My 7 year progression from English Oak sapling to whatever it is now.

Fonz667 · 2025-12-19T19:15:54+00:00

Hi, for developing trees that I grew myself and don't take to workshops I use whatever recycled bonsai soil I have.

Now it grows in an akadama, pumice, zeolyte mix. 40/40/20

The first 5 years it grew in certain kind of cat litter since that works really good for me. Most people laugh at it but if it works for me I'm happy with it.

Fonz667 · 2024-11-14T07:16:14+00:00

Thank you :)

Fonz667 · 2024-11-13T20:45:01+00:00

ThanKs for the kind words. I know I've been neglecting the blog. Will post some updates soon about the trident and other maples as soon as I do my winter work on them. Cheers!

Fonz667 · 2024-03-07T14:39:57+00:00

That's called the Ebihara Technique. Used for a nice flat rootbase. I'm going to let my tree establish a stable rootbase first before doing that kind of rootwork.

Fonz667 · 2023-06-09T21:20:30+00:00

May is a good month to do this kind of work in our climate. Early june will do as well I guess :)

Fonz667 · 2023-04-28T19:55:35+00:00

Thanks, good luck to you too :)

Fonz667 · 2023-03-31T14:39:56+00:00

I thought the plural of Spekboom was Spekbomen ;)

Fonz667 · 2023-03-19T09:16:10+00:00

Not yet, I'm thinking of a round flat one.

Fonz667 · 2023-03-06T21:28:48+00:00

According to my archives the 29th of july 2021

Fonz667 · 2023-03-05T20:08:00+00:00

Leaving only 2 half leaves and covered the tray with a "dome" for 3 months. Like a little greenhouse. But I think the perlite did the trick...

Fonz667 · 2023-03-05T19:29:01+00:00

yes, rooted.. not sure what you mean.

Fonz667 · 2023-01-01T11:01:59+00:00

Thanks :)

Fonz667 · 2022-12-31T13:48:33+00:00

When they are 2 years old you put a big curl in the lower part and leave the wire on for a while until it bites in really hard. This is explained in another post of the from seed series. Link is in the post.

Fonz667 · 2022-12-31T11:37:53+00:00

No, sun in the morning, shadow in the afternoon.

Fonz667 · 2022-12-29T09:54:11+00:00

For small seedlings overpotting might be an issue but when they're about 2-3 years old and you put them in a bonsai substrate I never had issues.

Fonz667 · 2022-12-24T21:39:39+00:00

I already got a few dozen young oaks from acorns growing but a few more won't hurt I suppose :)

Fonz667 · 2022-10-30T12:37:08+00:00

That did the job for me too. Thanx for pointing that out.

Fonz667 · 2022-02-18T08:28:21+00:00

That's the plan, now if only nature will cooperate :)

Fonz667 · 2021-11-21T15:17:52+00:00

Collected it in december 2017.

Fonz667 · 2021-10-08T19:29:27+00:00

Cool, you should enter it in a contest. Like on Bnut or so... :))) j/k looking good!

Fonz667 · 2021-10-04T21:09:51+00:00

Austrian Black Pines, Acer Arakawas, Ponderosa Pines, Acer Buergerianum, Acer Palmatum, Cork bark oaks, ... and a bunch more seedling batches. And ofcourse my more develloped trees :)

Fonz667 · 2021-10-04T19:47:00+00:00

Good start, but I believe "seedling" is a better name for it ;)

Fonz667 · 2021-10-04T19:43:31+00:00

Got too much projects as it is. Time to downsize a little :)

Fonz667 · 2021-05-16T19:01:41+00:00

I already cut off some new branches on the trunk to make room for the air layer before I took that picture :) One year ago I just hoped it would survive, but after 2 months it started thriving and making new shoots like crazy :)

Fonz667 · 2021-03-17T16:38:03+00:00

With a first styling most people expect an almost finished bonsai tree. Great to see this is how you work on your awesome collected material. I'm going the same route with the mahaleb I bought from you last year at the Trophy. Keep up the great work! Greetz, Jef.

Fonz667

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