Alpineart's Blog

Like most trainers around here this has undergone another restyle . Sabina’s as Phoenix Grafts like quite good however using aged stock does have its draw- backs They tend to slow down and respond at a slower rate than younger stock . I have a couple that were older material and my advice is to use a Shimpaku of at the least very young vigorous stock . Back to the project . The apex hasn’t fused which in itself is a bonus as the design can and had been altered without any damage . I simply un-wound the to apexes and re-set them in a more desirable position , this allowed me to lower the apex of the foliage for a more compact tree and increase the dead wood jin and shari exposure . After a basic trim it was simply rewired and styled as the carving was not required on this trunk . I have re-set a few branches and will possibly use the lower main branches as future jins after they have done the job as sacrifice branches thickening the live vein into the groove in the dead wood . This will now be slip potted into i bigger pot and returned to the grow benches where i will continually pinch the new growth in order to thicken the foliage ads .

Cheers Alpineart

This is 1 of many Phoenix Grafted junipers that are progressing to the trainer stage . It has had 18 months of growth and is basically ready for its initial style . While these Junipers are quick growers compared to the Sabina Junipers they can handle neglect better . This particular item has been left to its own device apart from a basic watering , allowed to grow on unhindered apart from a slip pot during the growing time . With the foliage thick enough to cover most of the dead wood trunk , its time to shed a bit of light onto the style . There has been some die back of side branches but that’s basically what happen when plants are neglected . I have given the whole project a good work over from trimming of the foliage , re-carving of the entire trunk base and defining and detailing of the grains using a Dremel type carving tool .The dead wood was the brushed with a power wire wheel to remove the fibrous waste , then another  application of  lime sulfur to preserve the trunk and a re-pot into a bigger pot . There has been some structural changes made to compensate for the loss of a couple of side branches . These remaining branches were re- grooved into the dead wood base in a more desirable position . after which it was wired and styled for the  first time . This now will begin its constant training for the next few years using a pinch and grow approach to defining the foliage pads and outline of the overall canopy of the Bonsai . I have looked closely at this deadwood base and can see the possibility of splitting it into 2 separate trunks , basically another option for the future , hence a definite front has yet to be chosen .

Cheers Alpineart