Japanese Maple Repot story

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Now I am using a soft-bristled scrub brush to remove moss from the trunk of the tree. This is one of those fingernail cleaning brushes. It will see some use on my hands, later. It's a little hard to see because the trunk is wet, but there's quite a flare to the trunk!

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A mound of soil is placed in the bottom of the container. This is a mix of fir bark, hyuga (a hard pumice), coarse river sand, fine black lava and akadama - a red clay soil in pellet form. It has all been sifted prior to this so the texture is very good, with excellent drainage.

It was a little too dry from storage over the winter, though. The soil should be dry to enable it to work easily into and between the roots, but not bone dry like this.

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With very strong pressure, the tree is worked down into the soil with a rocking and twisting motion. The soil mound fits up inside the saucer-shaped depression that was created under the trunk, and the rocking and twisting settles it.

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Here is the tree all ready for tie wires. I am not going to cover the process of tying in because I have that information already available on the TreeBay Bonsai Tools & Supplies site under Articles section.

It is very hard to see and photograph wires against this color soil and root anyway. You can see the tie wires in the photo and those are crossed over the root ball and secured with pliers. I test fit the root ball, and had decided on the tree's front earlier.

Soil is added and worked in with chopsticks for about fifteen minutes to settle it. Then it is tamped down and ready to be watered.

The first watering is critical because it washes fines out of the soil and through the drainage holes. This tree was watered with a very gentle spray for 5 minutes continuously to ensure that the drainage is perfect.

This is not a young tree, but it won't spend more than two years in the pot before it will be ready for another transplanting.

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I will add another photo here next week that will show the tree on display at the show in Oakland. I didn't have time for a 100% completed photo today.


THIS SPACE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

Regards,

Matt

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bonsaial1

Hi Matt, As always, very informative. The story and pictures do justice to the superb tree.
P.S. just one thing, I noted that you have a plain light colored chop stick for planting. You need a special exotic hardwood laminated planting stick from that cool dude in Fresno that I've read so much about?

Good planting, Bonsaial

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It's about time that the proper respect be given to the fine art of balloon animals...

Plenty of good tips in this post, Matt. Nice looking tree too.

Jay

Matt, GREAT how to...This is what "us" novices need. To see someone doing is better than a book. Especially when you can ask the Author if needed. T H A N K Y O U!!!

Jay

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A Bonsai student living with his trees at N 44.37 W 77.49...
Think before you act... then think again... no good comes from rushing

Kazuki

LOL matt, where that picture you promised us?!?!?!

just kidding