Koto Hime Maple Progression

[Darth Masiah]

started repotting by dumping mamma koto in the ground. i just want her to make me more babies. she's already given me material that's better than she ever was.



2019 cutting #4
the colander definitely stopped any one root from going crazy and extending too much. the air pruning kept most growth fairly even.

 

[MMJNICE]

Holy moly!! Talk about beautiful base. I think I'll put the cutting you gave me in a colander as well. Was going to put in the ground but roots do stupid things in the ground and not much control over growth. I got the cutting three days or so... thanks a bunch. I noticed you use coconut core is that your growing medium of choice? I just started cutting my Acadama with the stuff so im hoping it works well for my garden. Thinking I may reduce the branches from the base to just one but haven't decided yet on what i should do yet.

 

[Darth Masiah]

Holy moly!! Talk about beautiful base. I think I'll put the cutting you gave me in a colander as well. Was going to put in the ground but roots do stupid things in the ground and not much control over growth. I got the cutting three days or so... thanks a bunch. I noticed you use coconut core is that your growing medium of choice? I just started cutting my Acadama with the stuff so im hoping it works well for my garden. Thinking I may reduce the branches from the base to just one but haven't decided yet on what i should do yet.

i suggest repotting that cutting into a slightly bigger container. i usually go from the 4" to a 5" or 6". i wouldn't bother with a colander at this young stage. i was using it to try an increase root ramification and stop over thickening of select roots after i had grown the tree for years and had a nice circular base formed already. since I've been using coco coir/ perlite at about 4 to 1 I've needed to repot every year to check the roots. if you don't see a decent circular root base forming, I wouldn't cut the roots back much, just get it into a bigger pot to grow strong for future airlayers and cuttings. there was two nice shoots i had already wired some movement into for this purpose.

 

[MMJNICE]

i suggest repotting that cutting into a slightly bigger container. i usually go from the 4" to a 5" or 6". i wouldn't bother with a colander at this young stage. i was using it to try an increase root ramification and stop over thickening of select roots after i had grown the tree for years and had a nice circular base formed already. since I've been using coco coir/ perlite at about 4 to 1 I've needed to repot every year to check the roots. if you don't see a decent circular root base forming, I wouldn't cut the roots back much, just get it into a bigger pot to grow strong for future airlayers and cuttings. there was two nice shoots i had already wired some movement into for this purpose.

I put the cutting in a larger pot tonight and there was plenty of roots in that little pot you had it in. Definitely needed a larger container to grow further. I didn't intend to cut back the roots but...... I couldn't resist. Once I pulled it out the container my chopstick and scissors just magically appeared in my hand and I went on autopilot. I didn't take but maybe 1/3 of the roots. Only ones that where out of the root plane i picked. I also very loosely secured a board under them to help keep them flat for a inch or so beyond the trunk. I'm assuming your thinking this material is only suitable for taking cuttings and airlayers but all i need is a nice base to build a nice shohin tree with and all those branches at the base will help to supply that fat base. of course I will take plenty of cuttings and airlayers as well. It's never to early to start getting the roots how i like them. Thanks again. You gave me an absolutely great start.

 

[Darth Masiah]

Once I pulled it out the container my chopstick and scissors just magically appeared in my hand and I went on autopilot.

yep

 

[Darth Masiah]

#3 cutting repotted into a container. couple shoots, including the leader took damage in this crazy 30min wind storm in the middle of the night. still have to repot #2 over there. I'm thinking leave the sacrifice and grow two more years. see how thicker it gets.



last airlayer we did



chopped the biggest cutting i had down to a stump since there was zero movement. we'll see if there's any dormant buds left down low. could turn into a multitrunk thing.

 

[Darth Masiah]

it was f'ing hell combing out that suuuuuuper tight rootball. should've took a blunt break, but i blew though that shit irritated and forgot to take a root shot. trust, the nebari's looking sick.

 

[just.wing.it]

That base is looking great though!

 

[Piedmont Bonsai]

it was f'ing hell combing out that suuuuuuper tight rootball. should've took a blunt break, but i blew though that shit irritated and forgot to take a root shot. trust, the nebari's looking sick.

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Very nice! I love the idea of putting the repot dates on the tag

 

[Darth Masiah]

airlayer we did on page 6 is getting huge. should have plenty of elongated shoots for cuttings next year.

 

[Darth Masiah]

 

[Jrmcmich]

Need to find one of these. Looks like a fun one to work with and seems to have fairly quick growth.