[xtolord] Singapore Holly

To create the best possible Shohin sized bonsai from raw, untrained stock over a period of 18 months.
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xtolord
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Re: [xtolord] Singapore Holly

Post by xtolord »

My 1st January 2014 to 31st March 2014 update:
In the end its not as bad as was I was expecting.

What I am aiming for :
Image


It still has some road ahead, but I'm back on track on how to approach the material.
Not sure if its going to be done before the deadline, but I'm glad I managed to find back my initial design in the tree.
Image

Image

Image
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Re: [xtolord] Singapore Holly

Post by Neli »

Love the flowers,,,
I ask lots of questions that sound like suggestions. Please remember I am a inquisitive newbie trying to figure out why You made a particular decision, in order to learn.
I started a blog:http://nelibonsai.wordpress.com/2013/07 ... a-nursery/
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Re: [xtolord] Singapore Holly

Post by xtolord »

There's been some new growth and a new flush of flowering.
I did some cleanup and wired some branches.

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Re: [xtolord] Singapore Holly

Post by Boics »

Good stuff x.
I like this species very much.
I presume the flowers turn to berries as well?
The leaf size in particular is fantastic.

Your vision is coming along well.
One of the fabulous things about growing bonsai is as you get old and decrepit your trees get old and beautiful
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Re: [xtolord] Singapore Holly

Post by xtolord »

Thanks Boics,
I like the species as well but its also a pain sometimes :)
2 to 6 needles per leaf can be a pain to wire or simulate branch positions :)
I've seen only flowers so far, no berries or any fruit like structure so far.
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Re: [xtolord] Singapore Holly

Post by Peterji »

:2c: This is a very nice, healthy looking tree, with a lot of positives. Take your time with it and don't force into too small a size. It's doing fine and should develop into something spectacular.
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Re: [xtolord] Singapore Holly

Post by xtolord »

Here is the final entry for this Singapore Holly.
002.jpg
006.jpg

Height : ~25cm
Pot : Round white glazed pot by Tony Remington

Overall I'm more than satisfied with the whole progression so far and on the final outcome.
I had a general idea of what I wanted to create when I selected the material for the competition and it got further refined as the competition progressed and for my part I fell like I reached my target.
The species itself was new to me, both as a plant and as a bonsai material when I started it up for the competition.
I had bought two nurseries plant and both have now become pre-bonsai with definite potential.
One thing that was a real pain ( literally painful ) was the wiring process. Each of those small shiny leaves contain between 2 to 6 spikes that are really painful when wiring.
Another strange feature the tree has is that it seems to favor growth on its roots and trunks as much as on the apex. This made the formation of the ramification on the lateral structures more complex than was initially expected.
starter.jpg
Starting material
sketch.jpg
Rought vision of the tree
002.jpg
Achievement at the end of the competition


Other views and top view:
001.jpg
003.jpg
004.jpg
005.jpg



what is planned for the future of the tree
I'm planning on allowing several buds in the lower areas to develop and turn into sacrificial branches and later along the road to turn into lower branches.
I also need to refine the ramification and give more of a domed shape.



Well that's it :)
Thanks to AusBonsai and Steven for hosting those competitions and making it more interesting everytime.
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Re: [xtolord] Singapore Holly

Post by xtolord »

Tried to edit my previous post but I don't see the edit button for some reason...
In the previous ruler shot above the tape moved when I took the shot and its just now that I realized that... so here's another ruler shot
ruler2.jpg
And a lil 360 video :
https://flic.kr/p/oA8EwH
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Last edited by xtolord on October 2nd, 2014, 3:33 am, edited 1 time in total.
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