The Grim

The savin is a juniper species that time continuously remakes and remodels in an endless circle. Man and nature come together in this very expressive tree.

- Bruno Proietti Tocca

Working on the tree

My choice of plant was influenced by my feelings for and interpretation of bonsai. I received my graduation Diploma at the Creative Bonsai School of Sandro Segneri where, thanks to his very eclectic vision, I developed a somewhat unconventional taste in bonsai. First of all, I am going to describe the tree at the time of purchase. In 2010, when it arrived in my garden, it had a medium sized dimension. The specimen already had some wiring on the main branches. After this complex treatment, the foliage did not appear very healthy and, due to the stress it suffered, its scale-like foliage turned into needles.

Practical approach

The first approach with this eccentric specimen has been the need to restore juvenile growth to the growth of scaled foliage. In 2011, I planted the tree in a growing bonsai pot, with a mixture of soil as follows: Pumice 60%, Akadama 30%, Kiryu 10%, with a particle size from 2 to 5mm. The organic fertilization, N7-P6-K1 in spring and N3-P6-K7 in autumn and an additional weekly use of liquid foliar feed, has helped the plant to recover its vibrant colour.

Design