Grow Diaries Bonsai Invitational by Terppopotamus

6/18/24-Commence training

75°F / 55%RH

1. Argyle's Stash is going to be trained into an S bend style. I will add wire and ties in the upcoming days. 

2. Truffle Cake is going to be a cascade style bonsai. I will be folding the screen over the entire soil surface and add some wire to hold her in place.  

3. No Joke is being trained by keeping the pot at an angle for now. I might try another cascade style or something else, still undecided. 

4. Westport's Posse is still a bit small to start training. I will give it some more time to build roots. 

Here they are all together like one big happy bonsai family. Next update will include a little more hardware. That's all for now, thanks for checking in! 😎 👍

6/27/24

75°F / 55%RH 

I do not have much to report yet. I have held off on the training but will start soon. I plan to make some simple wire coils and start manipulating them into their shapes for the next update. Thanks for checking in. 😎👍

7/8/24 - Training

75°F / 50%RH 

Argyle's Stash 

I removed a few branches and fan leaves, wrapped the main stem with wire and started bending it into shape.

Truffle Cake

I removed the first set of branches and folded the screening over the soil. In a couple days I will use wire to start training her into the cascade look.

Westport's Posse

I changed my mind on this one and drilled holes around the perimeter of the pot added a pole and some wire. I will try to wrap the main stem around the pole as it grows for a cork screw look.

No Joke

I want to try root training for the first time so I need to find something to place the plant ontop of soon.

That's it for now, the next update will be after I re-pot No Joke. I will snap a family photo of them together in the tent then also.

Thanks for checking in! 😎👍

7/19/24

75°F / 50%RH

Quick update, I am out of town for a few more days. The missus has been giving them water and snapped this photo. 

Next update when I get back and do some training. Thanks for checking in. ✌️😎

I know I am behind in commenting, but bro, you are ambitious!  They look great and I love what you have going on!  Wish life had allowed me more time to tackle this grow-off in a manner as you have done. Can't wait to see how  they turn out.

7/30/24 - Defoliation / Training

79°F / 50%RH

I am really starting to enjoy these plants as they are taking shape. Here is an update on them after defoliating and training yesterday. 

Argyle's Stash

I removed a few bigger fan leaves and then the wire wrap but not before it left its mark. I will add a soft garden wire wrap and make more bends this week. 

Truffle Cake

I took off some of the fan leaves and one lower branch. I plan to keep bending the plant over the edge of the pot by keeping it vertical for now. I have something planned for the next update that should show what I am after with this one. 

Westport's Posse

The plant looks rough after training and taking some leaves off but I have managed to wrap it around the pole twice now. I plan to go up from here.

No Joke

I want to add the Amethyst this week and start the root training process. I am now also thinking I may want to top this one. 

Thanks for checking in. 😎👍

Amazing results so far, bro!  They look incredible.

8/7/24

80°F / 50%RH

I have moved the bonsai into the 2x2 under my HLG 200 R spec. I will admit they have been neglected this past week. I missed a couple waterings and really should have gotten them into some fresh soil by now, hopefully they bounce back fine.

Next update coming soon after they are freshend up and some more training is done. Thanks for checking in.

8/16/24

80°F / 55%RH 

My bonsai grow has been neglected for another week. I got them into some fresh soil but thats about it. Sorry I did not get the training done before this update. I am starting to think this type of grow is just not for me as I'm struggling to find the time to care for them. Here they are, 

Thanks for checking in.