Japanese Boxwood - Now a true Bonsai

Well, it's becoming 'more' of a bonsai, I'll say that.  :)   This is the apex of my experience so far - of bonsai and homemade pottery combined.  In this instance this pot is actually the creation of my best friend Aaron, which I'll revisit as this post goes.    I finally feel like I am getting somewhere...  :)

Before - the Tree Trunk Pot of Aarons

This pots beginnings are better detailed in this post. 

Here are some finished pictures - glazed and ready for use.  Love this pot, Aaron's work on the trunks and branches that work into the foilage on the rim, is appreciated better in person..  The glazing is beautiful!

Picture from last season

This tree's beginnings are detailed in this post. 

Japanese boxwood before the transformation

This is a picture today that I took before my work.  The wire came off, and as you can see it survived the unusual winter we had very well, with a great deal of new growth showing.

Vast root reduction

As you can see, I reduced the roots a great deal vertically, so that it will fit into it's new home.  I did this by gently raking out the roots, sort of like picking hair apart from a bad perm (lol).  It was easy, as it seemed this tree wanted to be a bonsai; it has a very fiberous root system, with no real large, obnoxious roots that I had to wither down!  

Pot is prepared with wire and layer of soil

Something I've inspired Aaron to do in his future pot designs, is to add holes for 'wire'.  On this pot, I'm snaking wire through it's drainage holes to help hold the root ball down in the pot.  Ready for the tree!

Japanese Boxwood - in new home

I'm so excited!  This went so well; I've planned this tree's future out in my mind since my first work on this tree last year - and knew after Aaron's pot was glazed that this Boxwood would find it's home here; To work through the process with patience and to have a result like this - I can say I think that this is my 1st 'real' bonsai created on my own, from start to well.   Not finished, but looking like a bonsai.  There is still alot of work ahead; some more reduction, and then beginning the full ramification that I have planned for this tree.  It's future is an Informal style bonsai, with heavy ramification reducing the leaf size dramatically.

Close up of the trunk wired to hold root ball

Closer look at the base, the wire threaded through the root ball and gently twisted around the trunk, the soil (80% inorganic, 20% organic), and a nice little rock for effect (I dig rocks in the bonsai pots, the right rock can add depth and increase the image of landscape for the pot itself).

Yay!  A fun day and a productive, exciting experience.  Thanks to my wife for letting me indulge time today!  :)

Haha - Karate Kid Revealed?

As my Dad asked me recently - 'are you becoming a tall Mr. Miyagi?' This was all in jest and I got a kick out of it - as actually I was not at all turned on to Bonsai by those movies at all but my own personal life transformation and interests in Meditation and nature. So, to day I find a link on one of my favorite blogs to watch, Kitsune's blog, I saw this:

http://www.phoenixbonsai.com/Days/DaysIndex.html

So I checked it out. Well, for my birthday June 22nd.. Karate Kid was released in 1984. So.. Hah!! Maybe I am... :)

10 Unknown truths and thoughts for Bonsai beginners

1. There is no such thing as 'Bonsai seed', or 'bonsai tree'. It's all in the care, pruning, rooting, and potting. Almost any sort of plant can be 'dwarfed' and appear as 'Bonsai'. Some species take to this more naturally and appealingly, than others.
2. Bonsai do not thicken well in pots - they must be allowed to grow unconstrained in the ground to reach appropriate trunk thickness. Chopping, develops taper. You will own more 'trunks' far longer than you will have finished bonsai if done properly while enjoying this Zenful practice. Think of it as 'tree farming'. :)
3. You 'can' replant your Mallsai (Those $20-$40 glued-in-stone creations from 'large' garden centers..) in the ground to regain trunk thickness - but will lose some existing natural Jin in the process. (A positive in my mind)
4. You don't have to go find a 100 yr old tree, to find good material. (It likely will be though)
5. Not all trees, are good material... :)
6. Don't let the bonsai addiction keep you pinned to small beginnings - go find a mature bonsai that you like, bring it home, learn how to care for it; watering, pruning, repotting. You will learn much from the care of a mature bonsai. As you grow your 'sticks' and captured 'yamadori' into future Bonsai, this knowledgable care will be passed on to your expanded collection.
7. Don't toss your 'sticks' out once you realize that's what they are - everything has it's place (not necessarially in the compost heap). They are great to develop 'habits' of tending and care. You might develop a nice looking tree out of them yet - with time and patience.
8. 'Do' invest in some unique species seeds if you have patience and time. This does allow complete control of the plant, especially it's taper in early stages. Just don't plan on calling it a bonsai for at the minimum 5-10 years. (It it's more than an addiction and is a passion - you will want a few like this in your collection at some point, to expand your species and available material for future trees).
9. Bonsai do not, live well inside, no matter what they tell you! Only a few species do ok in the home, and even less 'thrive' inside. Plan to give your trees good viewing locations outside. They are to be viewed and enjoyed, their energy felt! Our natural tendacy is to bring that inside with us - give them their world, and that is outside. Visit and tend them, in their world and you will be rewarded by their presence.
10. Create what you like, do not lock yourself into 'style' standards. It's good to seek opinions from others, share your work and gain input. Do not let it turn you off or hurt your Ego to hear hard truths about trees. In the same vein, take it all with a grain of salt; many bonsai masters or 'sculpters' think nothing of their comments, or the original design of the bonsai owner themselves when they review a tree. Many hold strict standards, while others have such high marks that an honestly beautiful tree may hear nothing more than 'looks ordinary'. That's great! Bonsai should look as regular trees - not all have to appear as if they are balanced on a cliff dangling for their lives. :)