New JBP, Senjumaru (Kotobuki sport?)

[keri-wms]

I was looking for a Kotobuki to graft to my other JBP when I saw this Jap import, looked Senjumaru up and it appears it’s even better than (and related to) Kotobuki so I grabbed it! I took a photo compared to a straight JBP 2yr tree to show how the needles compare. It’s in really compact grit/breaking down akadama, but there were black organic layers at the surface and the bottom so I repotted it clearing as much of it as I could without pruning the roots (this year), doesn’t look like it but it was pretty much slip-potted. I also minimally wired about half the branches and arranged them (not styled!) to let more air/light in to the inner buds - check them all out!

 

[BuckeyeOne]

Very nice!!

 

[roberthu]

I have two similar to this but they were sold ad Kotobuki. Mine have grown every slowly. Five years in the ground and they grew about 10 inches in height. Yours have a much better shape and trunk than mine though.

 

[keri-wms]

I have two similar to this but they were sold ad Kotobuki. Mine have grown every slowly. Five years in the ground and they grew about 10 inches in height. Yours have a much better shape and trunk than mine though.

From what I’ve seen on youtube Kotobuki is faster growing than Senjumaru, also Senjumaru has a multi budding where Kotobuki has 1-2, rarely 3 per tip? This is all from this video:

 

[roberthu]

From what I’ve seen on youtube Kotobuki is faster growing than Senjumaru, also Senjumaru has a multi budding where Kotobuki has 1-2, rarely 3 per tip? This is all from this video:

Thanks. This is informative.
Below are pics of my trees.

 

[keri-wms]

Thanks. This is informative.
Below are pics of my trees.
View attachment 302745

You could reduce the needles / buds on that long leader if you were looking at a smaller tree, or if you cut back in stages you could try grafting the resulting bits of Kotobuki to other JBP....or do a deal with other JBP owners near you that might want to swap Kotobuki scions for goodies they might have?

The lowest branches are being overpowered by the upper parts, they’ll die unless the upper is slowed to balance the tree’s energy.

Stop me if you know all this stuff!

 

[roberthu]

You could reduce the needles / buds on that long leader if you were looking at a smaller tree, or if you cut back in stages you could try grafting the resulting bits of Kotobuki to other JBP....or do a deal with other JBP owners near you that might want to swap Kotobuki scions for goodies they might have?

The lowest branches are being overpowered by the upper parts, they’ll die unless the upper is slowed to balance the tree’s energy.

Stop me if you know all this stuff!

Thanks that’s my plan this fall as well. They were just dug out of the ground this sorting so I want to give them a full grow season before pulling needles or cutting back.
Just one note to who have not had one of these, the needles are super sharp and hard. They hurt pretty badly...

 

[keri-wms]

Thanks that’s my plan this fall as well. They were just dug out of the ground this sorting so I want to give them a full grow season before pulling needles or cutting back.
Just one note to who have not had one of these, the needles are super sharp and hard. They hurt pretty badly...

They do indeed, seriously sharp!!

 

[win320]

I was looking for a Kotobuki to graft to my other JBP when I saw this Jap import, looked Senjumaru up and it appears it’s even better than (and related to) Kotobuki so I grabbed it! I took a photo compared to a straight JBP 2yr tree to show how the needles compare. It’s in really compact grit/breaking down akadama, but there were black organic layers at the surface and the bottom so I repotted it clearing as much of it as I could without pruning the roots (this year), doesn’t look like it but it was pretty much slip-potted. I also minimally wired about half the branches and arranged them (not styled!) to let more air/light in to the inner buds - check them all out!


View attachment 302475

View attachment 302477

Hi @keri-wms

This looks amazing.
wow !
I am also based in S.E. UK

where did you buy it from?

Thanks
Vin

 

[keri-wms]

Hi @keri-wms

This looks amazing.
wow !
I am also based in S.E. UK

where did you buy it from?

Thanks
Vin

Thanks Vin! It was mail order from Graham at Kaizen Bonsai.

 

[discusmike]

Wish this was available in US, looks like it is more compact then kotobuki, good luck with it.

 

[keri-wms]

Wish this was available in US, looks like it is more compact then kotobuki, good luck with it.

Yeah it’s much more compact, hope it stays that way in my care!

 

[win320]

Hi Keri,
@keri-wms

quite interesting, I was wondering if you could post the latest pics and tell us about the growth or special maintenance this required?

cheers
vin