[Neli] Pomegranate

[Neli]

• Species name Pomegranate
• Original height of stock 80cm
• Where you obtained it from: Nursery plant world
• Cost of stock: $3

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[Neli]

I have started with this pomegranate.
I did lots of virtuals...and finally settled on one.
So far I only chopped it little bit. I noticed lots of die back wherever a branch was cut, so I played it safe for now and cut higher. I want to see how it will react to that. Dont have time to regrow apex or branches. The blue marks indicate where I shall eventually cut. I tried to style it in such a manner that I use as much as possible lower existing branches, since there is not much time.
Left bottom left branch to grow and thicken as well as thicken the trunk. Not 100% sure if I shall keep it at the end. Ones it thickens...(not later than next mid summer) I shall try to chop it short and grow it better with tapper and movement and then proceed with secondary and tertiary branches next summer.
I wired the second branch, but took the pictures before that. There is a branch behind which I will cut letter.
There is a half dead branch on the left, which I might make a jin and curve it. (if it looks good and fits with the eventual design)
The apex I plan to grow to the left and right after that.
I dont have any branches at the back. I hope I will get some after I chopped all this branches.
Winter is just around the corner so I dont expect much growth. The trunk at the moment is just too thin, so I desperately need to thicken it...and if that does not happen I shall just make it shorter to keep it proportional by airlayering it. Normally it takes around two month ????? for an airlayer to root and that I plan to do towards the end of the second summer, and pot it in a bonsai pot.
I tried to follow all the guide lines, but have no experience so I shall just have to wait and see.

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[Andrew Legg]

Looking good Neli! Nice to see someone with a plan!

[kcpoole]

Very nice Neli and I agree with Andrew. nice plan and good to play with different Virts to get an idea of where to head.

Ken

[Neli]

Looking good Neli! Nice to see someone with a plan!

Andrew,
Thanks a lot! You know I am a total newbie...Need to have plan and make it with a cool head and not just cut in the spur of the moment. So measure twice and cut ones...He he he!
Other wise...I might end with just a stick.
I made a plan for each tree so I dont forget what the plan is and follow it.

[Neli]

Very nice Neli and I agree with Andrew. nice plan and good to play with different Virts to get an idea of where to head.

Ken

Ken, I am so unsure....so inexperienced...that I need to do that. If you just new how long it took me to make this virts....I am sure You just take one look and know what to do , I am lost with one look.
My new resolution is to come out of the box...and do more unusual things, but it is so hard...But I shall try.
Thank You!

[lackhand]

Hey Neli, I like the virtuals. Style is very much a personal thing, but I think I like the smaller low right branch as seen in the second virt in the top row rather than the one that makes it almost a second trunk. I think it might look better without the deadwood too.

There, that's four cents for you! Take it or leave it, but either way good luck with the tree. I've always liked pomegranate bonsai.

[Neli]

Hi Karl,
Thanks for the advise. Pictures are hard to figure out and virtuals even harder. That is the same branch on the first and second picture.It just looks like a trunk because there is a branch coming off it behind at an angle, that makes it look thick. I dont want to cut too much. This tree when I got it had lots of dead wood. So I am scared it is a trend in this plant. For this reason, I Cut every where higher to see how it will react, just in case I get the same die back again. It is not the season for too drastic cuts also...our winter is just starting...so I tried to minimize.
I have not decided yet on the dead wood, I will decide ones the tree is done, after I see how it looks. It does not disturb my plans for now, but I am inclined to agree.

[Neli]

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Not much progress on this one. I will ground layer it later.

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[Neli]

I shortened it a bit.

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[Neli]

Not much progress on this tree also.. For whatever reason it is just not growing.
But I like the shape of the trunk, just that it needs to be fattened and branches developed. I have 2 sacrifice branches in good position.
More than possible none of this will happen in the time frame of this competition.

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[Neli]

I dont like it at all...lost a vital branch plus that...

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[Boics]

What soil are you using Neli?
It looks very thick to me?

[Neli]

This is the soil I bought it in...I am sure some garden loam...My normal bonsai mix is very loose no organics and large particles.