I have grown this tree from a seed. When it was about one year old (2006,) I planted in this
tube, and the tube was put inside a plastic pot as seen. The purpose was to grow long roots.
I planned to do a root-over-rock with it by the end of Winter 2007, but I could not find a suitable
rock. Also lacked of times to properly look after it, so during the growing season of 2007-2008
I let the roots ran free onto the ground. I have realised since the beginning that it was a mistake,
because when the roots are big, they are almost impossible to bend into positions.
* Some basic measurements:
- Pot height: 15 cm.
Pot diameter: 25 cm.
Tube length: 15 cm.
Tube diameter: 4.5 cm.
Tree height: 22 cm.
Trunk diameter: 1 cm.
ago, and I killed it shortly after. I have only one tube.
As I have thought, roots are big and not all are suitable for my purpose. Those cannot be used
are cut off.
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I have found it hard to find good rocks. The bonsai dealers seem to become collectors themselves!
This rock is blue in colour. I am guessing that it is the kind of rocks that get crushed to make roads.
I do not know its origin. I found it while digging my front yard. It had been used as some kind of a
border for a flower bed or something, and was forgotten till I found it again. I broke a piece of it while
chiselling out the cements. I glued them back using the Selleys All Clear Multipurpose Co-Polymer
Sealant. $7.00 for 90 gram from Bunnings. The label states that it is an Australian product and
manufactured in NSW.
I have used it before to glue some small rocks into a pot. More than seven years have passed, and
they are still glued together despite being left outside the whole times.
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There are many roots, but I could select only three for use.
The above photo shows a big gap between the rock and the trunk, I could not reduce it any further.
I felt that if I force the roots too hard, it might split. With times, hopefully this can be corrected.
I do understand that plastic grafting tapes, or raffia could use to bound the roots to the rock.
I had neither, I did not know where to find them, so I just recycled a piece of bandage (I have to
bound my left foot occasionally while jogging,) and a shoelace. I think they will do the job.
It is potted into a big box to recuperate. The black thing on top is an upside down plastic pot that
has it bottom cut out. The rock is completely covered in soil. The plastic pot can be pulled out fairly
easily to examine the roots.
At the time of potting it, I planned that in October 2008, when it has regained sufficient strength,
I will take the plastic top out, cut a few spots on the tree big roots, and hopefully it will produce
more roots.
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Preparing another tree for Winter 2009:
This seedling is about 1 year old. Its trunk is about 1.5 mm.
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[font=Arial]After Nearly Three Months[/font]
The following photos were taken on 04/November/2008:
As I have hoped, it has recovered enough strength -- judging from the looks of the leaves and
young branches.
As mentioned previously, I planned to cut a few spots on the existing roots to hopefully
stimulate more roots. When I took out the plastic pot, I saw several young roots sprouting
out. In the following photos, the circles mark where the new roots can be seen:
So I did not do anything, I just put the plastic pot back, refilled the soil, gave it more dynamic
lifter. I will let it grow freely for the rest of the 2008 season.
I would like to reduce the height of the tree a bit further, but for this season I need to the
roots developed. That is the reason why I will let it grow freely.
