Much more interesting than discussing "bonsai snake oil" I'd agree Chris, but probably a bit daunting for the average forum punter and I almost include myself in that.....:-)

Do you remember our chat about " If I had to graft a whole bunch of branches onto my tree trunk I think I'd be looking for another tree." ?

;-)

The "bonsai as art" lobby may view wholesale grafting as a mechanical/scientist's approach, akin to cosmetic surgery in its worst manifestations, changing nature etc. etc.

However, the web site step-by-step is pretty clear and is a cut way above the usual.

I have a virtually useless (for bonsai) Scots pine in a field with a long bare trunk section and this may be an opportunity to try and improve the tree with nothing to lose.

I'd also suggest that "grafting for branching" isn't widespread - otherwise there'd be more primo bonsai around perhaps?

Hopefully this will help you in spreading the message.

Tim, what does the base of your tree look like? It's possible to use just an interesting base. After grafting buds and having them take, begin reducing the main part of the trunk. In the article I have at home, it shows grafting two buds one below the other. The top one is a die-back sacrifice which will let the lower one live. Remember that for grafting buds for a new leader, point them up.

Good luck and thanks for the kind words.

Chris

Yo Chris!

The tree is linked below. An early purchase as you can tell!

Personally I think it's a bust and I'd be better served haggling with Fish over his potential cast offs if he's still in the market.

Sort of managed to sort out replacement branches on the bottom 4 inches but then there is a gap to the oversized bar branches 2/3 of the way up.

Maybe I can use it for Xmas in a few years.

:-)

Here is a link that might be useful: Pin Syl Waterii

Tim,

Is that the same watererii that I remember from a couple of years back?

I'm still in the market btw - just bought ANOTHER JWP - doh!

Chris - great article for refining stock. Hope people appreciate it.

Regards,

Fish.

Fish,

Same waterii, still as feeble.

You may change your mind re redundant stock if you saw how I've been mangling the ligustrum

;-)

Did you say you're keeping the JBP?

Hey if I stuck some photos in my album and posted, maybe you could get an off-line bidding war going and cover the recent trips to Ken.

DJ-TJ Bay has a ring to it.

:-)

Will contact you via email as and when.

Yours

Mr. 10 %

Keeping which JBP Tim??

Regards,

Fish.

Tim,
Do you have access to any collected sylvestris? Of course here in the US they are all landscape and nursery trees. By the time they have character, they are too large to collect.

Chris

Fish,

The literati style with the exposed roots and stylish 270 deg kink ( yr mail in Dec 04 refers)

Chris,

Sylvestris abound on the south coast/ New Forest and elsewhere in the UK. I know a couple of nurseries that specialise in the various dwarf types.

I did actually have a very good waterii about 5 years back (although didn't realise it at the time) that succumbed to root rot in persistent UK winter rain as it was potted in pure peat.

Have never really been an avid collector though. I'm ground growing a couple each of mugo, monterrey, strobus & sylvestris on my mini tree farm right now, along with a bunch of other stuff.

A lot easier than having 50 pots to water at home.

(You were right Rock)

Hi Tim,

Ah, that one. I'm afraid I was forced to use it in that large black pine group, as one of the trees succumbed over winter. I only found out last week that it was due to a bad case of pine bark adelgids hiding under the bark plates that are now marching relentlessly onto the other trees. I have been forced to go nuclear and hope that the little buggers burn in the chemical fires of hell very shortly.

Leaves me with a useless £50 Ian Baillie pot and £85 Tokoname though. Cheers Mr Adelgid!

Regards,

Fish.

Of course, I hoped you'd forgotten you were going to use it.

:-)

Those little adelgid blighters are the ones that leave like a white waxy residue?

I may have had those on the waterii that succumbed (ref above).

Did they just appear? Does Ken have any problems?

I always give everything a healthy blast of derris and fungicide round March time now and then Rapide every couple of months after.

Did the vine weevil thing last week as well.

A mini snail munched most of the leaves off a 2 ft hornbeam on the tree farm last week in 3 days before I found it so it was out with the slug pellets as well.

"Green" issues can go hang when you're talking quite a few hundred quid a pop.

Sorry about the problems you've had.

Apologies to KC Chris for hijacking and I see you've joined the style police BTW.

After doing some reading, I feel perfectly justified in attaching some tanuki style deadwood branches to that sylvestris above to fill in the gaps.

;-)

Hi Tim.

I reckon that they were on the trees last year, but they are so well hidden under old bits of bark they are hard to spot. I only managed to find them once I repotted the group. They are white and fluffy and nasty - normal contact pesticides don't work, you need systemics so that they can poison themselves while they suck the life-blood from your trees.

I've been having snail problems to, just like you. :(

Regards,

Fish.