[shibui] shimpaku

[shibui]

This will be an opportunity to put some skills into practice.

2013 shohin comp shimpaku 3.JPG

2013 shohin comp shimpaku 4.JPG

Species: Juniperus chinensis 'Shimpaku'
Current height from base to tip is 47 cm.
Source: Shibui bonsai
Price: $10

This is a 2 (or 3?) year old cutting from a batch struck from relatively long shoots with the aim of wiring and twisting the trunk. This one was a bit thick and hard to bend so it has not had any work done until now. We will see what splitting and bending can do to that straight trunk

[shibui]

Trunk has been split, wrapped, wired and bent. I also slip potted into a 20cm orchid pot to give plenty of room for roots to grow.

2013 shohin comp shimpaku after bending.JPG

[shibui]

This one has survived the trunk splitting and bending

shohin shimpaku 2013 6 1.JPG

so it is time to wire some branches into place

shohin shimpaku 2013 6 2.JPG

I have left the sacrifice top growth to try to add some thickness to the trunk and to help heal the splits in the trunk.

[Jow]

Nice use of hay-band Neil! Is there anything it cannot do/Fix?

Joe

[shibui]

Nice use of hay-band Neil! Is there anything it cannot do/Fix?

Australian raffia

[shibui]

The shimpaku is showing spring growth and has little silvery flower buds.
I think the splits in the trunk are probably healed up by now but I'll leave the wrapping on a little longer.
I'm keen to prune too but need to remember that all growth now is adding to both healing the split and adding bulk to the trunk.

Shohin comp shimpaku sept 19 1.JPG

Shohin comp shimpaku sept 19 2.JPG

[shibui]

I decided to check the progress of the shohin entries today and take some pics for an update. When I looked closely at this one I found the trunk wrapping has constricted the trunk growth

2013 shohin comp shimpaku dec 2013 1.JPG

When I unwrapped the trunk the cuts have healed nicely but now I have quite prominent inverse taper.

2013 shohin comp shimpaku dec 2013 2.JPG

Rather than withdraw the entry I'll see if I can rectify the problem so this time wrap the thickened section an allow the lower trunk to grow a bit.

2013 shohin comp shimpaku dec 2013 3.JPG

[shibui]

]I've still allowed this one free growth to help heal the cuts in the trunk, put on a bit of thickness and hopefully overcome that thickened area.

2013 shohin comp shimpaku Feb 2014 b.JPG

I still want to give it as much thickening as possible but also need a bit of density in the lower branches because they will be the main branches on the finished tree. I've elected to leave the sacrifice trunk for now but I pinched the lower branches hoping they will ramify a bit even with the tall apex above. There is a risk that all the energy will go to the top of the trunk and the lower branches will weaken I'll watch this one closely and remove the top if I need to.
Very little difference in the after shot but the longer shoots have been finger pinched or trimmed with scissors.

2013 shohin comp shimpaku Feb 2014 a.JPG

Finally, here's a shot of the scars on the trunk healing.

2013 shohin comp shimpaku Feb 2014 trunk.JPG

I think binding the bulge in the trunk has helped the lower area to catch up and the reverse taper is hardly noticeable now.

[shibui]

Lots of growth on this juniper over summer.

juniper shohin 2014 4 1.JPG

The trunk has thickened quite a bit but I think the tall sacrifice leader is holding back the lower branches so if I am going to develop any reasonable foliage pads in the time allotted I need to reduce it now.
Here's an after shot with the top cut back.

juniper shohin 2014 4 2.JPG

. Hoping I can use the base of the old trunk as a jin but looks like it might be hidden by the new apex.

[shibui]

Earlier today it looked like this.

shohin comp shimpaku 2014 5 1.JPG

After a bit of pruning, some pinching and a bit of wire it now looks like this.

shohin comp shimpaku 2014 5 2.JPG

Hope there is still enough growing time to fill out a little before the end of comp.

[shibui]

I'm pretty sure that I have already posted this quarter but thought I should post just to be safe......

2013 shohin comp juniper 28 june 11.JPG

I see that the jin and shari I made last time have still not been treated so out with the lime sulphur and paintbrush -

2013 shohin comp juniper 28 june 13.JPG

Potting up can wait until later.

[rodm]

Wonderful work Neil. Very nice skill and technique. Amazing transformation
Cheers Rod

[shibui]

Time to pot this one up for the coming growing season.
Plenty of roots because it has been in an oversized grow pot for the past year

shohin comp juniper 2014 8 1.JPG

This tree is quite tall in relation to the pot so though I don't often tie trees in thought I should this time.

shohin comp juniper 2014 8 3.JPG

shohin comp juniper 2014 8 4.JPG

Tied in and filled with mix.

shohin comp juniper 2014 8 5.JPG

Sorry, forgot to take an overall after shot so you'll have to wait - something to look forward to...

[Phoenix238]

Amazing, this really shows how much can be achieved in a small amount of time