Podocarpus - Pick a Front?

[Tony Bebb]

I have had this Podocarpus in a pot for 4 years now. It was dug from the ground with some other trees when we moved from our old house after spending 4 years in the ground growing on as part of the garden.

Sept 08 028 (2) (Medium).jpg

Sept 08 030 (2) (Medium).jpg

I have been just growing and pruning for the last 4 years to develop the base and more branching

31 Mar 2012 (28) (Medium).JPG

31 Mar 2012 (33) (Medium).JPG

31 Mar 2012 (31) (Medium).JPG

31 Mar 2012 (32) (Medium).JPG

Oops. Gotta go. Getting in trouble. Gotta go see my gran.

Happy Easter and I will finish the post soon.

Tony

[Goff]

My vote is for the last pic. The exposed root from trunk looks more powerful to me.

[Tony Bebb]

I am back from visiting and time to give you the photos to choose from.

There are 3 options for front to choose from. The first one the branching is a little better and it is easier to use the existing first branch which comes from the junction of the original trunk. The base has a few issues that can be worked on over time, but the thickness is good.

31 Mar 2012 (40) (Medium).JPG

Second one is from the other side. This one the base has a better buttress, but the branching is not so good. The trunk would be cut almost in half and the branches grown new. The existing first branch would need to be removed exposing the stump from the original trunk. This will be worked either way, but will be more exposed from here.

31 Mar 2012 (38) (Medium).JPG

The last one rotates the tree from the second photo clockwise so you look over the corner of the existing pot. The buttress improves a little more from here and there is more movement in the tree with the new leader selected at about 2/3 height. May be able to utilise that first branch foliage from here to keep around the stump/carving.

31 Mar 2012 (39) (Medium).JPG

All three fronts have merit and future potential. Which one do you like

Tony

[Mojo Moyogi]

but·tress
   [buh-tris]
noun
1.any external prop or support built to steady a structure by opposing its outward thrusts, especially a projecting support built into or against the outside of a masonry wall.
2.any prop or support.
3.a thing shaped like a buttress, as a tree trunk with a widening base.
4.a bony or horny protuberance, especially on a horse's hoof.



Hi Tony, you mention buttress, but really only one of the angles shown has one. Number 3 is where I would be expending the majority of my creative energy.

Cheers,
Mojo

[Craig]

Tony, i prefer the last pic for the new front. I'm sure you can blend the stump over time and it has the most impressive Nebari. happy easter

[bodhidharma]

No 2 for mine Tony. The change of direction in the trunk is softer and looks a little more natural. The base of the trunk looks better at that angle also. Of course we have to make allowances for that sawn off branch on the right to be gone and bring it together more.

[Tony Bebb]

but·tress
   [buh-tris]
noun
1.any external prop or support built to steady a structure by opposing its outward thrusts, especially a projecting support built into or against the outside of a masonry wall.
2.any prop or support.
3.a thing shaped like a buttress, as a tree trunk with a widening base.
4.a bony or horny protuberance, especially on a horse's hoof.



Hi Tony, you mention buttress, but really only one of the angles shown has one. Number 3 is where I would be expending the majority of my creative energy.

Cheers,
Mojo

Nice Mojo.
Your 4. describes my first photo
That's why I like the 2nd and 3rd ones

Tony, i prefer the last pic for the new front. I'm sure you can blend the stump over time and it has the most impressive Nebari. happy easter

Cheers Craig
Last pic is the best start. Flows well from the ground.

No 2 for mine Tony. The change of direction in the trunk is softer and looks a little more natural. The base of the trunk looks better at that angle also. Of course we have to make allowances for that sawn off branch on the right to be gone and bring it together more.

Thanks Bodhi. I like your thinking. The trunk does flow better from here.


Any more

[ric]

I like #2 best as I think the root are shown off more also this view gives a more definite bend in the trunk and the first branch should become stronger and carving will minimise the branch stub. the #3 front gives a much straighter trunk and in my view willbeless interesting as trunk thickens

[The Ficus Guy]

I like number two as well.

[GavinG]

For my money, the third photo has the best root spread, but the trunks from then on aren't good. Have you thought of rolling the tree in photo one about 10-20 degrees further over to the left? That might widen the base. And the trunk flows well. Nice problem to have...

Gavin

[Tony Bebb]

I like #2 best as I think the root are shown off more also this view gives a more definite bend in the trunk and the first branch should become stronger and carving will minimise the branch stub. the #3 front gives a much straighter trunk and in my view willbeless interesting as trunk thickens

Thanks Ric. That fat root on the left bugs me a bit and is less prominent from #3, but the taper is better from #2

I like number two as well.

It's getting the numbers so far. What the photos don't show so well is the angle of that first branch. I will get a photo up from the side so you can see what I mean.

For my money, the third photo has the best root spread, but the trunks from then on aren't good. Have you thought of rolling the tree in photo one about 10-20 degrees further over to the left? That might widen the base. And the trunk flows well. Nice problem to have...

Gavin

It's not a bad problem at all Gavin.
Great idea on the new choice. I will put a photo up. It does widen the base, but I still find it hard to deal with it's big bum.

[Tony Bebb]

A couple of additional photos.

April2012 (42) (Medium).JPG

April2012 (39) (Medium).JPG

April2012 (40) (Medium).JPG

[karraway2]

i really like this one

download/file.php?id=51363&mode=view/31%20Mar%202012%20(39" )%20(Medium).JPG

and could see you carving out a hollow similar to this one i found, but maybe a bit neater to fit the femaninity of your tree?

https://walter-pall-bonsai.blogspot.com. ... ple-2.html

sorry i am doing this on my ipad so could not simply upload the images for you....

[GavinG]

Sorry Tony - misunderstanding. I meant make the tree lean over further to the left, not rotate the pot. I like the root base on what you thought I meant.

Gavin