update: 2 root-over-rock juveniles since 2016

Two juvenile projects in root-over-rock style, started in 2016 with very very young material, both seedlings harvested in neighbourhood. Acer pseudoplatanus on lava rock and Acer pseudoplatanoides on 3 flat rocks put on top of each other.

After 1 year of growth, I inspected the roots and both looked very good. Replanted again, but a bit higher up, with their toes in the ground and the upper part of the roots surrounded by substrate within remains-of-pond-basket. Let it grow, let it grow, for several more years.

update: 3 common/black Alder - repotting

Two of them started from young forestry purpose plants. The one in the rectangle pot was dug out some 3 or 4 years ago from a ground that needed to become parking lot.

potting mixture: vermiculite-zeolite-lava sand-cocopeat, and a thin akadama toplayer just for 'esthetics'.

A lot of ramification work ahead but it's ok with Alders if you do this whilst already in pot. They're still vigorous growers in pot, when you water and fertilise them good.

Common Hazel - update

Common Hazel, corylus avellana.
Dug out in april 2014, this stump is developing in training pot.
Just an update.

Broad canopy with slightly waving dropping branchlets over the edges of the slab, and low apexes is what I am aiming for. The white line represents the slab. I had to draw this within the contours of the pictures offcourse but in reality it will have to be a bit bigger, but with similar shape.

Red Current variety - winter update

Ribus Rubrum, red Currant variety.

This is my smallest ánd oldest 100% selfmade tree, or shrub.
In 1996 I took a cutting from the shrub in my parents' garden.
It has always been grown in pot. Although this species does not produce thick stems/trunks, its current thin 'trunk' is mainly because I've always grown it in (small) pots.
Late pruning of the first flush helps, but I don't expect miracles on this one.
The top left branchlet needed new growth and better ramification so it was pruned back, ready for spring. It's just cute, and a nice memory of my first bonsai attempts.

Happy New Year 2017

Happy New Year, for all the readers of my blog !

Birch - cutback and new positioning

Birch. About 30 years old. I got it in 2007 when it was reportedly about 25yo, as a completely outgrown prebonsai. I left nothing from the tree I got.
After 1 year in a pond basket, I am thinking of changing the inclination again. First I vigourously pruned it. The white line I draw could be what resembles a future pot/shell shape.
Sparse foliage on the tops of both main trunk and secondary trunk, with few hanging branches, Is what I aim for.

Hornbeam - update 3 jan. 2017

Most bonsai artists/adepts/experts or even enthusiasts would have argued this was not suitable material for bonsai purposes. Well, I like to get my hands dirty and I like to make do with what I can get my hands on. It was dug out from a +/- 20yo hedge, in early spring 2012. All branches are built up since then.

Today I picked up the carving that I left a week ago. More refining, then some beeswax on the inside and burn it... After I tried to carve the top branch/apex a bit, I'm now really considering chopping it of and match it with the rest of the top. That would probably also suit the 'veterantree' look. I could use the branch right underneath the current apex to make a new leader/apex.

Next 2 years I'll also keep working on thickening the primary branches by using sacrifice branches.
I'll probably keep it in this container for another year.