01 - Concerning air layering, you advised to put 2 wires on the trunk since March. Can you explain why putting 2 wires instead of just one ? Do you peel the bark beetwen the 2 wires in June ? When do you put the sphagnum moss and water it : in March or after the bark is peeled in June ?

1) This one I am very sorry I told you totally wrong way.. The correct way is to keep the two wires stuck which means no space between the wires. Roots come out above the wire. If you use only one wire, the roots may cover the wire. In order to avoid that you need to keep the wires thick. That's why it's better to use the two wires. I made this mistake because I didn't understand the air layering. I forgot to ask the period to add the moss but my Shisoh gave me a good tip for the sphagnum moss. The best way is to add soil to sphagnum moss and cover it around a trunk and wrap a plastic cover in order to keep some humidity.



02 - Concerning Trident maple air layering, it is said that some burger cultivars/specimens make roots more easily than others, is it true ? Do you always succeed in trident maple air layering ? do you have tips to succeed trident maple air layering ?

2) If species are natural and not the man made one, it is easy for air layering. Yes, he succeeds almost all the time. When you decide to do air layering, before to do it, mark a sign on the bark and let grow branches above that point for a few years. It is to make a bonsai form. It looks better to do the air layering at the time when the tree is almost finished because it looks nice immediately as a Bonsai.




03 - Do you use the same technique to make a burger trunk bigger, as the palmatum technique you advised ? ( = to let grow some sacrifice branches for one year long before to cut them and do again the same operation during a few years). Is it the same for others species like pseudocydonia, prunus mume, pines ?

3) Yes



04 - On Arakawa cultivar, people say, in forums, that this cultivar lose branches easily (= the branche die without any reason). Do you sometimes lose branches on Arakawa cultivar? Do you think it is a normal process or do you think it is a cultivation/disease problem ?

4) Arakawa loses branches easily as the trees themselves are very dry and require substantial amount of water. Always keep in mind the possibility of loosing branches and form the trees as bonsai. Do not cut the leaves as it restrain buds coming out. Do not leave them under the sun all the time. Half a day is good enough and water 2 to 3 times as much as other species.



05 - How often do you repot your "finished" palmatum Shohin & Chuhin ?

5) When roots come out the pot, repot them. If there are long branches, repot them often. If there aren't, repot them at least in three years. The maximum is three years.




06 - Is it usefull, on palmatum trees or other species, to let the soil get dry before repotting ? it is said, in forums, that removing the soil is easier during repotting.

6) Yes, it is useful not to add water one or two days before repotting for the soil purpose.



07 - How long approximately do you think it will take to grow a Deshojo palmatum up to 60cm high Bonsai ? After having trimmed the trunk of my tree, it is 15cm high and the trunk is 1cm large.

7) It depends on the size of the pot and the amount of fertilizers you use. If you want to let it grow immediately, use 21cm diameter pot and keep adding the fertilizers. In a few years time, it will become that height.



08 - On Shishigashira or Kotohime cultivar, how do you do to make the branches get bigger and grow in length ? Do you you add a lot of fertilizers ? Do you also make buds selection or something else ?

8) Keep adding fertilizers and watering.