R3x
Shohin
Here's update on these. Two years after collection I took them out of their containers, did some root reduction. Potted the bigger one in big ugly pot, cut container to create plastic pot for smaller one.
2 European Hornbeams - almost flawless yamadori material
R3x
Shohin
Larger one in detail:
R3x
Shohin
Smaller one in detail:
R3x
Shohin
Here's update for this year. I removed big branch from the larger one - tried to airlayer it beucause it had interesting subtle movement, some taper as well. Although it had some roots there were not many of the, But I stuck it into substrate - hornbeams are vigorous and it had lots of energy accumulated so it maybe will grow some roots. There is not much growth from last year - it has been recovering from repot and some substantial root reduction.
R3x
Shohin
Here's the other one:
R3x
Shohin
And here one that was briefly shown from a year later:
R3x
Shohin
And one collected with those first 2 - wild literati shape...
just.wing.it
Deadwood Head
Awesomeness!
What kind of substrate are you using?
What kind of substrate are you using?
Schmikah
Shohin
Hack Yeah!
Omono
Forsoothe!
Imperial Masterpiece
R3x
Shohin
I use what is called Zeolite on most of my trees. Pure - no other things. On Wikipedia there is an article - I guess what I have and is generally available here as a filtering material for ponds is the artificial one. You can buy it in large amount for really cheap in places where they sell sands and gravel for construction - like 25kg bag for 5EUR. The last one (literati) is (for now) in Akadama, but will be moved to Zeolite eventually. It is great for root development (lots of aeriation), holds just enough moisture but provides great drainage and is virtually indestructible/reusable (as opposed to Akadama for example). The only downside is that it is quite heavy. On the other hand it stabilizes pots pretty well.
R3x
Shohin
I have collected all of these at the same place - just few meters apart in the old quarry. But before I discovered them I walked hours and hours looking for some material with at least a bit of interesting features. These are my jewels. I am trying my best to make the the best out of them.@R3x stop making me jealous. Honestly though, both the eye for collection (and luck at finding those gold mines) is impressive. Don't let us down in development!
leatherback
The Treedeemer
erich_raudebaugh
Shohin
Incredible finds. Do you know if the trees were grazed by animals to keep them small, or is this just the habit of your native hornbeams? I know that people in my state (Oregon) have found hawthorns that are kept bonsai size due to cattle grazing.
R3x
Shohin
Actually, neither. Native hornbeams grow straight up to be quite tall - up to 20m approximately. The first (biigest) and fourth (literati) grew just meter apart on the slope of the quarry where soil was being eorded away by water and wind. There's a photo of the environment and the tree in its original form here: https://www.bonsainut.com/attachments/img_20161204_1456374-jpg.139698/
The quarry (closed for a long time) is full of large and smaller boulders being covered by a bit of soil. The second one grew on top of such heap and couldn't send the roots downwards so it developed such nice nebari (planning to improve it where it's lacking) - see here https://www.bonsainut.com/attachments/img_20161204_1501529-jpg.139699/. The third one (twisty ganrly) grew from crevice between boulders and was crushed partially by other fallen boulders.
However I found a spot nearby where trees are cut down by grazing deers. I collected 2 smaller trees with great potential there but unfortunately they both died (collected too early probably). You can see them here: https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/t...eup-hornbeams-and-larch-2-garden-pines.32972/ There still are some trees there that I plan to collect but I din't go there this year. Maybe I'll go today...
R3x
Shohin
You actually inspired me to go and check that grazing site. Initially I thought it was too late and too warm (used be to +20 Celcius during day) but the temperatures dropped dramatically. It was +2 during the day and it snowed for few minutes in the mountains while I dug. My two sons went with me to play while I dug. And I have brought home 2 nice trees. This first one is a bit 2-dimensional (lacking depth) but from one side the overall shape is nice. Had to take pictures unpotted while there was light. I ran out of Zeolite so I potted to common garden soil but put into grow bags.
erich_raudebaugh
Shohin
R3x
Shohin
Now this second one is a beast. Very wide base, dramatic taper. There was one quite thick branch growing at the ground level - had to remove that. But I really like this one.
Arnold_K
Shohin
Stunning raw-material. No doubt in that ...
