00:00 Eric demonstrates three different things you can do to take the next step to make a good bonsai from 2 year old Kishu Junipers.
00:36 An example of a tree Eric took from a 3 1/2" container, potted down into a mame pot, added shari work on the trunk to give it a twist and lifeline, and added wiring. This work can be risky to the health of the tree, but if you know when to do the work and how much to do, you can minimize the risk.
01:26 You can't wait too long to wire Kishu. He reviews the timing and style decisions for a two year old tree and explains that the size of the bends you put in the trunk effect the scale of the tree, which impacts how long it takes to develop into a bonsai. This is why he wires his Kishu at about a year, creating movement in the low part of the trunk.
03:10 Example #1 Making a Mame. Eric removes the tree from the container and brushes off the soil to look at the roots. To pot the tree down into a mame-sized pot, 3/4 - 7/8 of the root ball needs to be cut off.
03:59 Eric reviews a variety of mame containers to decide which size to use - as small as possible, of course.
05:42 After a rough trim of the rootball, removing 40-50%, Eric considers a first pot, ultimately deciding to go to a smaller container.
06:54 Eric's favorite bark stripping tool - he uses it to get a twist in the lifeline, to get some movement. (Link to purchase the tool: www.bonsaify.com/collections/...)
08:48 Shari on trunk twists all around - exactly what Eric hoped for!
10:10 Potting! Watch this tree move from it's original 3 1/2" container to a 1 1/2" mame pot.
11:15 Example #2 Making a Slightly Larger Tree. Eric needs to wire more of the growth.
11:59 Runners drive the wood production in the trunk, which is why Eric keeps the runners on and doesn't pinch the tips, to make a bigger tree.
12:34 One wire applied. Twist to create interesting movement and a twist in the lifeline.
14:08 Example #3 Making a Larger Tree. Eric removes the tree from its container to see the junction of the trunk and roots.
15:26 Wild junipers in the mountains all pretty much have jin and shari - so this work is really what creates the essence of the juniper in bonsai.
16:25 Eric creates a shari from the base of the trunk to the base of the green, newer growth. Learn how he chooses a side!
19:11 Why you should carve your shari past the base of the roots.
20:32 Wiring! "[The wired tree is] sort of like a ball of clay; that's the great thing." The technique Eric uses to bend and twist the wired trunk makes the lifeline move around to a full twist of the shari.
24:10 What is the best container to use to grow this juniper out? Are you surprised that it's a regular nursery can?
Which of these examples are you most excited to try? Let us know in the comments! We have 2 year old pre-wired kishu juniper starters for sale on the site: www.bonsaify.com/products/kis....
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Music by Bensound.com