Mame trees, your thoughts...

[Ces]

Hey Guys,

In the few years I have been following this forum I have seen quite a few well developed Mame trees. Some incredibly tiny... I have a question for the general membership-

What is your opinion of these trees? Are they curiosities and accepted just because of their diminutive stature and limited styling/ramification? Or do they have a legitimate place in the bonsai community due to the horticultural expertise needed to produce and maintain these specimens...

I put it to you but not before I give my own opinion... for me: I appreciate the skill required to keep these trees alive but do not necessarily find them to be interesting pursuits. However, I ask again: are these trees legit characters in the bonsai cast or are they curio's?

Over to you my friends.

Ces.

[Elmar]

Seeing them on the posts here is not doing them justice!
Like I posted recently on another post, in person, they are awesome! I don't even know how the owners keep them and train them like that (probably the same as the bigger Bonsai!?!?!), I'd be very scared to break them ... I'm used to lifting carrying and busting heavy things...


Cheers
EZ
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[Rory]

It is certainly not my cup of tea.... or dirt for that matter. But, I may find in time that I change my mind and see them differently, as Bodhi often points out. Its just that my mind says, 'small is cute, but cute is not what I'm into'. I just can't see how they can capture the beauty of a real tree, or perhaps they are not meant to. Shohin is as small as I can appreciate. Beyond that, I find that they just don't look realistic to me. But that is just my opinion.

[Pup]

It should still look like a tree not a curious plant in a small pot. That is reserved for accent plants.

Just recently there was an article in Bonsai focus by an ex apprentice, he stated that good Shohin and Mame, bring higher prices that larger trees, that is why the trees imported to Europe are getting better but not the Shohin.
People wont pay what they are worth, is that some thing NEW

It does take a little more patience and practice to wire them, but well worth it when executed properly.

Just my Pup

[Elmar]

It does take a little more patience and practice to wire them, but well worth it when executed properly.

Just my Pup

I certainly agree.


Cheers
EZ
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Isitangus]

I think that for starters there's a definite difference between a good mame, and a cutting in a pot that people call a mame.
Like any bonsai a good mame will have some ramification and development. Good mame I can definitely appreciate. Cuttings in mame pots I don't appreciate!

[kcpoole]

I think that for starters there's a definite difference between a good mame, and a cutting in a pot that people call a mame.
Like any bonsai a good mame will have some ramification and development. Good mame I can definitely appreciate. Cuttings in mame pots I don't appreciate!

this pretty much sums it up

Like any Bonsai, a good one takes time and effort to create and maintain. A bad one is just a Stick.
I have a few on my benches, but like any tree are not ready to show yet

Ken

[Ray M]

Hi all,
Mame is very much a part of the art of Bonsai. If you see a well developed Mame they can have the same beauty as a larger tree. You have to look a little closer.

Have a look at some of these examples. Mame Bonsai

Regards Ray

[bonborn]

Hi all,
Mame is very much a part of the art of Bonsai. If you see a well developed Mame they can have the same beauty as a larger tree. You have to look a little closer.

Have a look at some of these examples. Mame Bonsai

Regards Ray

Thanks for the link. Just inspired me. I have an ideal plant and pot. Only issue is how to keep it alive. I am thinking maybe keeping it on a tray of water and humidified. What soil type and feeding?

[Rory]

I think that for starters there's a definite difference between a good mame, and a cutting in a pot that people call a mame.
Like any bonsai a good mame will have some ramification and development. Good mame I can definitely appreciate. Cuttings in mame pots I don't appreciate!

this pretty much sums it up

Like any Bonsai, a good one takes time and effort to create and maintain. A bad one is just a Stick.
I have a few on my benches, but like any tree are not ready to show yet

Ken

The 2 points above are spot on I think, and you guys have articulated it better than I have. If I see a mame bonsai that looks like an actual tree in the same size as a 'teeny tiny toilet' (that line is from Despicable Me....awesome movie... go watch it), then yes, I would probably love it.

Damn you Bodhi, I have rethought my thoughts and you didn't even need to comment yet.

[kcpoole]

Hi all,
Mame is very much a part of the art of Bonsai. If you see a well developed Mame they can have the same beauty as a larger tree. You have to look a little closer.

Have a look at some of these examples. Mame Bonsai

Regards Ray

Thanks for the link. Just inspired me. I have an ideal plant and pot. Only issue is how to keep it alive. I am thinking maybe keeping it on a tray of water and humidified. What soil type and feeding?

I keep all of mine on a tray of gravel.
the tray is about 1/2 inch deep plastic fridge tray filled with the rounded aquarium gravel. The pots therefore do not sit in the water, but provide moist humid environment for the tress.
The roots can and do escape into it, but I just cut them off regularly.

on really hot / windy days, the tray wil dry out and then I rewater if needed.

My Soil mix in the mame is my normal Diatomite / Zeolite, but sifted to less than 3mm

Ken

[bonborn]

Hi all,
Mame is very much a part of the art of Bonsai. If you see a well developed Mame they can have the same beauty as a larger tree. You have to look a little closer.

Have a look at some of these examples. Mame Bonsai

Regards Ray

Thanks for the link. Just inspired me. I have an ideal plant and pot. Only issue is how to keep it alive. I am thinking maybe keeping it on a tray of water and humidified. What soil type and feeding?

I keep all of mine on a tray of gravel.
the tray is about 1/2 inch deep plastic fridge tray filled with the rounded aquarium gravel. The pots therefore do not sit in the water, but provide moist humid environment for the tress.
The roots can and do escape into it, but I just cut them off regularly.

on really hot / windy days, the tray wil dry out and then I rewater if needed.

My Soil mix in the mame is my normal Diatomite / Zeolite, but sifted to less than 3mm

Ken

Lol i ran out and kick started my first mame. I put it in a bigger pot to gradually shallow the root. The trunks are all there. Now to start working on the branches.

[GavinG]

All bonsai are natural trees reduced, concentrated, arranged and refined. It's just a matter of degree.

The large bonsai stare down at you, and impress you with their scale.

The medium size bonsai are personal, you have a conversation with them.

And the little ones are the tree reduced to its absolute essence. The most condensed and intense.

Because we make something beautiful from trees that live, respire, grow and change, I sometimes think what we do is richer and deeper than art that just sits stiff and dead on a wall. Then I look at some of the rubbish I've got growing in the yard and think, "Well, yeah...." Particularly after I've been volunteering at the NBPCA, now that is really discouraging. Ah well.

Just my 2c.,

Gavin

[Grant Bowie]

All bonsai are natural trees reduced, concentrated, arranged and refined. It's just a matter of degree.

The large bonsai stare down at you, and impress you with their scale.

The medium size bonsai are personal, you have a conversation with them.

And the little ones are the tree reduced to its absolute essence. The most condensed and intense.

Because we make something beautiful from trees that live, respire, grow and change, I sometimes think what we do is richer and deeper than art that just sits stiff and dead on a wall. Then I look at some of the rubbish I've got growing in the yard and think, "Well, yeah...." Particularly after I've been volunteering at the NBPCA, now that is really discouraging. Ah well.

Just my 2c.,

Gavin

Gavin!!,

You were waxing quite lyrically till the end there! The NBPCA is there to inspire you; not deflate you. Now get out there and do some work on your trees and step away from the piano.

Grant