AusBonsai

Gday folks!

I spent a bit of time yesterday checking through my forgotten stock, and found this Olive that I purchased some months ago from Orient Bonsai in Reservoir. (From memory, it set me back $70 - $90.) What struck me about this particular specimen was the great flare and the quite thick lower branch. The leaves are a nice size too, most being under 25mm in length. I expect to take a layer or two off the top, as I only require 2-3 nodes above the point where the branch leaves the main trunk.
I was hoping to find roots coming from the fattest part of the base, but in many cases the base curled under, and the roots were 'undercutting' the trunk (think "muffin top"). I drilled a bunch of 3mm holes, cut and sharpened a number of bamboo skewers, dipped them in a honey/root powder mix and began a round of 'toothpick therapy'. I have placed the thing into a dishtub and filled with well-drained mix.
Once the tree finds its feet, I'll go about setting some layers.

Thanks.

Fly.

Hi Fly,

I've seen the toothpick thing here on ausbonsai a few times, but haven't found any articles on it and how its works.
Can you tell me what the idea is, how it works and what type of trees it works on? As I may be interested in trying on a few trees I have here. AND do you just do it at normal repotting time? and how much of the roots do you remove when you acupunture it?

Cheers Nora

Hi Nora,The toothpick method of inducing roots is to drill holes in the places where you want roots to form.Drill to the beginning of the hardwood then insert matches/toothpicks into the holes, then plant the tree so that the matches are covered by soil.When the tree tries to callous over the wound it sends out roots along the toothpick. This method usually done in spring or when repotting is used alot on deciduous trees but i'm sure it'll work for evergreens aswell, Craig

Noticed you used "Skewers" not toothpicks, any reason for this?

I believe the last person whom tried with skewers failed... They just got pushed out... was that right...?
I think we were discussing using skewers for bigger plants/trunks etc.

Not saying it won't work, I'm sure you'll get it too, just wondering why. Are you hoping for larger roots to form or more than with toothpicks?

Cheers.

Gday Noramay, Craig & Mitchell!

Craig's explanation is spot on. I first came across this method when I read a post from Gerard, in which he was attempting to grow better roots on a Prunus. This is my first season trying the method, so I cannot yet vouch for its efficacy.

@ Mitchell: the only reason I have chosen skewers is that skewers is what I had at hand. They are easily cut, sharpened and bashed into the wood (I drilled my holes quite deep, and it was very satisfying to feel the "thud" when the skewer 'nails' were driven home). I'm not sure, but bamboo might be better suited to time under soil than the timber that is used for toothpicks.

Thanks all!

Fly.

VERY interesting. I will get some rooting powder tomorrow and try it on an olive I am developing. The tree has potential but I think I would like it with less base but I don't want cut off excess base AND the roots and set the developing top back. Trying this method could be a better way. I want the nebari to form just below the lowest left green leaf growing on the left side of trunk. I just think it would look better without the extensive base.

Hey Fly, how did your "toothpick" root system turn out? Any luck?

Spoony wrote:Hey Fly, how did your "toothpick" root system turn out? Any luck?

Gday Spoony!

I repotted the Olive recently (no pics, sorry) and found that the toothpick thing was not a resounding success. In fact, I would go so far as to say that it was almost a waste of time, effort and resources - unless you count failure as a learning experience (which I do). I cannot blame the method/theory in this case: I had the Olive in what I believed to be a well-drained mix (it wasn't) and in a spot where I believed it would receive enough light to grow vigorously (it didn't). Coupled with our very mild Summer, my mistreatment of the Olive meant that the existing roots barely grew at all, and new roots were out of the question.

This is not to say that I won't try it again...

I'll try to get pics of the stump and its siblings soon.

Thanks!

Fly.

FlyBri wrote:I'll try to get pics of the stump and its siblings soon.

Well, this isn't exactly soon, but better late than never, I suppose...
Updates sooner or later.

Thanks!

Fly.

I know how everybody talks about how vigorous these things are and how quickly they grow but this has not been my experience with them in our climate.

Looking good!! I was shocked to see that it cost you so much originally though. Over here in Adelaide they are everywhere in plague proportions! Most people would almost pay you to dig them out of their properties.Even most councils allow you to dig from the side of the road with no dramas. I guess they aren't as common in the east then?? But I have to say for your $70-90 you have got your monies worth with your layer and cutting.