AusBonsai

Jason57 wrote:

treeman wrote:Individually

hey Mike, is that so they don't have to compete for nutrients etc....in the same pot, and weaker ones stay weak?
My guess is they can grow individually and the grower can manipulate how they grow according to what
they want the overall scene to look like and then put them together once they are all strong and healthy

Is that right? (Im new to this and look forward to reading everyone's answers.)

The reason to grow them seperately has nothing to do with branches as some have mentioned and everything to do with roots. You need to cut the roots back severely and establish them in very shallow pots for one year at least (preferably two. You won't have much in the way of branches in 2 years (maybe just the odd primary or secondary branch if you are pruning correctly)
Another reason to grow seperatlely is to equalise the vigor in the individual trees. Yet another reason is that you can collect several more trees (usulally smaller/thinner) to add to the group while you are waiting. Remember to make a good 10 tree group you should have 15 or twenty on hand.
Once you have nice flat radial roots, you can prune them as you see fit when constructing your group. Also if you feel that you need to re-arrange it the following year (highly likely!!), the job will be very much easier.
You can grow small groups of 2 or 3 trees in the same pot but this will make the arranging a little more difficult later.

Bonsai soil or potting mix?


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Homer911 wrote:Bonsai soil or potting mix?


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Potting mix with perhaps a bit of course sand added is fine.

Ta treeman


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Homer911 wrote:Bonsai soil or potting mix?


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is there any difference?
All mine are in the same mix regardless of the age or pot style

Ken

I would grow them all together and never wire them, just clip and grow.

Check out Arthurs Robinsons Trident Maple group at the NBPCA; it is a good example of seedlings of different sizes planted together and maturing together.

Grant

Here it is a few years ago.

Grant Bowie wrote:

I would grow them all together and never wire them, just clip and grow.

You will need to do some wiring occasionally. It's pretty much unavoidable.

BTW I cannot oped that image?

All mine are in the same mix regardless of the age or pot style

Mine too Ken and the trees seem to be doing ok here.

treeman wrote:

Grant Bowie wrote:

I would grow them all together and never wire them, just clip and grow.

You will need to do some wiring occasionally. It's pretty much unavoidable.

BTW I cannot oped that image?

I'll try and get a recent image. Since we have had the group in 2008 we have done no wiring, just trimming. Not sure if any/much wiring was done before that.

Grant