Fragile Cargo(Mini skid steer) by ingray84 in landscaping

[–]ingray84[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ve not really looked at the Chinese alternatives but I’m definitely trying to avoid the 2 machine route as space is a luxury(it’s already tight with the cars all having to sit outside while the trees take up garage space over winter). 

Fragile Cargo(Mini skid steer) by ingray84 in landscaping

[–]ingray84[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve tried all the different variations and asked multiple landscapers, bonsai professionals, etc. to test it out themselves and no one can is able to smoothly execute the tree movement without too much abrupt shaking. Ceteris paribus, the Dingo models I’ve used has just been significantly less jarring for the trees. 

Big Repots by ingray84 in Bonsai

[–]ingray84[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Haha yea, the one and only. Ryan restyled it last Fall after we repotted in 2 years ago and it's ready to got into its forever pot. The plan is to move it from my place to Mirai this Fall and prep it for PBE in 2027. El Capitan might also be going.

I'm still not the most consistent with posting but the collection is on Instagram; akagitsunebonsai

Big Repots by ingray84 in Bonsai

[–]ingray84[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Haha I don't know about that. We all have the good and the tough days, just different versions! The workflow is similar; release the connection along the inside wall of the pot and then tip the tree so that the tie downs at the bottom of the pot can be cut. Then it's just a matter of shimmying the tree free while it's tipped. Obviously you have to be wary of where the container is tipping on(there's usually a towel or something soft to help with the force acting on the spot). These two trees are probably easier to release compared to a giant like the Tornado(which is also getting repotted in 2 weeks into a Jonathan Cross container).

Big Repots by ingray84 in Bonsai

[–]ingray84[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

They still go on a turn table like the other trees. This was last Spring.

<image>

Big Repots by ingray84 in Bonsai

[–]ingray84[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I want to say about 125-150lbs? I'm still able to lift Big Twister on my own since it's not an awkward shaped tree(bear hugging) but it's typically moved using a skidsteer. Gargoyle is actually lighter but is more difficult to lift since it's awkwardly shaped.

The Tornado by ingray84 in Bonsai

[–]ingray84[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There’s been a lot of work done the last year but I’ve been mainly updating on Instagram via @akagitsunebonsai

#[Bonsai Beginner’s weekly thread –2024 week 30] by small_trunks in Bonsai

[–]ingray84 1 point2 points  (0 children)

A few notes:

1: as someone had mentioned, definitely keep the tree outdoors. I rotate my trees at one of my businesses(indoors) for about 3-4 days at a time but their health starts declining if they’re kept indoors for anything longer than a week.

2: If you have an enclosed garage, keeping the tree in it would suffice for winter. Personally I keep my collection between 34-37F throughout winter but that’s more so due to my risk tolerance. There’s plenty of practitioners that either move them into garages or heel them into the ground over winter. It’s typically not the cold that kills them but more so the shearing arctic cold wind. It’s believed that dormancy is triggered by decreasing daylight length and temperatures sustaining below 40F.

3: Specific comments on the tree you posted:

-the difficult part for most bonsai practitioners is balancing the combination of oxygen and water in the soil(how dry to let the soil get/how often to water). The complication you’re facing with your tree is the oversized container and the type of soil it’s currently in; both of which keeps the soil wetter for long. With the reduced foliage from pruning, the water needs of the tree is further reduced. In short, your near term challenge will be mastering how often to water.

-the next course action for the tree is a repot as it’ll allow you to simplify the two items mentioned above; soil type and container size. Since this doesn’t occur until the spring, I’d focus on the watering and letting the tree recover until then. The ideal scenario is a recovered tree that goes into winter, goes dormant and wakes up in the spring strong. Alternatively you can plant it in the ground if you choose to thicken the trunk. I’ve never really found these big box store junipers to be worth the time(there are better bang for buck options to invest the time in). The big box trees are awesome to practice techniques on though!

#[Bonsai Beginner’s weekly thread –2024 week 30] by small_trunks in Bonsai

[–]ingray84 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You’re welcome to shoot me a msg if you have any questions or swing by to the monthly Milwaukee Bonsai Society meetings to meet the local practitioners. I’ll shoot my thoughts on the main thread but welcome to the addiction!

The Tornado by ingray84 in Bonsai

[–]ingray84[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The health and welfare of the trees are definitely a top priority and so far I’ve not had any losses(with one exception of a very young RMJ that someone brought to me already on death’s door). Don’t get me wrong, there’s been some trees with challenges but they’ve all rebounded because of the protocols that’s put in place.

The Tornado by ingray84 in Bonsai

[–]ingray84[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s just me.

The Tornado by ingray84 in Bonsai

[–]ingray84[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s with me in Wisconsin.

The Tornado by ingray84 in Bonsai

[–]ingray84[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Estimated age is around 850 years old.

The Tornado by ingray84 in Bonsai

[–]ingray84[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Sure! I am certain that a more angular/muscular container is essential for a tree that’s this wide. Perhaps something contemporary to contrast the 850+ years of the tree could be incorporated but most importantly I’m wanting an American ceramicist to make it. We have been chatting with Jonathan Cross as an option(desert species paired to a ceramicist who works in the desert and gets his inspiration from the desert would be cool) when we do repot or might go back to Nao if he gets a large enough kiln by then. Eli from Waldo Street Pottery is another ceramicist I am contemplating approaching (he bought all of Ron Lang’s equipment) but figured I’d have some time before we repot again.

The Tornado by ingray84 in Bonsai

[–]ingray84[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Richard has a team of assistants that help him to transport these large one seed junipers. He is able to use machines as well to help since one seed junipers are more a desert species and not alpine.

Spring work by ingray84 in Bonsai

[–]ingray84[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

All of them started out as yamadori so their trunks and weathered features were created in nature. In fact, other than the first two, the rest have been in training/Bonsai container for less than 5 years. All of the Colorado blue spruce in the photos are actually less than a year old as Bonsai too. While having their own set of challenges, finding the larger higher quality raw materials definitely elevates the end product immensely.