PROJECT GARDENIA: Neagari Style

bonsaial1

Well here we go again. Uncharted waters for bonsai-al. I have always wanted a Neagari style tree(exposed roots) and this little gardenia that I picked up would give me the chance to get my feet wet.

I found the plant in one of those out of the way places at the nursery. This was not a bonsai nursery, just the regular run of the mill plant place. What was unusual about this plant was that it was not among the rows of gardenias that were arranged before me. This plant was out on the fringe with some other mixed plants that looked pretty bad. I feel that I may have rescued this little fellow, for it was probably on its way to the trash bin, due to all the soil being washed out and the roots semi exposed.

Well... I snatched it up in a heart beat and took the little guy home. This is him in the gallon container along with the tokonome pot it will go into. Pot seems rather small....hmmm?

I should mention that the tree has been pruned some. It was a lot more bushy than this when I brought it home.

Attached Images

01a.jpg (45.0 KB, 443 views)

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bonsaial1

The gardenia I am useing is a dwarf form called Raddichans(sp.) It gets blossoms about the size of a dime or nickel.

I prepared the pot by cleaning it with soap and water, sanded off some lime deposits, and gave it a coat of mink oil for protection this winter.

I bent a loop of wire through the drainage hole and made little ears on them so it wouldn't pull through.

Notice the crab emblem on the bottom of the pot. One of the more famous kilns in the tokonome region of Japan.

Attached Images

01b.jpg (39.7 KB, 383 views)

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A tree a day...thats all we ask.

bonsaial1

After pulling the plant out of the can, ole Al begins to worry. Some major rootage to deal with. How will I fit that into this little pot?

Attached Images

longroots.jpg (50.6 KB, 404 views)

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A tree a day...thats all we ask.

bonsaial1

I figured I would work on the KISS system. (keep it simple stupid) If the roots are too long just cut off what won't fit. Simple huh!

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rootsshort.jpg (51.6 KB, 394 views)

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A tree a day...thats all we ask.

bonsaial1

I tried the plant in the pot and decided that I should be able to shoehorn it in. I was looking for a specific planting angle, due to the way the plant comes off the roots. It will definately be in a semi-cascade/slant style. I will place the plant much the way it lays in there, and then fold the tree into an upright position, thereby keeping what I feel is the minimum rootage.

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trialfit.jpg (57.4 KB, 399 views)

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A tree a day...thats all we ask.

bonsaial1

In the previous photo I had already wired a root. I have never wired roots before, weird. The wire comes from down low and stops at the trunk. This is all backwards man.

On fine shohin such as this, I use a special bonsai mix for shohin trees from El Dorado Bonsai. I make my own soil, but this has a measure of akadama in it that I prefer for small trees in Fresno. It gets a little hot here in summer and the akadama will retain the moisture a little longer. Besides.. it is already sifted and just the right size for this little tree, about 1/16" or a little larger.

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eldoradosoil.jpg (32.4 KB, 344 views)

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A tree a day...thats all we ask.

bonsaial1

The pot is ready with its foundation layer of soil. I will place the tree and tie off some of the roots in the bottom of the pot. I will leave the ends long for tying the top portion of the plant after it is bent up into position.

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soilinpot.jpg (52.8 KB, 345 views)

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A tree a day...thats all we ask.

bonsaial1

I use a chopstick to work the soil down into the roots. More bonsai are lost due to this simple step. Air pockets around the roots can spell disaster for newly potted trees.

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workingsoilin.jpg (52.8 KB, 346 views)

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A tree a day...thats all we ask.

bonsaial1

With the roots worked in and the soil complete, I bent the top into position. I added small pieces of moss around the base of the roots to act as a dam for the final step. I needed the moss to form walls to hold the remaining soil I would need for the upper root mass.

I would place the piece of moss on and use a chopstick to tamp it in around the edge of the pot. With the moss tamped in, its like wall to wall carpet and it allowed me to hold the walls up with some wire pins. With the walls up, I just filled the enclosure up with soil and worked it in to the roots.

I left a few roots exposed to get some bark on them. I feel that they will add drama to the aged little tree. The exposed roots already have some great bark on the roots.

Attached Images

tampingmoss.jpg (54.6 KB, 351 views)

__________________
A tree a day...thats all we ask.