Repotting and half bare rooting pines

[Adair M]

Killing trees won’t make you an artist.

The thing about bonsai is it is an art, as well as a craft. But, and this is an important “but”, you can’t be a successful artist in bonsai unless you develop your “craft” skills first. Because the craft skills are how to keep trees alive. It don’t matter how pretty your dead tree is, it’s dead.

So, basic things like repotting, basic wiring, watering, fertilizing, winter protection... all those boring “craft” skills have to be learned and put into practice. Only then can the “Art” happen.

Now, here’s another thing... the “craft” skills have been figured out. There’s no mystery to solve. No experimentation required. All that shit’s been done! All you have to do is find someone else who has learned it, and learn it from them. Do what they do!

Once you have that basic “craft” skills mastered, THEN you’re free to be artistic!

Everyone wants to go straight to the “art” part first. Well, that’s what creates a pile of dead trees behind the fence!

Look, by now you should realize the best soil is akadama/pumice/lava. Not that Napa crap. All the top trees at the Nationals are using some variant of APL. It’s proven. No experimentation is needed. Use it, you have a healthy root system. No worries. Now you’re freed up to make art. But, no, you’d rather resist, do it YOUR way. Why? Why waste energy on something that’s dubious, when there is a proven “best practice”?

I really don’t get why you make it so hard.

 

[Warpig]

Its not the destination, its the path you take to get there.

 

[Uncle Robo]

Look, by now you should realize the best soil is akadama/pumice/lava. Not that Napa crap. All the top trees at the Nationals are using some variant of APL. It’s proven. No experimentation is needed. Use it, you have a healthy root system. No worries. Now you’re freed up to make art. But, no, you’d rather resist, do it YOUR way. Why? Why waste energy on something that’s dubious, when there is a proven “best practice”?

I really don’t get why you make it so hard.

Not everyone likes to use akadama for conifers. It might be suitable in your area, but in areas of cold winters, akadama breaks down in a year or two.
Lava rock is more popular than akadama in parts of Asia outside of Japan. Not debating soils here, but "best" anything will depend on a number of factors and does not fit everyone everywhere.

 

[Warpig]

Now, here’s another thing... the “craft” skills have been figured out. There’s no mystery to solve. No experimentation required. All that shit’s been done! All you have to do is find someone else who has learned it, and learn it from them. Do what they do!

Once you have that basic “craft” skills mastered, THEN you’re free to be artistic!

Everyone wants to go straight to the “art” part first. Well, that’s what creates a pile of dead trees behind the fence!

Look, by now you should realize the best soil is akadama/pumice/lava. Not that Napa crap. All the top trees at the Nationals are using some variant of APL. It’s proven. No experimentation is needed. Use it, you have a healthy root system. No worries. Now you’re freed up to make art. But, no, you’d rather resist, do it YOUR way. Why? Why waste energy on something that’s dubious, when there is a proven “best practice”?

I really don’t get why you make it so hard.

While i get what you are trying to say. But to say there is a best anything is wrong. I hope you dont take this the wrong way you do amazing work. Trees i hope to one day be as good as.

However, for as amazing as your work is, if you were too just up and move half a way around the world you would have to change your routine and how you cared for your trees if you wanted to keep up the same level of amazing.

What is good for one is not good for all.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

@Warpig and @Uncle Robo you are both new this year to BonsaiNut, though you may have been studying the art of bonsai for longer. Instead of arguing that Adair is wrong, why don’t you show us why you’re right. Have you used Akadama for enough years to conclusively defend your position? Let’s see your results.

 

[sorce]

Killing trees won’t make you an artist.

I said an artist won't mind a bunch of dead trees.
Not, a person won't mind a bunch of dead trees on the way to becoming an artist.

I know I won't be able to afford Akadama Pumice and Lava my entire life, or now, or ever, so I grow successfully what I can, how I do, in DE.

With my keen lay of the land and constant study of folks here, I can defend myself all day, but for god sakes I don't want to be.

I have absolutely no argument.

We are all right in our own gardens.

It "seems" blatant that @Bolero needs help, he doesn't.

It's when it's not so blatant that frightens me!

Way harder to diagnose, way deeper in years of denial.

Sorce

 

[Uncle Robo]

@Brian Van Fleet, I understand you want to defend your friend there, but you're not new. There's a reason almost every Bonsai forum have users post their location, and that's because "one size does not fit all". Akadama may work great where you and Adir are, but where I am, it compacts after one or two cold winters, and requires more frequent repotting.

 

[misfit11]

@Brian Van Fleet, I understand you want to defend your friend there, but you're not new. There's a reason almost every Bonsai forum have users post their location, and that's because "one size does not fit all". Akadama may work great where you and Adir are, but where I am, it compacts after one or two cold winters, and requires more frequent repotting.

This may be true, however there are high fired akadama options available. The reason people use akadama is because it works. I do the typical lava rock, pumice, akadama mix like most everyone around here. Yes, my akadama breaks down, too but it's the water retentive component of my mix. When it breaks down it doesn't just turn to mush it just breaks into smaller and smaller particals.
@William N. Valavanis is from the NE and I'm willing to bet he uses akadama for his trees. Maybe he'll chime in to offer his experience with it.

 

[bwaynef]

@Brian Van Fleet, I understand you want to defend your friend there, but you're not new. There's a reason almost every Bonsai forum have users post their location, and that's because "one size does not fit all". Akadama may work great where you and Adir are, but where I am, it compacts after one or two cold winters, and requires more frequent repotting.

I get what you're saying, but I know that it works in Connecticut, ...so maybe there's more to it.

 

[Anthony]

@maroun.c ,

you already know the soil we use for Bonsai.
So for you I am go test a few pines in fired clay [ Leca ]
Hang on for around 4 more years.

The pots will be porous.
Good Day
Anthony

@sorce - excellent to hear you have mastered watering!
As you are an Artist - pottery and tree ----- I am sure you will
stun me,

 

[WNC Bonsai]

Until it is.

Do you really want to take chances on a valuable tree you’ve worked on for three plus years?

Are you seriously recommending that others should be haphazard?

Look, people come here to learn how to do bonsai. (Except Smoke... he’s got his own motives). You have a zillion posts. You even have some kind of moderator status. Yet you advocate crappy techniques!

It’s time to grow up. You’ve been the clown of BonsaiNut long enough.

I think this is what they call tough love!

 

[LanceMac10]

Using the akadama, pumice and lava mix about six years now and have not experienced any problems or seen un-manageable compaction. Perfect mix for conifers and I don't think there is much argument, but to each their own as I can understand the cost may be prohibitive for some.



.....but know that "cheap shows"....

 

[LanceMac10]

@Brian Van Fleet, your friend there

......actually, they disagree often....

 

[Uncle Robo]

This may be true, however there are high fired akadama options available. The reason people use akadama is because it works. I do the typical lava rock, pumice, akadama mix like most everyone around here. Yes, my akadama breaks down, too but it's the water retentive component of my mix. When it breaks down it doesn't just turn to mush it just breaks into smaller and smaller particals.
@William N. Valavanis is from the NE and I'm willing to bet he uses akadama for his trees. Maybe he'll chime in to offer his experience with it.

I'm not debating that akadama works in bonsai soil, but I question whether it's "best" for everyone.
Yes, there are varying grades of akadama, yes, various people have had success with it in all parts of the world.
I no longer use it because I like to repot less often.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

@Brian Van Fleet, I understand you want to defend your friend there, but you're not new. There's a reason almost every Bonsai forum have users post their location, and that's because "one size does not fit all". Akadama may work great where you and Adir are, but where I am, it compacts after one or two cold winters, and requires more frequent repotting.

I’ve never met Adair, and we have different teachers. I respect his work and contributions here, but I don’t know him.

I don’t know you either, in fact, I haven’t seen any of your work, so you’re just another new guy here who may or not have a clue what he’s talking about. For example, you may not know that akadama is supposed to break down over a few years.

 

[Uncle Robo]

I’ve never met Adair, and we have different teachers. I respect his work and contributions here, but I don’t know him.

I don’t know you either, in fact, I haven’t seen any of your work, so you’re just another new guy here who may or not have a clue what he’s talking about. For example, you may not know that akadama is supposed to break down over a few years.

Well, I guess I've worn out my welcome here.
I was hoping this forum would allow the free flow of ideas regarding bonsai, but apparently, it's get with the akadama program newbie or gtfo.
May all your trees live long and prosper.

 

[Warpig]

This is not about soil, its about spreading misinformation as fact!

 

[sorce]

Well, I guess I've worn out my welcome here.
I was hoping this forum would allow the free flow of ideas regarding bonsai, but apparently, it's get with the akadama program newbie or gtfo.
May all your trees live long and prosper.

It sure ain't that.

Sorce

 

[sorce]

. the “craft” skills have been figured out.

Only after Boon invents HBR, now we are done innovating.

Thanks Boon!

Innovate or stagnate.

Sorce

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Well, I guess I've worn out my welcome here.
I was hoping this forum would allow the free flow of ideas regarding bonsai, but apparently, it's get with the akadama program newbie or gtfo.
May all your trees live long and prosper.

Asking you to share results that supports your conclusion is about as free-flow and welcoming as it gets. It would help the community if you had experience to share which supports your claims. The alternative is to get butt-hurt and storm off.