More toothpic pics

Share your success stories about defoliation, bare rooting and anything else relating to maintaining healthy bonsai.
Post Reply
User avatar
Gerard
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 2656
Joined: October 7th, 2009, 12:32 pm
Favorite Species: pines
Bonsai Age: 16
Bonsai Club: BSV, Northwest, Northern Suburbs, VNBC
Location: Melbourne
Has thanked: 18 times
Been thanked: 48 times

More toothpic pics

Post by Gerard »

I spent most of today potting. This japanese maple was my first ever tree a gift from my daughter, although quite old (1982)
it has always had serious problems. The top was removed two years ago because of an ugly bulge where too many branches came from the same spot. The base just above the roots also has a seious problem it is about 8 cm wide and only one cm from front to back. (8:1 is not a good ratio :lol: )
To fix the problem I have used the toothpick method.
repot july 2010 001.jpg
repot july 2010 003.jpg
repot july 2010 002.jpg
repot july 2010 005.jpg
repot july 2010 006.jpg
Next I repotted a collected hawthorn, roots were terrible so I used the same proceedure.
repot july 2010 007.jpg
repot july 2010 008.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Q: Why are we all here?
A: Because we are not all there.
Handy Mick
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 785
Joined: May 8th, 2010, 4:52 pm
Favorite Species: all species
Bonsai Age: 0
Bonsai Club: Goulburn Bonsai society, Southern Highlands Bonsai Group
Location: Bundanoon, Southern Highlands
Contact:

Re: More toothpic pics

Post by Handy Mick »

Nice, I hope it works! I have a few trees that could use the same treatment.
so you spent today potting around :( I wish I could.
Mick
Visit my website http://www.handy-mick.com.au" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Follow my page on Facebook. Southern Highlands Handy Mick
User avatar
ozzy
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 608
Joined: November 21st, 2008, 5:51 pm
Bonsai Age: 15
Location: SA

Re: More toothpic pics

Post by ozzy »

:shock:
User avatar
senseijames
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 350
Joined: May 8th, 2010, 8:12 am
Favorite Species: Figs, Swamp Cypress, Liquidambars
Bonsai Age: 39
Bonsai Club: Kinnoto Bonsai Group
Location: Gympie, Queensland
Contact:

Re: More toothpic pics

Post by senseijames »

Very Interesting have not tried this method before, often thought about trying it, are the tooth picks a tight fit or do you have to leave them a loose fit to give the roots room to emerge and just how or where do they emerge from, sorry if this sounded dumb. :roll: :?
User avatar
kvan64
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1627
Joined: September 10th, 2009, 9:46 pm
Favorite Species: black pine
Bonsai Age: 16
Location: brisbane
Has thanked: 6 times
Been thanked: 36 times

Re: More toothpic pics

Post by kvan64 »

I really hope this method works. I have an Acer ginnala Flame maple that has absolutely urgly roots that I was thinking of doing an airlayer. I may try this instead.
By the way, could someone explain the advantages and disadvantages of this method over airlayering please?
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Always we hope someone else has the answer.
Bonsai is an art of shrinking.
User avatar
Gerard
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 2656
Joined: October 7th, 2009, 12:32 pm
Favorite Species: pines
Bonsai Age: 16
Bonsai Club: BSV, Northwest, Northern Suburbs, VNBC
Location: Melbourne
Has thanked: 18 times
Been thanked: 48 times

Re: More toothpic pics

Post by Gerard »

senseijames wrote:Very Interesting have not tried this method before, often thought about trying it, are the tooth picks a tight fit or do you have to leave them a loose fit to give the roots room to emerge and just how or where do they emerge from, sorry if this sounded dumb. :roll: :?
They fit just tight enough to stop them falling out.
kvan64 wrote:I really hope this method works. I have an Acer ginnala Flame maple that has absolutely urgly roots that I was thinking of doing an airlayer. I may try this instead.
By the way, could someone explain the advantages and disadvantages of this method over airlayering please?
This process is less agressive, if it fails (never failed yet) holes will heal quickly.
I have had airlayers heal over before they were opened.
Airlayers are much faster early summer is best, while toothpicks are left for a full year till repot time.
The best reason to use this method is that you can improve roots where they are poor and keep good ones although I like to have roots the same thickness all the way around if possible.
Here is a link to one I did last year, it was this success which led me to have another go.
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=5496
Q: Why are we all here?
A: Because we are not all there.
User avatar
Jester
Hi there crazy kids!!!
Hi there crazy kids!!!
Posts: 910
Joined: March 15th, 2009, 8:14 pm
Favorite Species: Serissa,Prunus,Cotoneaster,Fukien Tea,(In that Ord
Bonsai Age: 5
Location: Sydney
Contact:

Re: More toothpic pics

Post by Jester »

Not a dumb question at all mate!! The toothpicks are in fact quite a tight fit. You would be surprised how much force the new roots can produce in order to expel a foreign body. Putting the toothpicks in loose is a bad idea because to begin with, as the plant gets moved around and water runs through the soil, it will probably get dislodged anyway.

Regards


John

senseijames wrote:Very Interesting have not tried this method before, often thought about trying it, are the tooth picks a tight fit or do you have to leave them a loose fit to give the roots room to emerge and just how or where do they emerge from, sorry if this sounded dumb. :roll: :?
This message has been created with 100% recycled electrons
User avatar
senseijames
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 350
Joined: May 8th, 2010, 8:12 am
Favorite Species: Figs, Swamp Cypress, Liquidambars
Bonsai Age: 39
Bonsai Club: Kinnoto Bonsai Group
Location: Gympie, Queensland
Contact:

Re: More toothpic pics

Post by senseijames »

Sorry guys thanks for the replies, Gerard and John, cheers
James
User avatar
senseijames
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 350
Joined: May 8th, 2010, 8:12 am
Favorite Species: Figs, Swamp Cypress, Liquidambars
Bonsai Age: 39
Bonsai Club: Kinnoto Bonsai Group
Location: Gympie, Queensland
Contact:

Re: More toothpic pics

Post by senseijames »

Sorry guys thanks for the replies, Gerard and John, I will definitely give it a try, cheers
James
Last edited by senseijames on July 30th, 2010, 6:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Glenda
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 980
Joined: January 10th, 2010, 12:44 pm
Favorite Species: Ficus, Swamp Cypress, Bouganvillea,
Bonsai Age: 2
Bonsai Club: Mackay Bonsai Club
Location: Mackay, Qld
Contact:

Re: More toothpic pics

Post by Glenda »

Does this method work on all species? I have a few ficus I would like to encourage better roots on.

Glenda
"Knowledge is not a heavy thing to carry around" - JB Taylor (my father)
"The more you learn the more you earn" - JB Taylor
"There are exceptions to every rule, but to be an exception, you must first be exceptional" - Me
User avatar
anttal63
Bend me twist me
Bend me twist me
Posts: 5325
Joined: November 11th, 2008, 12:32 pm
Bonsai Age: 14
Bonsai Club: MYCLUB
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: More toothpic pics

Post by anttal63 »

Glenda wrote:Does this method work on all species? I have a few ficus I would like to encourage better roots on.

Glenda

HI Glenda Ficus generally only needs to be cut back hard and brutally to throw new roots but this will only encourage further. :D
Regards Antonio:
Post Reply

Return to “Tips, Techniques, Maintenance and Advice”