AusBonsai Shohin Progressive Styling Competition 2011/2012

[nealweb]

You are all right ya know! I just looked back at my sumo shohin azalea thread and checked on the time. 10 1/2 from first cut to the latest pic. Not exactly finished but coming on well. I'm sure there are some more old threads out there if anyone wants to go find them - to further whet our collective appitites

[Tony Bebb]

Another great job Steven and team.


Let's go ABers. This will be a great one to follow

Tony

I was hoping you might do more than follow this one Tony. Just because ya judged the last one doesn't mean ya can't enter this one I think the better quality entrents we have the more we will learn Plus I would love to beat you

Oh I'm in Bretts. I have one in mind.

[kcpoole]

Hi all some great comments here and Tony you are definitely expected to enter

Re the size of the trees. the official Ausbonsai size for Shohin trees are specified in our Wiki here https://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... nsai_sizes
Between 10-25 cm tall from the soil level to the apex of the tree.

I collected a large Azalea clump on the weekend, cut it up into smaller sections today and potted some of them up tonight. I think I will be using one of the small bits as one of mine . it will I hope in 14 Months make a nice Shohin Azalea clump

Jamie I think you are correct that we will be better with faster growing trees. Figs, Clero, Azalea, Any other suggestions ?

How fast do various native species grow?

Ken

[Pup]

Ken do you mean we give away our secrets Junipers olives crab apples lilly pilly adenanthos casaurina chinese elms trident and japanese maples.

As Tony's profile tells us Imagination is more important than knowledge.

There are plenty of threads here using these species, showing the results in under two years from start to show bench.

Cheers Pup

[Steven]

G'day,

For the record, any tree shohin size and under will be accepted. Shohin size being maximum 250mm (10 inches) tall from rim of pot to top of tree.

As stated in the rules under TIME-FRAME AND COMMITMENTS, Work can only be done on your submissions between 1st September 2011 and 31st October 2012. To ensure fairness for all, we may request proof that trees have not yet been worked on towards the end of August. You have been warned

Due to his past contributions to our forum, I have inducted Andrew Legg of Cape Town as a temporary Aussie for the duration of the competition so he can participate. However due to such different growing conditions, his submissions will not be eligible for winning.

Regards,
Steven

[Bretts]

I was de-weeding the pine pots today and when I came to my bubble leaf olive I thought this might be a decent candidate for the comp, even though it has practically refused to grow for the last two years I figure I will throw fert on it until it does
After de weeding there was not that much soil left so I decided to repot into a large bonsai pot and stick it on the bench. I also gave it a hedge cut prune. I figure this is not really different to any trunk chop but would a hedge cut and repot put it out of the running?
Surely this is done to the stock we buy at certain stages but just want to clarify please.

[nealweb]

What if I have a previously styled taller bonsai but I am going to chop down the trunk, removing all styled trunk and branches. So you are left with a piece of stock with some previous root work and a trunk chop, which is within the rules. Would that be allowed??

[Pup]

G'day,

For the record, any tree shohin size and under will be accepted. Shohin size being maximum 250mm (10 inches) tall from rim of pot to top of tree.

As stated in the rules under TIME-FRAME AND COMMITMENTS, Work can only be done on your submissions between 1st September 2011 and 31st October 2012. To ensure fairness for all, we may request proof that trees have not yet been worked on towards the end of August. You have been warned

Due to his past contributions to our forum, I have inducted Andrew Legg of Cape Town as a temporary Aussie for the duration of the competition so he can participate. However due to such different growing conditions, his submissions will not be eligible for winning.

Regards,
Steven

As I see this, show the stock before the31st August, 2011 WORK on it from the 1st September and 31st October 2012. The reason I have quoted what Steven has said is, going by what others are asking, I have trees well on the way, with what has been described, and that would give me an edge would it not.

[Steven]

After de weeding there was not that much soil left so I decided to repot into a large bonsai pot and stick it on the bench. I also gave it a hedge cut prune. I figure this is not really different to any trunk chop but would a hedge cut and repot put it out of the running?
Surely this is done to the stock we buy at certain stages but just want to clarify please.

...
The objective of the AusBonsai Shohin Progressive Styling Competition is to create the best possible Shohin sized bonsai from raw, untrained stock over a period of 14 months.

STOCK
Stock can be obtained from anywhere provided NO PRIOR STYLING has been done other than trunk chopping and root work. ... It just cannot have had any previous Styling!

REVIEW AND JUDGING
• Submissions will initially be reviewed by the Moderators of AusBonsai for compliance with the requirements.

[matt_95]

Hi Steven,

I have a little grevillea that I would like to use. I'm not sure if it is eligable though. A few weeks ago I gave it a prune. I didn't remove any branches, just shortened them. And I removed the top half of the trunk. Does this count as a trunk chop or as styling? Can it be entered or not? If not I'll just try find something else.

Regards, Matt

[Craig]

Hi Steven,

I have a little grevillea that I would like to use. I'm not sure if it is eligable though. A few weeks ago I gave it a prune. I didn't remove any branches, just shortened them. And I removed the top half of the trunk. Does this count as a trunk chop or as styling? Can it be entered or not? If not I'll just try find something else.

Regards, Matt

Hi Matt, as long as you have not wired the branches before "at all", it will be accepted
Trunk chops ok, wiring not ok ,, hope this helps your decision Matt

[matt_95]

I tried wiring it once, but couldn't do it and took it off part way through, it was to loose. I've been to lazy to do it properly so for once my laziness has paid off I'll start my thread tonight.

[nealweb]

Hi Matt, as long as you have not wired the branches before "at all", it will be accepted
Trunk chops ok, wiring not ok ,, hope this helps your decision Matt[/quote]


If you have a stock plant, which has been wired previously, but plan to chop it back hard removing all previously wired branches and any previously wired trunk at the beginning of the work period, would that be acceptable then?

[Craig]

If you have a stock plant, which has been wired previously, but plan to chop it back hard removing all previously wired branches and any previously wired trunk at the beginning of the work period, would that be acceptable then

Neal, the way i now read this is; as long as the trunk chop was done before you post your opening post, it would be considered a trunk chop, which is within the rules.
If you post your tree and then hope to trunk chop in September, thats not acceptable as the opening post contained a tree that had been wired..
someone correct me if i'm wrong please,,

[MattA]

WOOHOO...

Steven, I have been pouring over my trees & potential stock ever since you announced this competition. Vic's pots are stunning as always, the lower pair would look great with a couple of my little natives.

I am staying strictly to the letter of the competition in my selections, I picked up a sweet little jasmine yesterday from the green shed as my first, will get pics up soon. I am now split between a pair of figs (moreton bay or port jackson) as a second. For number 3 either a 'Shatoot' mulberry or Honeysuckle. !0 - 25 cm is alot of room to play with & at the smaller end is very achievable in the time frame.

Matt