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nigel,

here is part 2 of the post. sorry about the delay; we had a real mess at work today.

bonsai: nature in miniature, by kyuzo and isamu murata. i highly recommend this book if anyone does anything with japanese trees.

according to the book, tosho juniper (matsu) is a hard tree. it is mist suitable for chokkan (formal upright) styles. this is the style i have personally seen in the mountains.

there are many variations of this tree, "such as yore-nezu (juniperus rigida var. filiformis Maxim) whose branches and trunk crawl along the grown, and shidare-nezu the tops of whose branches droop down." "shidare" means "weeping".

the best soil to use "is a mixture of coarse sand and 30 to 40% red clay" (akadama). furthermore "since tosho grow in the wild under severe conditions, its withered branches and trunk, with their bone white color, have the appearance of trees which have been swept by strong winds but have somehow survived. Its tip, therefore, should be made into a jin".

when caring for this tree, "syringing the leaves with water is the best way to water the tree. this tree should also be fertilized in the same way as kuro-matsu (Japanese black pine).

this tree should be nipped the same way as you would nip a sugi. "using shears for this will harm the tree" so use your fingers.

"new twigs should be wired when the leaves have more or less hardened." paper-wrapped wires and raffia should be used and all unwanted branches should be cut off at the same time as wiring. jin should be made during the winter.

this tree should be transplanted no more than every 3 or 4 years "when new buds begin to appear." this tree loos good in pots that are made from mud.

i have never personally worked with this tree, but i have used the suggestions given in both books to the letter in caring for my cherry trees, JBP, and some others. i have found that it gives good advice. i have seen this tree in nature, and to be honest, i have seen it only in the "formal upright" style, but then, and tree worth making into a bonsai in japan has been collected already.

i hope this helps somewhat. let me know if you have any questions.

jeff

6-May-2005	#10
ripssurf fugu...mmmm Join Date: Apr-2004 Location: Florida (Brevard County) Country: USA USDA Zone: zone 10 AHS Heat Zone: 9 Posts: 520	Part 2 nigel, here is part 2 of the post. sorry about the delay; we had a real mess at work today. bonsai: nature in miniature, by kyuzo and isamu murata. i highly recommend this book if anyone does anything with japanese trees. according to the book, tosho juniper (matsu) is a hard tree. it is mist suitable for chokkan (formal upright) styles. this is the style i have personally seen in the mountains. there are many variations of this tree, "such as yore-nezu (juniperus rigida var. filiformis Maxim) whose branches and trunk crawl along the grown, and shidare-nezu the tops of whose branches droop down." "shidare" means "weeping". the best soil to use "is a mixture of coarse sand and 30 to 40% red clay" (akadama). furthermore "since tosho grow in the wild under severe conditions, its withered branches and trunk, with their bone white color, have the appearance of trees which have been swept by strong winds but have somehow survived. Its tip, therefore, should be made into a jin". when caring for this tree, "syringing the leaves with water is the best way to water the tree. this tree should also be fertilized in the same way as kuro-matsu (Japanese black pine). this tree should be nipped the same way as you would nip a sugi. "using shears for this will harm the tree" so use your fingers. "new twigs should be wired when the leaves have more or less hardened." paper-wrapped wires and raffia should be used and all unwanted branches should be cut off at the same time as wiring. jin should be made during the winter. this tree should be transplanted no more than every 3 or 4 years "when new buds begin to appear." this tree loos good in pots that are made from mud. i have never personally worked with this tree, but i have used the suggestions given in both books to the letter in caring for my cherry trees, JBP, and some others. i have found that it gives good advice. i have seen this tree in nature, and to be honest, i have seen it only in the "formal upright" style, but then, and tree worth making into a bonsai in japan has been collected already. i hope this helps somewhat. let me know if you have any questions. jeff