Iseli "Mini Maple"

[madvillain]

First year in development and unsure of the exact species. Tree came pruned and shaped from the nursery although I plan on letting it grow to thicken the trunk a bit. Repotted last spring into a double pond basket on a small wood slab to develop flat nebari. Thinned out once over the summer and now really enjoying the orange fall color

 

[19Mateo83]

Thats a nice little tree! I have been looking for some of the iseli mini maples, they look like great little starter trees. Did you order it online?

 

[madvillain]

Thats a nice little tree! I have been looking for some of the iseli mini maples, they look like great little starter trees. Did you order it online?

Thanks! I got them from a local nursery here in Seattle

 

[bonsaichile]

May I ask the reason for the double pond basket? I always use only one. I am curious about your rationale for using two nested like that.

 

[madvillain]

May I ask the reason for the double pond basket? I always use only one. I am curious about your rationale for using two nested like that.

I saw an article on here a while back of a Japanese artist using multiple baskets to allow the roots to escape out of the bottoms of the initial basket. The results were pretty impressive so I figured I’d try it out. It’s similar to laying training pots on the grounds of soil to allow roots to escape

 

[SandSquid]

Thanks! I got them from a local nursery here in Seattle

Which nursery, may I ask? I’m in Everett and love our local nurseries.

 

[pandacular]

I saw some at Swanson’s at the end of September. Skye also tends to have a collection of small Iseli stuff, but it’s usually pretty picked over.

 

[madvillain]

Which nursery, may I ask? I’m in Everett and love our local nurseries.

Sky Nursery in Shoreline a little bit north of me. They have a “bonsai” table in their outdoor area where they put out iseli trees. I would check back there in spring as the selection is a bit sparse the last time I was there. They have a decent selection of Chinese bonsai pots/tools as well

 

[madvillain]

I saw some at Swanson’s at the end of September. Skye also tends to have a collection of small Iseli stuff, but it’s usually pretty picked over.

Yes, the iseli maples usually go pretty fast at Sky

 

[johng]

That is such a well proportioned small tree I would be tempted to just keep it small and not grow it out.

 

[penumbra]

I have one of these mini maples that I picked up at a nursery here in VA a couple years ago. True to name, it has grown about an inch in that time, but it has thickened. My understanding is that these are choice seedlings and not an actual cultivar. Could be wrong, but I remember reading that somewhere.

 

[BrightsideB]

@madvillain love the tree! Nice fall color!

 

[SandSquid]

Yes, the iseli maples usually go pretty fast at Sky

Been to Sky quite a bit...I rather like them. Gotten more than a few pieces of material from them. Their outdoor bonsai table in spring and summer is pretty good! They also have an indoor bonsai corner with mostly Serissa, Zelkova, and various Ilex. What I really like is their regular nursery material; they have some good stuff! Nice little Mugos, a ton of different Juniper and cedar and spruce species, as well as any azalea, gardenia, and deciduous you could ask for.

Only been to Swanson's once when I was in the area and remembered I needed soil, and they sell Happy Frog, so stopped in. I didn't really get a chance to look around, but I will next time.

If you're ever up in the Marysville area, Sunnyside nursery is also an excellent nursery for folks looking for bonsai material.

 

[madvillain]

That is such a well proportioned small tree I would be tempted to just keep it small and not grow it out.

Yea I’m tempted too!

@madvillain love the tree! Nice fall color!

Thanks!

Been to Sky quite a bit...I rather like them. Gotten more than a few pieces of material from them. Their outdoor bonsai table in spring and summer is pretty good! They also have an indoor bonsai corner with mostly Serissa, Zelkova, and various Ilex. What I really like is their regular nursery material; they have some good stuff! Nice little Mugos, a ton of different Juniper and cedar and spruce species, as well as any azalea, gardenia, and deciduous you could ask for.

Only been to Swanson's once when I was in the area and remembered I needed soil, and they sell Happy Frog, so stopped in. I didn't really get a chance to look around, but I will next time.

If you're ever up in the Marysville area, Sunnyside nursery is also an excellent nursery for folks looking for bonsai material.

Thanks for the tip I’ll check it out next time I’m up there!

Yes, Swansons regular nursery material selection is great. I’ve had to hold back from spending more than I should whenever I visit

 

[czaczaja]

Those leaves look amazingly in scale. Cant wait to see the roots come out of that pond basket.

 

[NateDyk47]

I saw an article on here a while back of a Japanese artist using multiple baskets to allow the roots to escape out of the bottoms of the initial basket. The results were pretty impressive so I figured I’d try it out. It’s similar to laying training pots on the grounds of soil to allow roots to escape

Did you add the second pond basket after it had grown a while in the first? I'm under the impression that the additional basket(s) are added over time. Otherwise, I don't see the difference between just using a slightly bigger basket from the beginning.

 

[madvillain]

Did you add the second pond basket after it had grown a while in the first? I'm under the impression that the additional basket(s) are added over time. Otherwise, I don't see the difference between just using a slightly bigger basket from the beginning.

I had an extra basket after transplanting one of my trees into the ground so I figured I’d experiment with the double basket method

 

[rodeolthr]

Which nursery, may I ask? I’m in Everett and love our local nurseries.

I've seen these at Sunnyside Nursery in Marysville. They seem to get them in around this time of year.