Show Off Your Bjorn Seedling Clumps

[Bonsaidoorguy]

About 10 japanese maples zip tied at the start of last spring. Took it off after leaf drop and it looks like they're fused. I gave a couple away in spring and am told they are doing well also. I'll cut them back late winter.

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

Both elms are developing fast, but I had mixed results this season. One Corticosa clump grew fantastically well with a fine root system and a nice nebari, the other sent out thick taperless roots that had to be cutback hard. The first was still fused, the latter had to be reattached again with rubber covered wire. I didn’t cut back the top of the one that had to be reattached to keep its thickening/development going.

 

[Dav4]

A great way to re-purpose seedlings left over from thread grafting! The pond baskets with the stones were recently re-potted.

 

[coltranem]

Crabapple from seed I collected. Going fir a small clump. I have another one in a larger grow pot with more trees.

 

[LuZiKui]

Here’s one started with 15 seedlings through a washer. The trunks have started to fuse. I’ll only cover the washer and base of the clump to start growing new roots once they’re properly fused.

A little late to the party but what happens with the washer? Do you have to cut it off at some point or does it just grow into the tree?

 

[SeanS]

A little late to the party but what happens with the washer? Do you have to cut it off at some point or does it just grow into the tree?

Once the seedlings have fused they start to swell above the washer and once the fused base (now above the washer) is covered with soil it will start to grow new roots over the washer. It basically ground layers itself above the washer.
Once there are enough new roots above the washer you cut the entire “old root system” off from the underside of the washer and remove the washer.

 

[LuZiKui]

Once the seedlings have fused they start to swell above the washer and once the fused base (now above the washer) is covered with soil it will start to grow new roots over the washer. It basically ground layers itself above the washer.
Once there are enough new roots above the washer you cut the entire “old root system” off from the underside of the washer and remove the washer.

Super interesting, thanks for the info! Gonna be a cool clump as it continues to grow.

 

[win320]

Here are some trident clumps I started this season. The bigger one has a tube wrapped wire holding them together. One of the trunks isn’t doing as well so I’ve grafted a shoot from the most vigorous trunk onto it. The trunks have starts to swell and take the shape of the others surrounding them. No visible fusion yet.

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Here’s one started with 15 seedlings through a washer. The trunks have started to fuse. I’ll only cover the washer and base of the clump to start growing new roots once they’re properly fused.

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B E A U T I F U L !!

 

[Matte91]

Little acer clump with seven trees started this spring.

 

[Johnnyd]

I picked up five chishio improved seedlings from Evergreen garden works. It took a few years but all have fused using the Bjorn method.
Looking to make a shohin from this. I did a little trim on some of the subtrunks and 2 will thicken.

 

[SeanS]

Here’s one started with 15 seedlings through a washer. The trunks have started to fuse. I’ll only cover the washer and base of the clump to start growing new roots once they’re properly fused.

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Update on this thread one, been battling fungus so they haven’t exactly taken off since being cut back about 1.5 months ago. The middle trunk was cut back 2 weeks ago after being allowed to thicken more than the outer trunks.

 

[GreatLakesBrad]

Ah tridents... so well suited - look at that fusion base! Looks great!

 

[Gabler]

I dug up three Freeman’s maple saplings with one-sided roots and smooshed them together two years ago. The wax is to seal out soil particles from the fusion area, since I planted the whole thing pretty deep. The roots have since filled the grow bag to the point that water no longer percolates easily. I’m gonna have a look in the next week or three when the buds begin to swell open and up-pot to a bigger grow bag. Hopefully, the trunks will have begun to fuse.

 

[bluone23]

Started a JM clump, through an old plastic cutting board.
We shall seee

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

I had to make some room for a bunch of arakawa air layers I am doing this season, so I put together this 9 cork bark elm clump. I really like how they were at various stages, so it already looks pretty convincing with varying shapes, thicknesses and heights. This is going to be a big one, similar in size to the JM Bjorn made with Valavanis.

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

Followup on the original cork bark elm clump. The nebari is fully fused, and developing nicely! The top got a trunk removed and some cutback/wiring to set it up for future growth.

 

[Johnnyd]

Followup on the original cork bark elm clump. The nebari is fully fused, and developing nicely! The top got a trunk removed and some cutback/wiring to set it up for future growth.
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Looking good Sal! I'm interested to to how your collection is developing.

 

[Tidal Bonsai]

Looking good Sal! I'm interested to to how your collection is developing.

Its coming along, thanks for asking! I am still developing things that interest me, but I have been moving along less developed/less worthy projects and working with more developed and interesting stock. There is no prize that I know of for having the most seedlings in your yard, lol!

 

[Johnnyd]

Used some twine to move the seedlings into position.

 

[Apex37]

Started my first seedling clump this year going off Bjorn’s video. 5 trunk Korean Hornbeam. We’ll see how it does.