Korean hornbeam project.

bonsaikc

I purchased this tree from Brussel's Bonsai back in 1997, I think. It's always had those hornbeam roots, very bad from the back. I am considering air layering this tree in the future. There is a large wound toward the top of the tree that I have been fighting with for years. Of course, I didn't understand at that time that hornbeams close wounds slowly if at all. I was using the green sticky stuff for covering cuts, and so the tissue died back. It only began reversing that trend over the last two years, when I finally was able to apply better technique and used the cut putty that will pull away from the wood.

Today I defoliated, unwired, rewired, pruned, and grafted. The leader was thick and leaned toward the back, so I raised a new one, trimmed the old, and grafted a back branch up to provide a branch there and help heal the wound.

It's not great material, but it's providing me valuable information and practice. BTW, this one isn't on the website.

Attached Images

	hornbeambeforefront.jpg (71.2 KB, 317 views)
	hornbeamafterfront.jpg (70.9 KB, 325 views)
	hornbeamafterleft.jpg (71.8 KB, 229 views)

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Chris Johnston
"She was a critic, and lots fo critics who aren't called to do what they write about grow jealous and mean and small in their disappointment." - Stephen King, Duma Key
Sashi-no-eda.blogspot.com

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Carl_Bergstrom

Chris,

Thanks for posting this one.

Despite the reputation for being tough to layer, I had good luck with a hornbeam that I layered last year to deal with a similar root problem. The new roots were not overly vigorous the way they would be on a mapl,e, but they did form relatively well-spaced around the base. I've also found that the species heals wounds 1" in diameter or less relatively quickly when you allow a sacrifice branch to grow out from just above the wound site. Unfortunately, the quick healing does tend to leave a bit of a darker-colored, bulging scar.

Best regards,
Carl

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bonsaikc

Thanks, Carl! I appreciate the feedback.

__________________
Chris Johnston
"She was a critic, and lots fo critics who aren't called to do what they write about grow jealous and mean and small in their disappointment." - Stephen King, Duma Key
Sashi-no-eda.blogspot.com

soltan

bonsaikc

I have seen this tree before and I like it alot as it is. Oh well have you air layerd like you stated you were thinking about.
You suggest there is a problem with using sealant paste compared to putty. I was not aware of this I have just used it on my korean again today the other cuts I used it on seemed to be healing well but it has only been about 2 months.
This sounds a bit like I am giving you advice but I am really asking for advice.

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bonsaikc

Not at all! I used grafting sealer on a largish wound on the back side of the tree where I have circled. The wound got much bigger as time went on. I defoliated the tree and kept all of the new buds that have formed around the wound, trimmed the edges back to fresh cambium, and let the tree grow with cut putty instead of grafting sealer. The wound has been closing but still has a ways to go. I will try to get some photos up before December is out.

I have not tried to air layer the tree yet, that may still be in its future.

Attached Images

1133627728_image.jpg (53.0 KB, 140 views)

__________________
Chris Johnston
"She was a critic, and lots fo critics who aren't called to do what they write about grow jealous and mean and small in their disappointment." - Stephen King, Duma Key
Sashi-no-eda.blogspot.com

jeremy_norbury

How's this one doing?

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bonsaikc

This tree's doing really well. I defoliated it again this spring. It will be a little slow to recover but it was necessary to direct more growth to other parts of the tree.

__________________
Chris Johnston
"She was a critic, and lots fo critics who aren't called to do what they write about grow jealous and mean and small in their disappointment." - Stephen King, Duma Key
Sashi-no-eda.blogspot.com

jeremy_norbury

Do you give it any winter protection, btw?

__________________

All I ask is the chance to prove that money can't make me happy. Spike Milligan
I told you I was ill. Spike Milligan's Gravestone

bonsaikc

Someone asked about this tree today in chat so I thought I would bump it up. The tree gets some winter protection, although I do not have an adequate setup yet.

The tree has done well and will be air layered this spring. I will post follow-up here.

__________________
Chris Johnston
"She was a critic, and lots fo critics who aren't called to do what they write about grow jealous and mean and small in their disappointment." - Stephen King, Duma Key
Sashi-no-eda.blogspot.com