Evolution of a Japanese Maple - Nebari Homenebaribonsai.com/Nebari_Bonsai/Projects_files/Evolution of Jap... · Evolution of a Japanese Maple Acer Palmatum, ... first bonsai pot in

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Evolution of a

Japanese Maple

Acer Palmatum, “Shishio Improved”

Developing nursery stock

Brian Van Fleet

http://www.nebaribonsai.com/


2004

2004

This tree

arrived in a 5-

gallon

container in

8/02. I

planted it in

the ground,

and layered

off the center

leader.



2005

Planted in it’s

first bonsai pot in

3/05. The tree

was allowed to

grow unchecked

for the season.



2005

Mid-April 2005.

The Shishio

Improved has fire-

engine red foliage

which turns a

fresh green in

early summer.



2006

September 2006. The

tree was partly

defoliated (large

leaves only) to

balance the strength

and let light into the

interior.



2006

Christmas 2006. The

maple was wired, and

a new front was

selected based on

the movement of the

trunk and appearance

of the nebari.



2007

Late April, 2007.

Bright red leaves

beginning to turn

green. The tree will

be defoliated May 4

to reduce leaf size.



2007

August 8,2007. Eight

weeks after

defoliation.

Leaf size was

reduced by 50%-75%,

internodes were

shortened, but the

leaves appeared

deformed; possibly

from pinching out the

center buds to

hastily.



2007

December 2007,

leaves have fallen to

reveal improving

ramification.



2008

February 2008, lightly

pruned and

completely wired.

The upper-left branch

is very strong and

was pruned harder

than the rest to

restrain it’s growth.

The bottom right

branch needs to

grow.



3/14/08

Nicely formed roots were pruned

back to improve the radial root

system. Third Repotting. Soil

used was 2-1 Akadama & Lava



4/08

In Spring-colored leaf



1/09

Recently pruned and

wired



4/09

In Spring-colored leaf



5/09 Defoliated



11/09



12/09

Recently pruned and

wired



3/10: 5th Repotting; improve nebari

Removing the tree from it‟s pot…note, soil is too wet!

Comb out roots, trim back side and bottom roots



3/10: 5th Repotting

Note improvement in

ramification of roots from 2008

to 2010. Heavy roots are

reduced gradually.

At right: small cuts were made in the

trunk between main roots, and packed

with rooting powder to encourage root

growth directly from the trunk. This may

avoid the need for root-grafts

2008

2010



3/10: 5th Repotting

Roots were combed out, shortened, and then attention was turned to improving

the nebari. Heavy roots were reduced, and replaced with finer roots. Finer roots

are combed outward and untangled to form the basis for future nebari.



3/10: 5th Repotting

Another heavy root reduced

gradually. All areas are packed

with rooting powder and

sphagnum moss to encourage

rooting



3/10: 5th Repotting

Run anchor wires through bottom of pot, add a drain layer, and a layer of coarse soil.

Here, soil is akadama and lava, 2:1

Work soil into the roots,

settling it with sticks to

ensure no air pockets

remain.



4/10

This technique

improves ramification

and shortens

internodes

Center buds are removed from

between the 1st set of leaves when

they reach this stage of development

Darkened

tip is

where

center bud

was

removed


www.nebaribonsai.com5/15/10: Debut Exhibition at

the ABS Spring Show



6/4/10

Partial defoliation, early June. Due to bud pinching in April, each shoot has just

one pair of leaves. Now remove one leaf from each pair. This allows air and light

into the center of the tree and encourages development of branches closer to the

trunk. This is tedious task.

A pair of leaves; the

left leaf was kept,

right was cut.



6/4/10

Before and After partial defoliation. Removing half of the leaves also makes it

easier to check wires and remove those that have dug in.



3/11: 6th repotting



Notes from last year:

• Partial Defoliation did increase back

budding, but slowed root growth

• „11 root pruning was lighter to allow new

roots emerging close to trunk to

strengthen

• Do not defoliate this year to keep roots

strong, then prune back heavy roots in

„12

3/11: 6th repotting



3/11: 6th repotting

3/10

3/11

If roots don‟t

strengthen/appear in these

areas, grafting may become

necessary



5/11



11/11



12/11



2004 and 2012

In 8 years…

Height: 26”

Trunk Diameter: 2”


Documents

Evolution of a Japanese Maple - Nebari Homenebaribonsai.com/Nebari_Bonsai/Projects_files/Evolution of Jap... · Evolution of a Japanese Maple Acer Palmatum, ... first bonsai pot in