TRANSPLANTING
The development and training of the tree has been encouraged
by the use of rich, nourishing soil or compost. When the tree is
two years old, however, it should be approximately of the size
and shape desired. Therefore, you do not want to give it a plus-diet which will encourage it to grow; you want to find a soil which
is just sufficiently nourishing to keep it normally healthy at its
present size. When the plant is two years old it should be transplanted into a somewhat poor and meagre soil although of a type
suitable to the tree. This applies whether or not it is transplanted
into the minigarden at that stage.
In the transplanting operation sort out the roots with scrupulous care to remove most of the old soil and avoid the effects of it
becoming potbound. Keep in a shady place for a day or so after
transplanting and then let it follow its normal course. Look at it
occasionally to see that it is not falling back as it may be advisable
to improve or weaken the soil. Once it has taken under its new
conditions it should prosper as a true miniature and will only
need light pruning every few years.
FINALLY
The propagation of a Japanese-type of miniature tree falls thus
into three main phases:
1st Tear: Propagation of seed or cutting in the same way as for
normal growth. The seedling becomes established.
2nd Tear: Slightly "forced" growth, training begins, pruning and
pinching out regularly practised throughout this formative
year.
3rd Tear: Tree transplanted to poor soil, and allowed to consolidate.
Attention given only as and when necessary.
It should be generally considered that it will be about five years
before the tree can be regarded as a mature specimen and exhibit
all the characteristics of its larger relations. A true miniature fruit
tree should produce miniature fruit proportionate to its size
(preceded, of course, by the blossom), but it may be three, or even
four, years before the first blossom makes its appearance. This is
not always so, but one must learn to be patient to get the best
co-operation from Nature, so do not count or expect full reproduction, etc., for about five years, and do not be too disappointed
if (in this case) neither fruit nor blossom ever appears. There are
always exceptions.
In the Japanese spirit of reproducing miniature trees there is
always a constant aim for perfection in proportion. If you are reproducing two kinds of trees in which A is twice the size of B
(when full-size), these proportions should be kept the same for the
miniature. This means that the root area required for one will
need to be of a different size and that the pruning must be
adjusted accordingly.
|
|
