Acer Palmatum "Deshojo" suggestions/comments

John Dixon

Aaron,

Wow man, thanks for the kind words. I just got interested in your bonsai and here you are making me feel good. Thanks for that. Just wait 'til you see how bad my contest tree is doing and you will understand why!!!

I did a rather quick virtual and got carried away with the scale of the twigging, but the overall shape is there. The branching in red is where I do not see an existing branch, but would like to see two encouraged to grow. Obviously the virtual is in the future a number of years from now, but that is why I think it is important to consider it in the INITIAL styling. The next two virutals are the same basic shape but with less foliage in the lowest branches and the last one with the elimination of the lowest right branch and fill in with the next highest one. This material is worthy of much more than instant bonsai status, so patience and care should be used to create the silhouette. I'm excited for you and this bonsai. I look forward to seeing what you do with it, but I am very patient when it comes to seeing the results. Take your time and you will have an exceptional bonsai.

Warmest regards,

John

Attached Images

	1133960276_image.jpg (28.6 KB, 111 views)
	2.jpg (33.2 KB, 57 views)
	3.jpg (33.6 KB, 74 views)

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John Dixon

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Aaron_K

John,

Thank you very much for your kind words and for taking the time to do these great virtuals. I really like the apex and branch structuring you have envisaged. I too want to produce something truly beautiful with this tree and is why I was taking my time in deciding on a front, and holding off with any chopping or branch removal, which could potentially have set the development back a number of years.

Looking at the areas you highlighted in red, I think I may already have new young shoots in exactly those locations, which is a bonus! I am under no illusions that creating a bonsai resembling anything close to the virtuals you have done will be achieved in a couple of years, and I'm in no rush to create something instant which does not do the tree justice.

Thanks again John and everyone else for their comments and advice. Its is always appreciated. I'll probably update again in the spring, just prior to bud break, to see what the state of play is with regard to nebari. Hopefully there will be some lovely fat roots waiting to be unearthed.

All the best,

Aaron

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Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Muriel Strode

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klatia snob

I look forward to the update Aaron. I have one from the same consignment, of which I am waiting to see how the roots look. I put mine in a large pot and just let the top go wild, which it did with vigour. I've trimmed it back now, but it still has a way to go before it will look good.
Best wishes.

CScott

Aaron,

Very nice tree. The article in Bonsai Today #81, "Shaping Symposium" really woke me up to branch formation. Your tree is in a critical stage of great trunk, needs to heal and start branch formation. This article shows how to make really impressive 3 dimensional branches and an apex with lots of character. I'm looking forward to seeing a picture of the aquired tree without leaves.

Carmen

Aaron_K

Hi Klatia,

Many thanks for the kind words. I'd really like to see your tree as I remember John, the eBay vendor saying he had imported a few of these, and would be very interested in how yours develops too. I've resisted the temptation to dig down in the akadama for the moment, but am eager to do so in the spring, so fingers crossed, there will be some nice nebari waiting for me - and you too!!

Carmen, many thanks for the heads up on the magazine. I will endeavour to obtain a copy, as I would really like some in depth reference material on branch structuring.

All the best,

Aaron

__________________
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Muriel Strode

Vulpes pilum mutat, non mores!

"A fox may change its skin but never its character"

Aaron_K

Today I removed the akadama that the Deshojo was growing in. It had broken down completely into thick, heavy, compacted clay. I found some localised root rot too, which was subsequently removed. The tree has been repotted into a mix of Sophisticat Kitty Litter (Biosorb), Oil-Dri absorbent and a little screened organics.

As the akadama fell away, some nice fat nebari appeared, which now gives me the dilemma of selecting a new front to take advantage of them.

I've attached a few pictures of the base and nebari. Sorry they aren't the greatest, but the light was fading and that wind was chilly!!

All the best,

Aaron

Attached Images

	Deshojo-nebari-1.jpg (72.4 KB, 64 views)
	Deshojo-nebari-2.jpg (72.7 KB, 67 views)
	Deshojo-nebari-3.jpg (72.5 KB, 72 views)

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Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Muriel Strode

Vulpes pilum mutat, non mores!

"A fox may change its skin but never its character"

node

Pic three has my vote, but without the rest of the tree... hard to say.

I love deshojos, be sure to post a couple of pics when it has it's spring colors again!
I woulnd't mind seeing more of that tree anyway...

Stefan

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Joanie

Aaron, was it the fired akadama or the unfired? We get so much conflicting information on the breaking down of akadama, whether it will or won't. It's an expensive and time consuming experiment to find out ourselves.

Joanie

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Aaron_K

Hi Joanie,

To be perfectly honest, I'm not 100% sure on what type of Akadama it was. All I know is that I had a solid orange/brown block of clay in a pot lol. I had always assumed that it was the high fired one. The surface looked perfectly fine, lots of small (2-3mm) granules, which disguised that it had compacted only 1/4" below. The tree has been in the Akadama for around 18 months or more, and the soil was fine when I slip potted the tree last year.

I won't be using Akadama again. Its expensive, and I'm trying other clay soil components too, that are cheaper and look to be better. The kitty litter is absolutely great, and there is no way that it would break down and compact in the manner the Akadama has.

I mentioned on a thread in the soil forums about Oil-Dri's UK product (that's the light clay soil you can see on the surface). I've had it soaking in water for over 2 weeks and even after crushing it with pliers - it still holds up.

Stefan, I'll take some more pictures soon when the leaves are in their spring glory and the light is better - and when I'm not getting frostbite from that wind lol. I was lucky to get the pictures off the camera today, as the battery went flat about 30 seconds later and I don't have the charger.

All the best,

Aaron

__________________
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Muriel Strode

Vulpes pilum mutat, non mores!

"A fox may change its skin but never its character"