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Chinese Quince informal up or clump style?

Posted: May 13th, 2018, 9:00 pm
by pureheart
Hi Bonsai Friends!

I’m growing this Chinese Quince and hopefully one day will be a Bonsai... I initially wanted to grow as informal upright but now looking at it I’m considering if I should instead do a clump style instead...

What do you think I should do?

Thanks!
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Re: Chinese Quince informal up or clump style?

Posted: May 13th, 2018, 9:07 pm
by Watto
I'm having a vote for informal upright.

Re: Chinese Quince informal up or clump style?

Posted: May 14th, 2018, 7:43 am
by SueBee
Doesn't clump style have multiple trunks from central base and these are branches if low down? or do you bury the low branches and let them root to make clump style? (always learning :reading: ), if not then informal or broom style later maybe? Lots of growing to be done first :imo:

Re: Chinese Quince informal up or clump style?

Posted: May 14th, 2018, 6:07 pm
by shibui
I think this one is far too young to make any decision. From here you can grow anything you want. Chinese quince should suit either of those styles.
Doesn't clump style have multiple trunks from central base and these are branches if low down?
I try not to get too caught up in what styles are what Sue. I agree that 'clump' would probably have all branches emenging from the ground but there are blurry edges where one style grades into another. With trunks dividing above ground level it might be more accurate to refer to multi trunk style?
I find that as my trees grow they change so what I thought might be one style ends up turning into something else as it grows and develops.
By all means have a vision to work towards but also be prepared to change if the tree does not end up quite the way you intended.

Re: Chinese Quince informal up or clump style?

Posted: May 14th, 2018, 7:01 pm
by Sno
Hi pureheart .This tree looks Japanese to me . If it is , my vote would be for a clump style . The top looks like it's died off . If it was hard pruned back to two nodes on the branches in the spring it should shoot back with growth that could be wired into tight turns . It should sucker from the roots as well which can be wired as well .

Re: Chinese Quince informal up or clump style?

Posted: May 15th, 2018, 7:56 pm
by shibui
Well picked Sno. After looking properly at the leaves I believe you are correct. This is more likely Japanese flowering quince aka Chaenomeles. That being the case it will be difficult to stop it from suckering because that's the natural growth habit. Probably best to go with a clump style. Treeman has posted some threads showing his work with several of these which would be worth searching for.