Special Event 2022 Kokedama and Bonsai Workshop
Bonsai Information Presented by Dick Patterson
Dick undertook a quick half hour demonstration on an air layering process to start new Bonsai Plants. This process is quick and cuttings should start to develop roots in a few weeks after layering, but could be a few years before a new tree is ready for pruning and shaping the way you would like.
Process: Select the right branch of a deciduous tree in late Winter. Be sure it has a thick ‘trunk’ and thinner branches like a mature oak tree. Too thin will take too long to develop the old and gnarled look. We want miniature old trees, not miniature whip sticks.
Don’t remove the branch. It should be as thick as a sausage. Work out what it will look like when planted upright in a pot. You need to allow at least six inches to give it some stability in the pot, below the root ball that you will create.
Use a very sharp knife to ring bark the branch where you want new roots. The two cuts should be 30mm apart and the sapwood totally removed and scraped off to expose the hardwood. Do this well with the sharp knife. The roots will shoot from the top cut. Make this sharp clean and healthy. Some root starter may help. Luck is better!
Wrap the entire area with spagnum moss or similar, soak it well beforehand as this is the only water it will have for nine months
The ball when wrapped in plastic should be water tight and above and below the cuts by at least two inches. Bind with string and tape to ensure that it won’t dry out. Cooler with black plastic to keep the sun out. It should be about a fist and a half or more. Bigger is better. Tight wrapping is good. Water tight is excellent.
Remember where it is. Do several others as you will have a few failures! Forget about it until late summer (or much later). The leaves will appear in Spring and flourish on the water. That’s all it gets.
Prune off long leaders etc. think of your shape. Gnarled and old. It’s a long time to go. Your job is to keep it alive for a full year.
In autumn you can cut the rootball off about six inches below the ball. Use good quality porting mix in a 12 inch pot.
Unwrap with extreme care. Don’t open it up to look at the roots. They are looking at you. Plant very carefully rootball and all. Think about stability, dogs and wind. It mustn’t be subjected to too much movement. Baby roots are getting bigger. Keep damp but don’t ignore it. It’s like watering a dead stick. And in Spring it will come to life. Avoid hot winds etc
Keep it going and common-sense will guide you. Carefully prune to keep the shape. Don’t rush it! If you are successful it will look like a twenty year old bonsai in two years. At my age this is important
Expect losses enjoy the successes.
Dick
Patterson
0488
412191
Thanks
for your demonstration Dick, informative and what fun to produce, let’s have a
go!
Coral Hiscock
On a damp
April afternoon, several members from the Gardening Interest Group attended a
Kokedama workshop run by Coral Hiscock at Hut 48.
Coral was a
terrific presenter and showed us how to create our own kokedama, both large and
small and either rope tied or using coconut fibre. Coral gave us confidence to ”have a go” and
each participant produced a beautiful and practical kokedama to keep or give to
a loved one.
The photos
show the steps to making our Japanese Kokedama’s and the fun we had creating
our own.
Thank you, Coral, for putting on the workshop. You have a wonderful presenting style and it was a pleasure to attend.
Janene
Bawden
Comments
Post a Comment