What to do with this Monster

[Terry Southall]

Hi Guys, I'm both new to this site and Bonsai. I have been interested in the art form for some time, but never seriously until now Thanks to Ray N. for putting me onto this site.

Over the last 6 - 12 months have put together a small starter collection, nothing to crazy, well with the exception of this monster I pick this up from Newcastle a few weeks ago, just sitting in a big concrete pot but I saw heaps of potential. The previous owner thought it was well over 40 years old. It needed an immediate repot but no dramatic root work was done. I have removed alot of branches and trimmed it back significantly to this point. As you can see from the pictures it has a fantastic base and three great trunks, the only shortfall that I can see, at this point, is the top of the trunks have been cut off flat! The trunk on the left has a nice, aged split running right to the top. Given I am very new to Bonsai any advice, suggestions and guidance would be greatly appreciated as I am at a little bit of a loss as to what too do next. I know from reading a lot of posts on the site that Privets are no eveyone's cup to tea, but as I said 'I' see a lot of potential here.

I though I would also add a picture of my small collection/display, my favorite is the 16 yr old Japanese Plum. I also have plenty of pot stock including Figus and Bansia ready for potting, shaping etc in a couple of months.

[stymie]

A desireable tree Terry for anyone. There are negative aspects in the inverse taper of the bole and left hand trunk but these are acceptable in view of the beautiful root flare at soil level. At some time, it would be useful to make photographs of four sides against a plain background. This would allow the styling fraternity to make suggestions as to the way forward. I'm sure that you will get many admiring comments.

[Jester]

I'm not into privets in any way shape or form but you've gotta love that trunk!!! I would really appreciate it if you could post a close up photo of your japanese plum. They are one of my favourites. Would that be possible??

[Terry Southall]

Sure mate can have better pic tom, let me know This is a new purchase, a little work to do but very happy. p.s. Sorry admins these pics are a bit big!

[sreeve]

Hi Terry,
I am sure you are going to have a lot of fun and produce some fantastic results with htose trees.
Fantastic choices especially as you say, only starting in Bonsai.

I reckon I would have a hard plastic brush or even toothbrush dipped in water and be wiping away that moss / growth from the trunk and base of the trunk.
I had bad experiencees leaving that type of growth there. However after religiously brushing away for the past five years, I have been more lucky
Regards
Steve

[Steven]

G'day Terry and welcome to AusBonsai!
That's one impressive looking Privet mate. You are going to have a lot of fun styling that bad boy into something special If it were mine, I'd be loosing those white pebbles - they are too overpowering in my opinion.
As Stymie says, it would be better to see a picture from each of the 4 sides before offering any opinions for styling. It is very hard to judge depth from a 2 dimensional picture.
Thanks for dropping by and sharing your bonsai with us. I have added you to our draw for a luxury suede leather tool roll. Good luck

Regards,
Steven

[Terry Southall]

Thanks Steve, I am with you as far as the white stones go, all I could get at the time to protect the high soil level in such a shallow pot. When I repot and give he roots a good cut back all will change I will take some more photos tom on a nice white background and get some styling tips...

[Petra]

hi Terry,
What a beauty. Can see lots of ideas flashing by. I too am new to Bonsai, and i find it easer to see ideas when it comes to someone else's trees. Apart from buying lots of stock, I havent done a whole deal as yet with not knowing where to start ,or is it the right time.That worries me the most. Looking at your tree here has given me some ideas to my own now.
Thanks for shearing it with us, i really look forward to seeing your progress down the track on this guy.
Have to take the plunge now. cheers,Petra!

[MelaQuin]

Large branches cut off flat? No probs. Just have your eye travel down each one a bit, pick a new leader then angle the cut and train the new leader so its growing taper makes it a natural extension of the trimmed cutoff section.

This photo shows what I have done with a thick trunk - the t ree was 2 metres tall when I got it. This photo is 6 months old and the thickening of the leader is going well and within a year it will look like a natural extension of the thick trunk. I trimmed the edges of the trunk cut downwards to increase the tapering. The trunk is about 4 cm across at the initial cut and you work on from there to make it a part of the tree.

It is always best if you can select a leader so the cut is at the back but sometimes this is not possible - that's when a Dremel can help to make the wound look natural. If you don't know Dremel trawl the tips section of this forum and there are articles on the Dremel and good bits to get.

Mela styph 2009-02.jpg

This next photo is a callistimon that was hollowed out by ant infestation and to use the ant holes [and some created by me] as a feature, I had to have the large cut at the front. I have lengthened the scar because no scar should look round and healing is faster with a tear drop shape and I created gentle weathering lines to look as tho the branch was broken off in a storm. This tree is in early stages of development and when the foliage pads start to dominate the scar will visually all but disappear.

Calli antsi 2009-07.jpg

[Ash]

Hi Terry,
I quite like this privet because it looks so much like a broadleafed tree (not thecommon pine style bonsai!) as it is. I wouldn't race to do anything radical to it, just gradually refine it as we do with all bonsai. Regarding the 'flat cut' trunks, I have also hollowed some of this type of thing to look like a tree that had a large trunk, something happened to it (other than a man with a chainsaw) and then it regrew. Like selecting new branch leaders that could work with this one.
all the best with it
ciao
Ash