What happens NEXT! Once new roots have formed above the plate then you cut away everything below...and the plate falls away - hopefully leaving you with a very flat fused base of 5 trees. That's the intention anyway :)
I think it will be another year before I can remove the original roots and slip the plates off. This is the frustrating thing about starting something new :)
I LOVE experimental biology project! To make it sound extra professional, call it a 'Pilot" project. You did a wonderful job purposely working through the planting and ironing out all the kinks for future endevours. Great fun!
Ah Xav and his sticks again 😂 But seriously Xav this is a great idea and strangely something that I have considered doing before, but never got around to it. Hopefully this works out and it'll be fun watching what happens with yours before I try it with mine 😂
Haven't seen this technique before, brilliant project. I'm sure Tony would agree btw. It'll be interesting to see how the oaks respond. They're hard (impossible?) to airlayer, creating a new root base this way would be quite something. Michael
I didnt realise how much i needed to explain the what comes next part... You cut the lower roots off and the plate just falls away. This happens when the tree has produced a mass of new roots above the plate...hopefully
Hi Xav as soon as you started to put them through the holes I knew somehow you would have to start again and turn the plate over I have seen this done before mate not sure where I saw it. Glad you hadn’t cut off the roots all we need now is for the experiment to work enough for them to fuse together. I did worry they may not get enough water underneath the plate but somehow they seem to have all survived which I must admit I was doubtful, but slap on the back of hand for doubting you, I should know better. Good luck with them my friend now it’s a waiting game.
why is it so hard to stick parrots together? Because it is toucan fusing. But seriously, I've tried to fuse some trees before, I don't have enough patience, I guess. I always want to see before it's fused if it is. A lack of patience is not conducive with bonsai I have found.
I know exactly where you are coming from. I have found fusing with a wire at the base works pretty quickly with rough barked species. Maples fuse qucikly as well but you need to be careful with scarring - this is the reason for trying this technique.
im sure you have seen the trunk spliting technique where they slice up the cutting/trunk to splay it out wide for a super flat rootbase. ive seen a few India growers here on YT do it with ficus or other tropicals. i want to try it on some cold hardy stuff like maple or elm. ive never seen this method tho. i look forward to see your results. thanks xav! happy bonsai'ing
Seems to be a funny and definitely a different one and I love to see you drill holes 🤩 but honestly I don’t have any idea about the intention behind … 🤷🏼♀️😂 Maybe lost in translation. Anyway. Can’t wait to see the update 😄😘 Enjoy your day 😘 Cheers 🙋♀️ Martina
The aim is new roots grow above the plastic plate and fuse wtiht he other trees new roots. You then cut away the roots below the plate which should then leave you with a very flat root plane for your finished planting.
Not sure where I've seen the technique before (was it Kennet?), but I anticipate impressive results. If I try myself I have a very thin saw blade for a drill motor, and I'll cut away some of the excess plate for less pooling of water. Thanks for sharing Xav~
You are absolutely right but I am trying this technique because of results I saw happen with a few professionals some years ago. Just experimenting really :)
I think this will be a good technique for trees with poor root structure ie the bare root Beech but for trees with more cultivated roots ie the maples i would have just planted them close together on a slate.
I think I was more interested in experimenting with different speciees to be able to compare the results. It is definitely a good point you make about the Maples and I do have a couple of groups planted like that in pond baskets. It was great seeing you by the way :)
I couldn't figure out at first if the roots were supposed to be above or below the plate. But I must ask...How do you intend to remove the plate once it's fused?
The idea is once roots grow above the plate you cut off the stuff beneath the plate and it leaves you a flat root plane. I have seen it done by a numbe rof professionals and the results can be very impressive.
I think I would use a Styrofoam picnic plate. But I am like several of the other posters: why do you need the plate to do this? I have put trees close together maybe I'm doing it wrong because I never used a plate?
I normally do the same BUT I have seen the results of using this approach and it definitely 'appears' to be much quicker amd more effective - that is why i am trying it out :)
It is quite a well known technique for creating a very flat root base which I wanted to try out. Once the new roots grow above the plate then you cut away the old ones below and leave yourself a very flat base to work with.
What happens NEXT! Once new roots have formed above the plate then you cut away everything below...and the plate falls away - hopefully leaving you with a very flat fused base of 5 trees. That's the intention anyway :)
Have nothing wise to say but I do appreciate your cheerful and funny way to present this technique.
That's two of us then :)
Will be cool to see how them maples grow and layer themselves through that plastic plate!
I think it will be another year before I can remove the original roots and slip the plates off. This is the frustrating thing about starting something new :)
If you do this again Xav how about using old cds/dvds or blank computer discs 👍
Definitely a good idea for single trees. Not sure i would risk drilling through them for multiples :)
@XaviersBonsaiRetreat there just plastic I've drilled them many a time 👍
I LOVE experimental biology project! To make it sound extra professional, call it a 'Pilot" project. You did a wonderful job purposely working through the planting and ironing out all the kinks for future endevours. Great fun!
A pilot project that requires pilot holes to be drilled - cheers Sue :)
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat Ahhaaahaaa!!
great project !!! trim the edge of plate off to make simi flat,,,
Seems the obvious solution when you look back - I really do need to find some common sense one day :)
Ah Xav and his sticks again 😂
But seriously Xav this is a great idea and strangely something that I have considered doing before, but never got around to it. Hopefully this works out and it'll be fun watching what happens with yours before I try it with mine 😂
You know I like to have a fun dig about terminology - some people get so uptight :)
Haven't seen this technique before, brilliant project. I'm sure Tony would agree btw.
It'll be interesting to see how the oaks respond. They're hard (impossible?) to airlayer, creating a new root base this way would be quite something.
Michael
I agree totally - when I tried to fuse the oaks they just got confused and went their seperate ways :)
Entertaining for sure! It will be interesting to see the trees in the coming months. Hopefully they'll really take off and grow lots of new roots.
That's the aim. We shall see whether it is any better or quicker than just planting them up close on a slate :)
Dangerous sawing there my friend. I've not tried that method. Perhaps I'll give it a try next year? Great show my friend.
Danger is my middle name Dave :)
Nice project!
Grts
Kennet
Thanks kennet
Thanks Xav, verry good technick....i'll try this on my side next year...
Let me know how you get on :)
Excellent, only problem is breaking the plates from around the trunks, easy dose it mate.
I didnt realise how much i needed to explain the what comes next part...
You cut the lower roots off and the plate just falls away. This happens when the tree has produced a mass of new roots above the plate...hopefully
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat I see now, that makes more sense, so the bottom ones are sacrificial roots 👍
I've also tried some stainless steel washers on a few trident cuttings. Fingers crossed!
I will look forward to hearing how you get on with them :)
Hi Xav as soon as you started to put them through the holes I knew somehow you would have to start again and turn the plate over I have seen this done before mate not sure where I saw it. Glad you hadn’t cut off the roots all we need now is for the experiment to work enough for them to fuse together. I did worry they may not get enough water underneath the plate but somehow they seem to have all survived which I must admit I was doubtful, but slap on the back of hand for doubting you, I should know better. Good luck with them my friend now it’s a waiting game.
I will definitely try this with a flat piece of wood or tile next time. As I was doing it I realised the obvious flaws in the plan :)
Hi xavier well done great video nice job well done keep up the good work mate
Thanks Phillip
why is it so hard to stick parrots together? Because it is toucan fusing.
But seriously, I've tried to fuse some trees before, I don't have enough patience, I guess. I always want to see before it's fused if it is. A lack of patience is not conducive with bonsai I have found.
I know exactly where you are coming from. I have found fusing with a wire at the base works pretty quickly with rough barked species. Maples fuse qucikly as well but you need to be careful with scarring - this is the reason for trying this technique.
im sure you have seen the trunk spliting technique where they slice up the cutting/trunk to splay it out wide for a super flat rootbase. ive seen a few India growers here on YT do it with ficus or other tropicals. i want to try it on some cold hardy stuff like maple or elm. ive never seen this method tho. i look forward to see your results. thanks xav! happy bonsai'ing
I will ave to look for that splitting technique - not sure I have seen it before. thanks :)
Great work and i wish you all the success 🎉🎉
Thank you - now we just need to wait a few years. I might have a little peek neext spring :)
Seems to be a funny and definitely a different one and I love to see you drill holes 🤩 but honestly I don’t have any idea about the intention behind … 🤷🏼♀️😂 Maybe lost in translation. Anyway. Can’t wait to see the update 😄😘 Enjoy your day 😘 Cheers 🙋♀️ Martina
The aim is new roots grow above the plastic plate and fuse wtiht he other trees new roots. You then cut away the roots below the plate which should then leave you with a very flat root plane for your finished planting.
Not sure where I've seen the technique before (was it Kennet?), but I anticipate impressive results. If I try myself I have a very thin saw blade for a drill motor, and I'll cut away some of the excess plate for less pooling of water. Thanks for sharing Xav~
Normally this is done with a tile but I could only find these cheap plastic plates around the house :)
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat We use what we have! 🤝👊
I'm not quite sure about the plate facing upwards. It will create a pond.
OTH it is good idea to use those plastic plates.
I definitely realised there were going to be some issues - either way. Next time definitely something without a lip :)
You could "speed up" the process by putting tourniquets instead of waiting the trunks to thicken and push against the edges of the holes
You are absolutely right but I am trying this technique because of results I saw happen with a few professionals some years ago. Just experimenting really :)
I think this will be a good technique for trees with poor root structure ie the bare root Beech but for trees with more cultivated roots ie the maples i would have just planted them close together on a slate.
I think I was more interested in experimenting with different speciees to be able to compare the results. It is definitely a good point you make about the Maples and I do have a couple of groups planted like that in pond baskets. It was great seeing you by the way :)
I couldn't figure out at first if the roots were supposed to be above or below the plate.
But I must ask...How do you intend to remove the plate once it's fused?
The idea is once roots grow above the plate you cut off the stuff beneath the plate and it leaves you a flat root plane. I have seen it done by a numbe rof professionals and the results can be very impressive.
You can use a washer
Apparently you knew 👊, first comment was only 15min in
I have doen the same on single trees with washers. I just wanted to try it with these for a little forest planting :)
I think I would use a Styrofoam picnic plate. But I am like several of the other posters: why do you need the plate to do this? I have put trees close together maybe I'm doing it wrong because I never used a plate?
I normally do the same BUT I have seen the results of using this approach and it definitely 'appears' to be much quicker amd more effective - that is why i am trying it out :)
👍👌🙂
Thanks Bruce
I must be really stupid or I'm just not getting it. But I don't see the point of this.
So am I 🤷🏼♀️
It is quite a well known technique for creating a very flat root base which I wanted to try out. Once the new roots grow above the plate then you cut away the old ones below and leave yourself a very flat base to work with.