This was collected 2 years ago when i purchased a tree in Melbourne .The owner had an excavator on site and this was removed along with the big Maple i purchased.

It had the usual swollen trunk where the graft was set, making it almost impossible to use as a bonsai . A method of promoting root growth i learned from another member of Ausbonsai was used and to personally  test his method .Basically a series of 3mm holes are drilled around the perimeter of the trunk in the required position .Using a hormone powder mixed to a stiff paste the tooth-picks were coated in the mixture then inserted into the holes in the trunk  .Then an extension was placed onto the plastic pot and back-filled with potting mix and scoria.

This is the result of the tooth pick method.

With the soil removed  the results speak for themselves , massive roots ,all but 3 out of the 16 tooth picks worked.

I basically trimmed the main tree into an informal upright.

whilst it was in the original growing pot .This allows for a bit of rough treatment without root damage.

With the new root mass severed from the original main roots.

the new tree was potted up,

the original rootball and lower trunk will also be potted to see if it will sprout or i may very well graft some Prunus Nigra Atropurperium onto it.

This new trainer  will now remain in the training tray for another season then its into a bonsai pot for it final training .

Another good result from a free tree .

Cheers Alpineart

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