Comments for The Bonsai Blog of Rune Kyrdalen

Comment on New spruce by Rune Kyrdalen

Rune Kyrdalen — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 10:25:37 +0000

Hi Graham. I have to underline that I only do all these preparations before I collect the spruces. I don’t prepare the pines (P. sylvestris) at all before I collect them. They don’t need any preparations and the survival rate is very good. Around 90 % usually. I have no experience with hemlocks, but if they grow in bogs or peat soil it will probably be a good idea to prepare them like I do with my spruces. If they live in soilpockects in/on the rock and you can get a compact root ball I don’t think you need to prepare them before collection even if they are a bit weak. Just place them in a pot with a free draining soil mix and water and fertilize well and they should look healthier soon!
Good luck with your collecting!

Rune

Comment on New spruce by Graham

Graham — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:14:11 +0000

Hi Rune, our late summer collecting season is almost here (late August through to late Sept)and being new to the Yamidori process, I really appreciate you comments. Last time I was up in the mountains I did find a great looking Mountian Hemlock but it looked weak so I think I’ll try your fertilizing method.
Cheers and thanks again.

Comment on New spruce by Rune Kyrdalen

Rune Kyrdalen — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 08:19:15 +0000

Hi Graham. I fertilized the tree every year, sometimes twice a year. I used inorganic fertilizer with all the microelements. I buy it from the local farmers outlet.
When I collect spruces I try to get as big a rootball as I possibly can. The reason for this is that the spruces grow in very infertile soils and because of that the root systemes runs far away from the trunk in serch for nutrients, so there will be very few active root hairs close to the trunk. The bigger root ball I get the better chance the tree has to survive. I also try not to disturb the rootball at all (or as little as possible), that will potentially break off the few active hair roots and reduse the chances of survival. So to awnser your question, I do not take away any old soil before I plant the tree into the box. New roots will not grow well in the original soil from the mountains so it’s important to put it in a box that is big enough for some new good growing medium to be added around the original root ball.

Rune

Comment on New spruce by Graham

Graham — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:18:34 +0000

Hi Rune, nice find. We collect mostly mountain hemlock and shore pine over hear (BC Canada)and our usual post collection process is to put them into a bed of rich bark mulch, let it sit for two seasons (unless it really shows good strength) and then put it into a training pot/box.
A couple of questions –
Did you only fertilize it the once in 2006 or each year until now?
Did you plant directly into the grwo box or did you take some of the old soil away?
Cheers Graham

Comment on Some new pines by louis nel

louis nel — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 11:31:46 +0000

The trunk of the last tree has more hairpin bends than a formula one racing track, excellent find,get it growing.

Comment on Repotting by Hans van Meer

Hans van Meer — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 23:55:06 +0000

Looking good Rune!!!!
Hans van Meer.

Comment on The giant by Rune Kyrdalen

Rune Kyrdalen — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 14:46:27 +0000

For the pines I use pumice, but some times also baked clay. They always have a rootball of their original soil, but most of the new roots will grow in the pumice around the old soil ball.
For spruces I use baked clay, the only reason for using baked clay instead of pumice is that it’s easier for me to get it in my area, to get pumice I have to travel a long way to the producer : -(

Comment on The giant by avicenna

avicenna — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 12:53:44 +0000

Gratulation for such a pine with that trunkdiameter !!! All fingers are crossed for surviving
In what kind of soil do you take suchs pines and piceas ? Is it a mixture out of their origine soil, Akadama and rockgranuate ?
greetings
avicenna

Comment on Twisted pine by Brianna

Brianna — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 07:31:29 +0000

These look like fun to grow…during a long slow, Montana winter. Nice site! Enjoyed the site. I love the idea of Bonsai, but just don’t have the patience to try it.

Comment on While we wait for spring by avicenna

avicenna — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 10:12:11 +0000

hallo …
i follow your blogaktivities with interest …really good trees, especialy your picea abies and your pines … i wish you good luck for rooting
avicenna