Growing Bonsai Stock

 Autumn Rain

Autumn in Taiwan is always a great season.  The weather cools and nights become easier to sleep.  This morning the day started off perfectly, sun shining and blue skies above, however rain found its way down later during the day.

 After some local egg pancakes and a hot coffee we made our way up the mountain to check on the seventy juniper trees that I planted 11 months ago.

Today's plan was to remove some weeds and also to see how the trees were growing.  I also brought with me some bonsai wire.

The trees were doing great!  Trunks were growing thicker and the green foliage was looking healthy.

The small growth at the juncture of trunk and branch was...

Removed.  There is always a lot of energy at these junctures and small branches try to grow at that position.  As we are trying to grow trees that look mature we cut this growth away and redirect the power into the other side branches, which we want to thicken up.  

            Another healthy growing juniper tree.  This is where I put my bonsai wire to good use.

I wanted to try and wire these trees and develop some interesting shapes in the trunk.  These trees are still quite young so they were easily able to shape. 

I cut off a piece of wire the length of the tree plus another third, poked one end into the soil about 10 cm and began coiling the wire up each trunk.

                                 

I then shaped twists and turns that hopefully makes the tree appear aged beyond its years.  

With bonsai trees, the trunk is king.  An appealing trunk is always the most difficult to develop.  Start early before the trunk become too thick and you have the chance to create a shape you desire.

I had planned on wiring all seventy trees but a painful back and a dozen mosquito bites soon put an end to that!

I like this little guy - good character.

After about 6 months I will remove the wire.  As soon as I see it bite into the bark I will know that the wire has done its job.  The tree has grown and formed to the shape of the wire.

Stay tuned.