Master these 2 techniques and the sky is the limit for creating Podocarpus bonsai!
Air-layering and Approach grafting, two techniques that can give you access to material that is affordable, accessible and allow you to create beautiful trees. The multiple examples shown here are the typically straight nursery stock trunks grown that may have been topped at a certain height. This gives you a great starting point to build from. A possible junction to place an air-layer up top and a powerful base to approach graft to. I’ve discussed why we try air-layer at a junction where possible and below you will see the extreme benefits of this.
(Air-layer) Al-15/17, Separated from the parent tree 19/08/24. First styling performed this year, pictured here today is the start of the 2nd flush of growth, no pruning yet. A heavy fertilisation regime over the course of the year. This tree will be repotted in autumn and the majority of the wire removed (wire removal is already in progress). Day of separation from the parent tree for Al-15/17. All that growth created the root system and ultimately strength in the tree that allowed for the first styling to take place the following year and for it to respond in the manner that it did.Aka the first. This tree was the one I chopped off the top (3.5 metres tall) to get it into the car to take home thinking oh I won’t need that. Little did I know the purchase, endeavour and discovery that would follow. Pictured today you see the result of 3 approach grafts made to the lower trunk. They are positioned at varying heights and placed on the tree to allow for a future 360 degree design. The trunk line was further reduced and a decision on the apical Jin will be made in the future. Why graft where I did? This is super important, placing the grafts in the appropriate place can make a big difference in the quality of tree you produce. One tip I can communicate is to find the interest in the tree/ trunk line and work back from there.Close up of 1 of 3 approach grafts performed. Long whips from the parent tree were wired down and used for the grafts. The graft tips were then wired back up towards the sun (very important). It took just under a year for the grafts to take.(Air-layer) Al – 09/17 Separated from parent tree on the 02/05/24. 1st styling performed 21/09/25. This tree offered something really unique and has quickly become a favourite in the garden. Top tip, even if it makes your job that more difficult as was the case in securing the airlayer amongst all these branches, it will be worth it! Pictured here today is the start of the 2nd flush. Like discussed above, growth is left unchecked and will be repotted in autumn next year. The tree is +_90cm tall and 100cm wide. Al – 09/17 Prior to first styling. Practice your critical thinking when styling your trees, celebrate the uniqueness and it will most often lead to the best tree in the end. The work required a fair bit of mechanical intervention, allowing for the placement of the trunk lines.
Continuing with this blog post theme we will later document and post where we have performed a ‘change of dress’ which is completely removing a foliage type on a tree and replacing it with another type using approach grafts.
Overall I hope these two techniques become an integral part of your toolbox going forward and open the door to creating many more trees!
Two Islands Bonsai 
Leave a comment