A 3 year visual journey of a +- 25yr old Podocarpus tree Air-layered and transformed into a Bunjin style bonsai.
Today’s blog is illustrated to take you on a journey through the past few years and give you valuable insight into the preparation, my thoughts and tasks carried out along the way.
11 April 2024, 11:52am – The separation of the Air-layer from the parent tree performed. The Air-layer was placed on the parent tree in late winter of 2023. As to the timing of the Air-layer placement and even down to the visual cues when slicing into the bark of the tree, these will tell you where that tree is in its growth/ annual cycle.Another look at the root mass. Incredible root production all fuelled by that top growth. The cut point is lower down from the ‘top of the Air-layer’ and I don’t break apart the sphagnum moss on the initial potting up. I use that ‘stem’ to anchor the tree, a crucial element in the process, stability. I then use only pumice (3-6mm) as the soil around this root mass when potting up. Yes, it is slightly tricky when it comes to watering these Air-layers after separation, initially they are kept on the dry side. That core of sphagnum moss doesn’t dry out as quickly and we don’t want that to be water logged. Eventually the roots move into the pumice and we can be more liberal with our watering. The tree is kept in a shaded area after being potted up.A green and golden bell frog, native to Australia I believe. It sat there quite comfortably letting me carry out the work, but in the end I helped him to a new chill spot. Dec 24, this would have been the same Image you would have seen after I potted the Air-layer up in April 24 (unfortunately it seems I skipped that photo). The tree was brought into the workshop for a slight prune back at this time as its recovery was well on its way and it was an opportune time to encourage the growth on the interior to strengthen or push.Dec 24, After the slight prune. Already the mind is going into hyperdrive as to what this tree could become.April 25, after some consideration and study I knew this tree needed to be paired with the rock vessel I had recently completed. The movement of the main tree undeniable and the position of the rock with its two feet displayed, challenging the thought/ comfort of balance. Eagle eye viewers will already notice in a year or so to come that this front doesn’t change. The concept although not 100% clear, the wheels were turning. What is very important to me with my rock plantings is that it must look like the tree and rock are one, I find it to be very contrived and difficult to see when a trees rootball is visually seemed to be placed hap hazardously on top of a rock. The ‘naturalness’ idea of using a rock is gone and my mind switches off to the composition. (A personal insight there). The vessel. +_20 hours to get to this point. When I tell people this, they kind of gasp at the thought of chiselling away for that long. Yup, that is all hand chiseled. This lava rock was incredibly hard! Much harder than my thumb that got hit a few times!A top down view, the wires illustrated here weren’t used, it was just to portray where the wire holes were placed. Theses holes were made with a diamond core drill bit, such a useful tool. And where it began!Fast forward to Dec 25 (anyone picking up on timing trends yet…), this after a heavy cut back. Still not 100% clear on the final design, but the engine turning over, realising the design wasn’t going to encompass a dense/ large canopy but rather to embrace space and movement. Something to consider universally for your trees, the vessel has to much your goal with the tree.
A quick video showing how much came off. Sep 2026. The final result. The live recorded demonstration linked below will give you all the insight into my process and thoughts. If this style is new to you, I really encourage you to dig In and explore! Here is the link to watch the YouTube demonstration. It is a 2 hour live recorded demonstration and I believe the first of its kind recorded and available for viewing in New Zealand. I would truly appreciate you giving it a view and if you like what you see please give us a subscribe on YouTube. Thank you. https://youtu.be/qaQE5WYpNCM?si=WNkFUSxMMkTGKtrr
I hope you enjoyed the journey and remember the grunt work carried out in the beginning sets you up for later on.
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