Page 29 - Tạp chí bonsai cây cảnh BCI 2017Q2

mycorrhiza, the presence of the species in a stable is essential to follow every step. This interpretive
or self-perpetuating climax community and terrain key explains the variability of rooting that will be
that has allowed good rooting. Many enthusiasts experienced between various collectors of araki.
have experienced easy germination of plants from
certain places more than others. Identifying these 4. Many roots:
favoured areas is the basic work to do in advance, The tree must be harvested with as many roots
even before the application of the technique itself. as possible. This statement is not as obvious as it
A remarkable and thorough scientific knowledge seems, because care of the tree when extracted
or a great experience, allows to identify sites at the from nature requires special attention: if the soil is
theoretical level. In the absence of this, experience very hard or rocky, it is easy to damage the roots
and experimentation and tests are necessary. during extraction and a stripped, weakened or
For example, if you encounter an exceptionally broken root is not worth anything; if the ground
beautiful araki, but do not know the level of is soft, the extraction may be rapid and summary
successful transplanting from those areas, you first because it will allow the extraction of healthy roots. The tree must
run an experiment by trying a few times and then It is very important to look not so much the number be harvested
decide how to proceed. Success with the yamadori of roots, but to be sure that those present are in
technique is very difficult, for as much as you can good condition. One must act with the skill of an with as many
collect a huge amount of plants, working on a low archaeologist during excavation. roots as
percentage survival rate, besides being ethically 5. Removing the original soil: possible, …
unacceptable, is a choice that does not allow the In most cases, the soil dug up with the tree must be
oldest and most beautiful plants to take root. If you removed entirely, unless the tree has grown (a rare it is easy to
are uncertain about successful transplanting from instance) in a soil with a cation exchange capacity damage the
a particular area, it is better to desist.
greater than 20. When dislodging the soil using a roots during
2. The right season: water jet, pay close attention to not damage the finer
The best periods to collect in temperate climates are roots. The original soil is hardly suitable, because extraction. One
the two springs, that is, when the buds swell, but many times this is the cause of miniaturization. must act with
before they open. In northern Italy the periods are 6. Exposure:
from March to mid-May depending on elevation, The collected tree shall be to put in the smallest pot the skill of an
and early August. Remembering that survival possible, sited 70 cm from the ground and in full archaeologist
of a tree without fine roots hardly exceeds three sun. In the most critical situations, one can resort to
months, it is essential to collect the plants when the use of a greenhouse and in-floor or under-bench during
they are pushing new roots or as close to this as heating to facilitate rooting. The main elements that excavation.
possible. Harvesting trees in autumn or winter is help rapid rooting also result from placing the tree
good only for trees that take easily to transplanting. where the soil mass can achieve 25°C, thus quickly
The Mediterranean species must be collected in forming new root hairs, and an exact balance of
February or March if they are kept in the same water related to ambient humidity to avoid a total
climate, and collected in summer if they are brought dehydration of the tree.
immediately into temperate climates.
7. New Potting Media:
3. Species: The potting media has to be the best possible, that
It is known that some species take root more easily is, have a high cation exchange capacity and not
than others. Elms, birches, spruces, are examples that encourage root rot. The use of Akadama represents
will easily transplant. Beeches, pines and black pine the top soil having a 35 CEC (cation exchange
have an average transplant survival rate, whereas capacity) that is very high. As an alternative you
pines, larches, oaks and junipers are more difficult can use volcanic earth, synthetic clays, vermiculites
to re-establish. In addition a smaller, younger plant and pumice, however, ensure that the pH is not
is much easier to take root that an old, larger one. alkaline and that the substrate it very free-draining.
The percentages quoted earlier in this article in The choice of potting media must be considered
Successful Transplanting, are an average among all together with the type of container and the wind
species subjected to this method; transplanting elm conditions of the site.
reaches to 90%; that of a pine or a beech arrives
at 70%; Scots pine or larch arrives at 30-50% for 8. Pruning:
young and old plants. The result must then also be A part of the foliage must always be removed in
weighted according to the species, and the same order to balance transpiration, especially if the
application to the complex method must keep in tree cannot be put in a sheltered environment.
mind the greater or lesser ease of transplanting. Ideally, branch removal should equal that of the
For example, an easy species to take root when roots removed. Many times this ratio can not be
young, does not require the application of such a realized for the tree would not be left with enough
scrupulous method, while in very difficult cases, it leaves and branches to live. For deciduous trees the

April/May/June 2017 | BCI | 27