LillyPilly from shrub to trainer

[bonsaiginseng]

wow thats got some great shape on it. I was aware that you can actually bonsai a tree that is that big...clearly you can.

I just repotted a couple of japanese maple's yesterday, looking forward to starting pruning and shaping these.

[alpineart]

wow thats got some great shape on it. I was aware that you can actually bonsai a tree that is that big...clearly you can.

I just repotted a couple of japanese maple's yesterday, looking forward to starting pruning and shaping these.

Hi Bonaiginseng , i have seen some bigger bonsai than this . There are such things as 2 -3 -4 man tree's this happens to be a 2 man tree potted but its not heavy as a trunk .Currently sizing up a couple of 10m Cedrus Deodara i planted here . Anythings possible , i would need an excavator but i have used them before today to remove trunks for bonsai.

Cheers Alpineart

[alpineart]

Well after careful consideration i have decide the rear is the new front . It has some big scars that need healing but the movement and branching is better positioned ,

SANY0162.JPG

that coupled with the tilt in the trunk was the deciding factor . Out with the heavy wire and slings and a rough wire job to position the branches , "Wouldn't the guru's leap up and down with my wiring" , its effective and only temporary , as long as it holds its doing its job . I have again selectively trimmed it , now it can grow on with constant tip pinching back to the first set of leaves or shoots .Definitely a better front with more character and movement .

Cheers Alpineart

[fiveoffive]

looks great and in a few years it will look like a million dollers !

Question.
Are you going to use any cut past or vaseline to see if it can heal the cuts quicker?

[Matthew]

alpine that is a a huge improvement . looks much better.

[TheNumber13]

Mate, I love reading through all your pictorial progressions, and this one is no different. I like what you accomplish, and the range of effective methods you employ.

So thanks a lot, and thats another lovely tree coming along there.

[alpineart]

Question.
Are you going to use any cut past or vaseline to see if it can heal the cuts quicker?[/quote]

Hi fiveoffive , no pastes or vasaline will be used on the cuts .I have in the past used Steri-prune only to dry the fresh cuts out . The way the cuts are healing they can be left alone . I don't see any reason to seal them now .

Cheers Alpine

[alpineart]

Hi Matthew , definitely an improvement as you have said , well i can now say i still have one of my first Bonsai or be it a trainer , bloody old trainer at that .

Hi TheNumber13 , thanks for the feedback . To me it doesn't matter how you go about it as long as it works and works effectively . You members are blessed to see how rough i wire , so compare your wiring to mine its bound to be much better .I still hate the thought of wiring so hook and hold wires and slings work well in situation like this , i still maintain "No Rules" only suggestions . i just don't follow suggestions real well .

Cheers Guys Alpine

[Bretts]

I agree it is a massive improvement with this front
Whether these lower scars heal or not they look much better than the high scars. I would take more wood out of the back \scars now and also add more detail as they will be there for some time.
Although more cookie cutter it is a beautiful trunk with this front.
I am undecided on my opinion on whether the wood under the first right branch should be under cut to make the taper/trunk flow better or leave as is remembering that nature does not give perfect form. Ok I would have a bet each way and just take out a little

Nothing but fun from here

[alpineart]

Hi Bretts , i have looked at this right side and with the cut off branch directly beside this branch itself it could be easily carved without worrying about the material removed as its dead wood . That right hand lower branch is actually the side shoot of the 80mm side branch removed , the cut is currently 15mm concave so to add another 15mm concave to the lower section closer to the trunk wouldn't be hard at all .

This was carved in the ground so it faults don't really appear until they are potted up as this was the planned back until i removed and potted it up then studied the whole trunk .Due to the fact it too heavy to move it will get a carve up as soon as this beautiful rain disappears come Monday . I will run the dremel over and around the edges of the now rear scars to flush them in a bit more . I will set some tooth picks in and around the base and begin the root production as well , it would be nice to get this trunk into a 400mm-450mm pot over time again smaller than the original plan .

Hows your big mother lilly pilly going , any chance of an update ? .

Cheers Alpine

[Bretts]

Hey Mate,
Yep it looks like an easy fix. Just food for thought

At the moment I plan on entering the big lilly pilly in the Of bonsai comp so to keep in line with the rules I won't be updating it here but just to say I have done nothing but let it grow which it is doing a good job off. It's biggest problem at the moment is that I find a spot for it over Winter before it is hit by frost

[alpineart]

Hi Bretts , nothing in the rules to say i cant enter this piece , although i will make reference to the powers to be regarding its eligibility . Frost , crikey that means i will have to move this bugger in under shelter , their forecasting 4 heavy frosts next week .

Cheers Alpine

[Matthew]

nasty frosts alpine between -3 to -5 my way and you will get it worse dare i say

[alpineart]

nasty frosts alpine between -3 to -5 my way and you will get it worse dare i say

Hi Matthew , hopefully i will get the fog which tends to lighten the severity of the frosts .Being up on the hill i'm sheltered by fog or low cloud . I will however get this mother under cover .Wangaratta can get -5 regularly but as you move up the mountains/hills is lessens . The main township usually gets a white out , i get those occasional black frosts which are a disaster , far more severe for any plant 1.5 m off the ground even under the pergola .They can freeze ice up to 30mm thick in ponds and containers .

Cheers Alpine

[anttal63]

Yes mate its a cracker !!! Everything about it. That is definately the right front and the only front !!! In time it will only improve and hopefully so does your wiring!!!