and repeat until and inch of soil covers the top of the roots. Then tie down the roots with the four wires.
If the rootball is large and firm, crossing wires and tying each end is sufficient if the tree is immobile.
Tail-Method: Alternate is to create a short wire and twist a loop at one end. Feed down the first or last wire. Take the first long wire and twist mid-length of the second; then take the free end of the second wire and join mid-length of the third, etc. The last free end will join with the tail.
Pull - release - twist, repeat. Cut the twist of wire 1/2 long and pull and twist that double-back to lock in the compression.
After repotting tamp down the soil to be level with a trowel. If in a colander or grow basket, put as much soil, up to the drainage holes, with an inch of soil above the roots.
After repotting, water the tree at a gentle rate, until the water runoff is clear. If the Water is cloudy, then there is silt that needs to be washed out. Do it now or the cell will never leave.

Suzanne, the new curator for the bonsai garden at Lake Merritt. And on the board.

Lisa is also from East Bay bonsai

Redwood

Can carve out interest (traditional) and build out foliage
Or (unconventional) grow new root up high and later chop below roots. Bury 1” above root line.
Shohin size akadama 80-100% for moisture.
Cut off wild buds or suckers, as they result in bumps.

When using Lime Sulphur, use a toothbrush to clean. Apply when wood is wet. Capillary action would pull in too much if dry.