Jump to content
REMINDER - IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT LOGGING IN ×

  • WELCOME GUEST

    It looks as if you are viewing PalmTalk as an unregistered Guest.

    Please consider registering so as to take better advantage of our vast knowledge base and friendly community.  By registering you will gain access to many features - among them are our powerful Search feature, the ability to Private Message other Users, and be able to post and/or answer questions from all over the world. It is completely free, no “catches,” and you will have complete control over how you wish to use this site.

    PalmTalk is sponsored by the International Palm Society. - an organization dedicated to learning everything about and enjoying palm trees (and their companion plants) while conserving endangered palm species and habitat worldwide. Please take the time to know us all better and register.

    guest Renda04.jpg

Bonsai Palms

Ken Johnson

By Ken Johnson
in DISCUSSING PALM TREES WORLDWIDE

 Share

Recommended Posts

Ken Johnson Grand Master

Ken Johnson

Posted
Posted

I have been working on these for a few years and since they seem to be fine I am making more.

They are way cool when older!

post-50-067903100 1324410858_thumb.jpg

post-50-086945300 1324410895_thumb.jpg

I DIG PALMS

Call me anytime to chat about transplanting palms.

305-345-8918

https://www.facebook...KenJohnsonPalms

joe_OC Grand Master

joe_OC

Posted
Posted

That is cool! Do you have a drip system on the rocks?

Huntington Beach, CA

USDA Zone 10a/10b

Sunset Zone 24

Ken Johnson Grand Master

Ken Johnson

Posted
  • Author
Posted

That is cool! Do you have a drip system on the rocks?

Yes and no. Drip to start then tub of water.

I DIG PALMS

Call me anytime to chat about transplanting palms.

305-345-8918

https://www.facebook...KenJohnsonPalms

Walter John Grand Master

Walter John

Posted
Posted

It looks like a Howea and a Hyophorbe with their roots encased in blocks of guano. :lol::blink:

The bottle is doing the bends nicely I see.

Happy Gardening

Cheers,

Wal

Queensland, Australia.

Walter John Grand Master

Walter John

Posted
Posted

I knew that....

Happy Gardening

Cheers,

Wal

Queensland, Australia.

Mark Heath Veteran

Mark Heath

Posted
Posted

Sweet! Like you had said, gonna look cool as it gets older.

Orlando, Florida

zone 9b

The Pollen Poacher!!

GO DOLPHINS!!

GO GATORS!!!

 

Palms, Sex, Money and horsepower,,,, you may have more than you can handle,,

but too much is never enough!!

JEFF from Trabuco Canyon CA Experienced

JEFF from Trabuco Canyon CA

Posted
Posted

I like them Ken! Keep us posted in the future.

Jeff Rood

aloetom Enthusiast

aloetom

Posted
Posted

Hey Ken,

Very nice !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I really like the look of those.

Be well,

Tom

realarch Grand Master

realarch

Posted
Posted

Awesome Ken! You giving them a light solution of fertilizer as well? Nice idea.

Tim

Hilo, Hawaii

Ken Johnson Grand Master

Ken Johnson

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Awesome Ken! You giving them a light solution of fertilizer as well? Nice idea.

They do get fertilizer. It is a must. I do use some other tricks to get them started too.

I DIG PALMS

Call me anytime to chat about transplanting palms.

305-345-8918

https://www.facebook...KenJohnsonPalms

Palmə häl′ik Veteran

Palmə häl′ik

Posted
Posted

neat-o

how about a little moss starter kit on the limestone :winkie:

Brandon, FL

27.95°N 82.28°W (Elev. 62 ft)

Zone9 w/ canopy

Ken Johnson Grand Master

Ken Johnson

Posted
  • Author
Posted

neat-o

how about a little moss starter kit on the limestone :winkie:

I noticed there is some moss growing on its own. There is plenty of time for it to spread. Just have to keep it wet and not kill it with the fertilizer.

I DIG PALMS

Call me anytime to chat about transplanting palms.

305-345-8918

https://www.facebook...KenJohnsonPalms

MattyB Grand Master

MattyB

Posted
Posted

Have you shown Paul this? I'm not sure he'd approve. :lol:

Matt Bradford

"Manambe Lavaka"

Spring Valley, CA (8.5 miles inland from San Diego Bay)

10B on the hill (635 ft. elevation)

9B in the canyon (520 ft. elevation)

Ken Johnson Grand Master

Ken Johnson

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Have you shown Paul this? I'm not sure he'd approve. :lol:

Oh no! Is he against plant torture? I don't want to upset him. I hope you can calm him and let him know that no palms were mistreated in this post.

I DIG PALMS

Call me anytime to chat about transplanting palms.

305-345-8918

https://www.facebook...KenJohnsonPalms

Palmə häl′ik Veteran

Palmə häl′ik

Posted
Posted

what do they look like when they're older :bemused:

Brandon, FL

27.95°N 82.28°W (Elev. 62 ft)

Zone9 w/ canopy

Mike Evans Mentor

Mike Evans

Posted
Posted

Ken, maybe they will get a little bigger than you think. This looks like a Ptychosperma that was growing at Miami Beach Botanical garden.

post-112-069612000 1324683414_thumb.jpg

  • Upvote 1
Ken Johnson Grand Master

Ken Johnson

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Ken, maybe they will get a little bigger than you think. This looks like a Ptychosperma that was growing at Miami Beach Botanical garden.

Mike,

Thanks for that photo. I have seen much bigger, as that one is, but that one also seems to have a hole in the rock with soil in it. Mine don't. Also the rocks in my picture are much smaller. In your picture I think I see roots out the bottom as if it sits in water some of its life.

My goal is to limit growth to create dwarfs. Miniature palms look so cool. If they start to get too strong I will limit the food and water to slow them down. As it is though they have no real soil to grow in and should be under enough pressure to be stunted.

I DIG PALMS

Call me anytime to chat about transplanting palms.

305-345-8918

https://www.facebook...KenJohnsonPalms

hanapalms Proficient

hanapalms

Posted
Posted

Wondering if they will dwarf. I have a dwarf Dypsis onilahensis that was unintentional. In fact I had two in pots. When I planted one of them in the ground, it died. I am keeping the other in a 15 gallon pot and feeding it. It's very nice, but I don't know if it will keep growing like this. Growing on a rock is incredible, but what of the root ball? It's not like other bonzais that wrap their roots around the rock and then down into a pot of soil. Good luck. I would be interested to see your progress.

William

Hana, Maui

 

Land of the low lying heavens, the misty Uakea crowning the majestic Kauwiki.

Visit my palms here

Ken Johnson Grand Master

Ken Johnson

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Wondering if they will dwarf. I have a dwarf Dypsis onilahensis that was unintentional. In fact I had two in pots. When I planted one of them in the ground, it died. I am keeping the other in a 15 gallon pot and feeding it. It's very nice, but I don't know if it will keep growing like this. Growing on a rock is incredible, but what of the root ball? It's not like other bonsais that wrap their roots around the rock and then down into a pot of soil. Good luck. I would be interested to see your progress.

The roots have found holes in the rock. Nutrients are supplied by me not soil. They will dwarf. That is for sure. I have seen many just like yours and others that are even in the ground but so poorly cared for they are just a small fraction of their normal size. The trick I am doing is to keep them green and dwarf. The way to do that is to limit their root growth by cutting off roots or at least I will cut roots. The palm is first manipulated into growing on the rock. It is given fertilizer but the temporary support i have given it is slowly removed. It ends up growing only on the rock. I may "plant" the rock in a bonsai dish in the future and pull even more roots but not too many!

This is a common sense thing. Just time and a few ideas and you can do it too. BTW Until a dwarfed out palm recovers fully from its poor environment with LOTS of care you can't expect it to grow under "normal" conditions. It will require much extra care.

I DIG PALMS

Call me anytime to chat about transplanting palms.

305-345-8918

https://www.facebook...KenJohnsonPalms

dalmatiansoap Grand Master

dalmatiansoap

Posted
Posted

I love the bonsai idea but just seems to complicated

post-5041-014999400 1324939206_thumb.jpg

Palmə häl′ik Veteran

Palmə häl′ik

Posted
Posted

ok ok

I'm on the bandwagon...

These limestone chunks are from the Kentiopsis rootball that fell off during planting...

~Ray.

post-3028-000548100 1325088573_thumb.jpg

post-3028-029659200 1325088612_thumb.jpg

post-3028-099739500 1325088626_thumb.jpg

Brandon, FL

27.95°N 82.28°W (Elev. 62 ft)

Zone9 w/ canopy

  • 1 year later...
Funkthulhu Mentor

Funkthulhu

Posted
Posted

Ken, it's been a couple years, how are these doing?

"Ph'nglui mglw'napalma Funkthulhu R'Lincolnea wgah'palm fhtagn"
"In his house at Lincoln, dread Funkthulhu plants palm trees."

sonoranfans Grand Master

sonoranfans

Posted
Posted

These would be the ultimate gopher proof palms Ken. I can see the gopher now..... working for a week on that palm and all he has left is gums.... :lol:

Formerly in Gilbert AZ, zone 9a/9b. Now in Palmetto, Florida Zone 9b/10a??

 

Tom Blank

KennyRE317 Mentor

KennyRE317

Posted
Posted

This thread just inspired me to try also since I have some seeds. One pembana already had some roots so i put it in a smaller shipping tube cap and another that sprouted with no roots yet I put in a chapstick cap and see if i can get the rootball as small as possible. I have no clue what I'm doing or if i'm even doing it correctly.

I also have a Dypsis lutescens that i separated. This one is one skinny stalk that's maybe only 8-12" tall with 2 leaves and very little roots that i may try later if I can find something small enough to fit the roots in

NorCalWill Experienced

NorCalWill

Posted
Posted

Some palms make better bonsai specimens than others.

Washingtonia is not a good choice...

attachment=174438:photo.JPG]

post-332-0-59377900-1376969595_thumb.jpg

  • Upvote 1
  • 1 year later...
Stevetoad Grand Master

Stevetoad

Posted
Posted

Ken, how are these doing???

"it's not dead it's sleeping"

Santee ca, zone10a/9b

18 miles from the ocean

avg. winter 68/40.avg summer 88/64.records 113/25

Josh-O Grand Master

Josh-O

Posted
Posted

I have been working on these for a few years and since they seem to be fine I am making more.

They are way cool when older!

very cool Ken!!

Carlsbad, California Zone 10 B on the hill (402 ft. elevation)

Sunset zone 24

Ken Johnson Grand Master

Ken Johnson

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I will take some pictures. The Satakentia may be the only one left in stock from those original pictures. They have been popular and have sold well.

I DIG PALMS

Call me anytime to chat about transplanting palms.

305-345-8918

https://www.facebook...KenJohnsonPalms

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing



  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...