AusBonsai

[quote="Jamie"]thanks alpine appreciate the confidence booster

i didnt think of that sort of string it would work a lot better then what i have done as the plastic graft tape although works well it can have a little bit of movement or strech unless worked properly around it many, many times over. i would be tempted to lift the tree but i would be a little bit worried doing that as i am expecting the tree to be growing a nice strong root system which will support the tree and the rock, moreso holding the rock tight

after the 3-6 months when the string falls off do you worry to much bout stability and how long before you lift the whole thing and work it?
what are your techniques overall getting the tree to attach after say 12 months or do you expect the tree to be on the rock solid by then? do you slowly remove levels of soil after so long?

i know these seem like basic questions but i havent had to much excperience with ROR as this was my first attempt!

jamie [/quote

Hi Jamie the tree is stable enough from the time i tie it . I usually don't carry the tree by the trunk but support the entire setup via the rock .Some of the rocks i use actually float and others are as heavy as lead . If i expose the roots i keep them out of the wind however i water with a hose without a nozzle on all my trees . Haven't washed a tree away yet nor too much Bonsai mix gets washed away either . If the roots tend to be a little loose wrap more string around but i don't bother to back fill with soil .I have only redone 1 tree out of many , Pines , Figs , Maples , Elms are all done the same and very sucessfully .I do carve some extra grooves to suit the individual roots on all my ROR trainers .A little 100mm angle grinder and a Diamond wheel "wet or dry" "USE SAFETY GEAR" EYE, MOUTH AND EAR PROTECTION AND DONT BEND THE DISC let it cut itself no need to force it .Sometimes you may need to cut 2 or 3 slits to acheave the desired width .Cheers

cheers mate they are good tips, i didnt think bout grinding more chennels, that is probably one thing i should think bout doing.

everything else sounds all good i will look at it after 9-12 months, its been in for a couple of months so i think a few more are needed, even with the speed clero grow.

i have given the trunk a little wiggle and it is moving just a touch but the whole composition is the rock and tree, it just hasnt set in the diatomite yet.

jamie

Very nice tree jamie. Could you tell me what species of the clerodendrum family this one is?

clerodendrum inerme mate

very fast growing these can be found all around the place, shan and rod have some good ones... and big they are good trees to work with and the bark ages really well strike from cuttings easy i just put some in the ground about two weeks ago and it is pushing some new shoots so i am hoping it is striking well, that is about 50mm trunk diameter, i know they will strike at bigger sizes though


jamie

Jamie wrote:clerodendrum inerme mate

very fast growing these can be found all around the place, shan and rod have some good ones... and big they are good trees to work with and the bark ages really well strike from cuttings easy i just put some in the ground about two weeks ago and it is pushing some new shoots so i am hoping it is striking well, that is about 50mm trunk diameter, i know they will strike at bigger sizes though


jamie

Did you mean this was a cutting???

i dont think it was mate... possibly though i would have to ask Rod, i got it of him, i do know these strike amazingly well though and make killer trees, especially from cuttings!

the natural hapit of them is a hedging/shrub/ground cover depending on location and use, they can even be found in peoples yards, there are a few massive ones out the front of someones yard i want to see if i can get but they are way to big for me to get by myself if i can, so i might need some help sometime

Right, I thought that you could get a thick branch like that to take root
I googled clerodendrum inerme and found some vine plant with rounder leaves. Could you post some mature leaves when you have time jamie. Just want to see if there are some around my area

mate you could get a cutting to strike that big

i will get a pic for you tomorrow, the info i found on them showed the exact leaf as these


jamie

edit- yes you will be able to find them in your area, you should be able to anyways, i know regan has seen some around in bris

if left to grow unchecked DK the leaves end up like this, on the larger side, up to 10cm long in some cases x 1-3cm wide.
heres the link where i got the pic http://www.bullockcreeknursery.com.au/clerodendron.htm


jamie

update-

this one is gonig extremely well and filling up nicely, the pictures dont do this tree justice honestly. i look forward to the day this one goes in a pot, it will be a while still, the tree is grabbing the rock very nicely, i just want it to be strong on there before it gets exposed, as soon as roots are exposed they harden off somewhat and slowe down in thickening.
i have put this veiw from above to try and show that the branching is placing nicely
jamie

looking really good Jamie. Don't be in a hurry to expose the roots when they start to flare over the rock then you have a great look. These clerodendrum get nice bark very young don't they.
Craig

hi craig

yes they can develop bark very well, it does take a little though, this one along with the triple trunk are collected trees so i cant be sure of how old they are. i have seen branches at about 7mm thick with a nice bark on them. they do make lovely trees and are very fast developing. this one has only been in training for 3-4months, since the middle of january this year.

they also strike of rather large cuttings Rod has had success with cuttings of upto 80mm.

the roots wont be getting exposed to soon, this one has another 12months or more before i even think about it. the thing with roots is the longer they are left underground, the best way to get good roots is to keep them covered

jamie

You are very right there Jamie. I would have thought one year is a bit ambitious, although I don't know the species. I kept my tridents buried for about 8 years. About 5 years in the ground.
Craig

maybe a little ambitious, but the way this one and my tripe is going i thik it will be close, the triple trunk is going to need repotting in another 3-6months, and its only been potted up in mid january. the one on the rock is now solid on the rock so i think 12 months time for a check wouldnt hurt. im getting about 1cm of growth a day on the shoots. if i wasnt pinching back nearly eery day i think it would be more

just a bit of an update

this will most likely end up back in the grow box for a while, i plan on growing the left hand branch down into a semi cascade, and i also think the apex will ne taken down an inch or so? it looked good in the grow box with everything covered now it is out i think it is to tall!
i am also going to be getting a few cuttings going so i can graft a few roots coming in over the front of the rock, that will be the best way to get some in the exact spots i want