How to grow good bonsai stock like the Japanese nurseries

[TimS]

The reality is few of the really good bonsai ever see the public domain; be it at clubs, shows and even less frequently online. Some will share on a youtube or instagram page but it's just a safety concern for many people. I know one gentleman who has some incredibly high-quality trees who will never show them as he values his privacy above the recognition for his trees, and i wouldn't dream of trying to persuade him otherwise.

I would be very surprised if there were huge numbers of these twisty junipers about; go to any club and most people are quite content to just keep a tree pruned occasionally and in a bonsai pot. Nothing wrong with that, but the jump from that mindset to intentionally growing high quality trees is a big leap that most retirees (the usual age bracket for bonsai) would be unwilling to take.

To start the process a person must have got on the forum, found the thread, been sufficiently motivated to begin, and sufficiently motivated to continue for x number of years. It doesn't sound like the vast majority of the club members i meet, and doesn't even sound like myself!

We're talking about a handful of people at most across the country who MAY have continued for a decade at this.

[Jow]

The reality is few of the really good bonsai ever see the public domain; be it at clubs, shows and even less frequently online. Some will share on a youtube or instagram page but it's just a safety concern for many people. I know one gentleman who has some incredibly high-quality trees who will never show them as he values his privacy above the recognition for his trees, and i wouldn't dream of trying to persuade him otherwise.

I would be very surprised if there were huge numbers of these twisty junipers about; go to any club and most people are quite content to just keep a tree pruned occasionally and in a bonsai pot. Nothing wrong with that, but the jump from that mindset to intentionally growing high quality trees is a big leap that most retirees (the usual age bracket for bonsai) would be unwilling to take.

To start the process a person must have got on the forum, found the thread, been sufficiently motivated to begin, and sufficiently motivated to continue for x number of years. It doesn't sound like the vast majority of the club members i meet, and doesn't even sound like myself!

We're talking about a handful of people at most across the country who MAY have continued for a decade at this.

That said, both Treeman and Shibui Bonsai have been growing and selling this kind of stock at shows for many years. Id be keen to see if any of the trees posted in this thread years ago are still going/growing.

I know a number of people around Aus that are growing these in fairly big numbers given how easy it is to take cuttings and wire initial shape. I have presented these techinques to a number of clubs around Australia also, so the info is out there. Its pretty east to grow 10-15 of these a year from cuttings off a single stock plant so you can see how you could produce a large number in a short time frame if you so desired, particularly if you begin to take cuttings off each respective batch.

[Jow]

For those looking to begin this process i can add a further shortcut to the process.

I would look to acquire the 'Itoigawa' species of juniper if you can find it. I have found it to thicken almost twice or more quickly than the standard kishu and related shimpaku varieties.

Itoigawa has its down side though as its rapid growth can lead to overly thick branches if not maintained well (and often) in more refined trees

A couple of works in progress below that have been entirely pot grown:

IMG_8210.jpg

I think this one is 5-8 years old-ish?? just beginning to cut shari into it but it is nearing 30mm thick at its base.

IMG_8212.jpg

3 years old. First year cutting was wired, grown out then re-wired again last Autumn.

In comparison the below tree (kishu or similar) is probably 20 year old and is around the same thickness as the first tree (5-8 year old one)

IMG_8168.jpg

[Scott Roxburgh]

I have a few going, albeit a number of years of lost growth due to lack of attention.

The ones in the 15cm terracotta pots are from 2014, 27cm from earlier, and one from Shibui bulking up nicely, and 10cm pots are last year's starts. These are mostly standard shimpaku/kishu, but the two lighter green are Itoigawa.

[Jow]

Looking good Scott, Will be interesting to see how you find the Itoigawa re: growth rates, I am guessing in a couple of years they will have out thickened your 2014 stock.

[Ryceman3]

The observation that itoigawa thickens quickly is interesting. I don't dabble much in junipers, but I have a couple of little ones that a member here generously sent my way. One is an itoigawa that was a cutting 18 months ago, so very young but I plant to develop as shohin in a similar way as shown on this thread. The other is a year or so older (stock standard shimpaku) that has already been bent up and twisted once. I'll be interested to see any differences in development between these because for the most part I find junipers to be really slow in thickening.
This is a great thread!

[Patmet]

I've got a batch of Shimpaku cuttings taken last year that I want to develop like this. I will take more this year as well. I bought a large stock plant for taking cuttings. I'm pretty sure it's Kishu. I don't know if anyone in WA has Itoigawa? I'm no expert at identifying but from what I've seen it seems to mostly be the chunkier foliage.

Thanks for bringing this thread back up, it will be very helpful.

[BirchMan]

I believe I only have Kishu and possible a Blaauw's.

[wrcmad]

I would look to acquire the 'Itoigawa' species of juniper if you can find it. I have found it to thicken almost twice or more quickly than the standard kishu and related shimpaku varieties.

If anyone is after an Itoigawa tube stock, I can post Australia wide (except WA and TAS).
I have established cuttings about 200mm high... the parent plant being imported direct from the Kokufu sales tables, as noted in this (slightly controversial) thread:

viewtopic.php?p=264173#p264173

Just send me a PM.

[wrcmad]

I would look to acquire the 'Itoigawa' species of juniper if you can find it. I have found it to thicken almost twice or more quickly than the standard kishu and related shimpaku varieties.

If anyone is after an Itoigawa tube stock, I can post Australia wide (except WA and TAS).
I have established cuttings about 200mm high... the parent plant being imported direct from the Kokufu sales tables, as noted in this (slightly controversial) thread:

viewtopic.php?p=264173#p264173

Just send me a PM.

Itoigawa all SOLD.
Cheers

[SuperBonSaiyan]

Sold out in less than 3 hours! There's a healthy demand for Itoigawa it seems.

[Ryceman3]

The resurgence of this thread has my interest piqued a little I guess!
Went out and checked my juniper this afternoon. Just a baby in development really, but I removed the first lot of wire while I was there on the standard shimpaku. I'll re-apply in a couple of months probably and up the twistiness, also look to give the itoigawa a bit of a bend at the same time. In terms of work required these are very low maintenance at this stage of development (unless of course I'm missing something!). Just sit there and grow... what I refer to as "sleeper stock" where you don't really pay it much attention until you look at it once in a blue moon and realise there is stuff happening.

Juniper 01.jpg

Juniper 02.jpg

Juniper 03.jpg

[treeman]

I will have a few Itowigawa at the Yarra Valley sale day tomorrow. 10am - 12:00

[SuperBonSaiyan]

I didn't realise that was on... Already made plans for tomorrow

I've been following this project for a while: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cz6cqOwR5L7/?img_index=4

Looks like it survived. Goes to show how important movement down low is - everything else can be corrected with proper technique later on.

[Promethius]

I will have a few Itowigawa at the Yarra Valley sale day tomorrow. 10am - 12:00

I’m disappointed to have to miss this one. The quality available at the last few YVBS sale days I’ve been to has been impressive.
I have your Shin Fuku cultivar from the 2021 sale in the ground this year, and will hopefully show it off on here eventually.

Andy