Shohin Satsuki 'Kinsai'

Here is my Kinsai,

It was purchased from Dave Kreutz, http://satsukibonsai-en.com/, who imported it this year. I took it to the local study group and Mike Hagedorn and I pruned it. Then this past weekend I wired it with Dave Kreutz. The goal of this wiring was to get movement into the real young shoots. I used copper sizes 20-23, and it will be removed right before the tree starts to push in the spring. I plan to do motobadome in the spring, which should cause a lot of backbudding.

The first pic was in the summer, nice growth after the bare-root import this year!


This pic is after Mike did some selective pruning.


Here it is after the wiring.









Shimsuki

Your tree is very nice. What does Motobadome mean? I presume it is Japanese for "some procedure". Thank you.
Todd

Motobadome (spelling it like it sounds) is a technique done to satsuki in which you cut off the bud and the leaves surrounding it in the spring a week or so before it flowers. You leave just a little bit of green, so maybe a mm or 2. I was taught this technique by Dave Kreutz, who studied with a Japanese satsuki expert named Gondo-san. What motobadome does is cause the roots to say, "hey, where did all the leaves go", and the tree will push like crazy. Sometimes you can reduce the foliage size, but it is not a given.



Shimsuki

Thank you Shimsuki!

Very nice tree, they do not survive our Florida summers.

Wow, you're very lucky. That's an outstanding little kinsai. One thing I see that it really needs is a good trunk and branch cleaning with a soft brush. If you get rid of that flakey bark and algae those beautiful red tones will show through. Kinsai is such a beautiful satsuki, especially in the winter when the foliage colors up and the buds start to turn red.

I wish I could grow kinsai, but we just don't get enough cold to make it happy down here.

R

Russell Coker wrote:Wow, you're very lucky. That's an outstanding little kinsai. One thing I see that it really needs is a good trunk and branch cleaning with a soft brush. If you get rid of that flakey bark and algae those beautiful red tones will show through. Kinsai is such a beautiful satsuki, especially in the winter when the foliage colors up and the buds start to turn red.

I wish I could grow kinsai, but we just don't get enough cold to make it happy down here.

R

You are absolutely right, I have been instructed not to brush in the fall, but come spring I plan to do it.

Yep, that's a good plan.

For those less familiar with azaleas, an old tooth bush works great. Gently brush the trunk and branches as best you can to keep them clean and smooth. Crusty bark, algae and moss are not what you want to see on azalea trunks. Also, by doing this in the spring it really stimulates dormant buds. If you've cut one back hard and need new branches this is especially helpful - but like Shim pointed out, not what you want to happen in the fall.

R

I have also heard a denture brush works good, it is a little bigger and rougher than a toothbrush. I have been keeping an eye out for one.


Shim

Shim,

I won't mention names, but there are probably plenty of folks here on the forum that could help you out with that one...

Russell Coker wrote: I won't mention names, but there are probably plenty of folks here on the forum that could help you out with that one...

ht hn hrth hoo hu heen hy ht?

Will you let it flower? Kinsai is gorgeous.

Have a great week
Sam

Sam Ogranaja wrote:Will you let it flower? Kinsai is gorgeous.
Sam

Not this spring, when I perform motobadome on it, it includes taking off the flower buds. Can't wait to see it in the future though!

Andrew

I figured you weren't. I was actually curious about that as well, whether you'd let it flower. I just restyled my Nyohozan that was long overdue for a haircut and style. I need to repot it in early spring. Can I perform Motobadome at the same time as repotting or leave it alone?

Thanks for your help
Sam

Sam Ogranaja wrote:I figured you weren't. I was actually curious about that as well, whether you'd let it flower. I just restyled my Nyohozan that was long overdue for a haircut and style. I need to repot it in early spring. Can I perform Motobadome at the same time as repotting or leave it alone?

Thanks for your help
Sam

I am not really sure, I will have to ask my teacher about that the next time I see him. I would assume its best not to though.


I will get back to you,
Shim