AusBonsai

I wasn't sure if Shibui was asking me or challenging me with the question of what would you display with some of the accents that I showed.
When I said they needed to in proportion, it is relative to height and size and style too.
If I were to use the aqueligias it would probably be with a bunjin style tree, and I have attached a photo of a possibility. Not the best bunjin style tree, but it gives an idea. The accents should be a little more to the right, but I ran out of table space.

Those do work well together Watto.
I find that most of my bonsai are in the 30-60cm tall range so many accents seem too big when displayed with those trees. maybe I need to look for smaller plants and smaller pots for accents but keeping plants alive in such small pots is a real challenge.
What about some words about where you keep yours and how you are managing them to get good results please.

I'd be interested in reading about your techniques for keeping your plants alive too, Watto. Personally I'm only going into my first Summer with 15 - 20 mame and accent plants, and don't really know if I'm doing the right thing or not. Be good to get some hints.

There is no real magic that I use to keep them alive. I keep them with my shohin where they get plenty of sun, but there is a wall of sorts that keeps the westerly and southerly winds out. Those winds in my area are the really cold and really hot winds that can damage some plants. I generally water once per day, the mix I use is the same as for the bonsai (quite course) and as a general rule I try to have moss on top of the soil as I think this keeps some moisture in.
I do keep them quite close together and that may give them their own little micro climate and it makes watering easier.

Thanks Watto, I'll keep that in mind. I suspect I might have a reasonable enough micro-climate set up where I have them, but the full force of Summer will give me the final answer. We've had a particularly mild November, and it's been very enjoyable, to be honest! Not looking forward to the heat!

That was an interesting link thank you Melbrackstone. I wonder if there is a maximum size pot for Kusamono? I have a Mark Hewitt pot given to me in 2003 but it is 11cm tall and 6cm at the base...I am thinking too big for for Accent and too high and Narrow for Bonsai?
I did find a couple of my own pots that may make it which is good news.
The one on the far right is the Mark Hewitt pot - the rest are my own creations not made for bonsai or Kusamono per se but maybe ok to play with. If nothing else they will be good to practice with.I will get around to some shows next year and get some true bonsai pots for my collection.

Hi SueBee

I suspect the tall pots might not be suitable for accents, but the ones in front should be.

You could always use the tall ones for cascade shohin....possibly even your ivy, once the roots are under control...

Thanks Melbrackstone,I will do some research on Shohin- I am learning so much.I realise now that even though I used to own Bonsai years ago -I knew nothing! They arrived as gifts and I brought books to learn from, but this forum is just so much more knowledgeable. So happy I found you all and I thank the Bonsai Gods that you are all so willing to share.

Hi Watto my eye keeps making me look back at the flower

I think that is because it is too close. If it were further to the right there would be a better flow, but I ran out of table space.

what if you put it on the other side and rotated it to lean with your lovely literati, or did that not look right?

Traditionally accents are on the side of where the tree is going to, so by tradition it has to be on the right side, but.......

hahahaha