Hinoki Cypress Help

[Emily Csato]

Hi there,

I've got a hinoki shohin in a growing pot. Over the last couple days I've done basic wiring and medium pruning. It was fertilized a week ago in a diluted soak. My question is, can I pot it now, or should I wait for winter. And once I pot it, when do I fertilize it. I have no clue about these trees, except that they grow real slow and don't form new backbudding on old wood. Anything you want to share about Hinokis would be great.

[bodhidharma]

Hi Emily,
I would be leaving it in that pot till next year at least and keep it healthy. I dont think the bottom branch will be in your design but it can stay on until you are happy with the trunk thickness. I would be thinking of pulling the rest of the branches down and doing your secondary branch wiring now.

[Emily Csato]

Next year as in anytime 2013, or next year as in winter? I've had the tree for a few months now. The bottom branch is part of the tree design, I think it would look wrong without it...wouldn't balance. Why do you think it wouldn't work for the design?

[Emily Csato]

And, how do you leaf prune these? Can you cut the tips or do you have to finger pluck them?

[matty-j]

hi emily

bodhi suggested this lower branch would need to go because it will be to low in the final design
but will make a nice sacrifice branch to fatten the trunk to create some taper
as a VERY GENERAL RULE when dealing with an informal upright the first branch should be APPROXIMATELY 1/3 from the base of the trunk
it is only a guide think of it what you will
if your not sure about something check the aus bonsai wiki page first it just may have your answer

and it does https://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... ki_Cypress

the wiki page is fantastic!! i use it all the time


cheers
matt

[Boics]

If I'm not mistaken for most cypress type foliage the preference is to "twist and pull" with fingers rather than cut.
This should allow a clean release of the foliage tip.

Once again if I'm not mistaken the correct approach should be to remove the most rapid growing tip to promote more bulk.

My advise (and as per the Wiki) is to let the plant relax until a re-pot next year.
Just to be sure to be sure.

No need to rush the tree into a pot as it is important to grow at this early stage.

[Emily Csato]

bodhi suggested this lower branch would need to go because it will be to low in the final design
but will make a nice sacrifice branch to fatten the trunk to create some taper
as a VERY GENERAL RULE when dealing with an informal upright the first branch should be APPROXIMATELY 1/3 from the base of the trunk
it is only a guide think of it what you will
if your not sure about something check the aus bonsai wiki page first it just may have your answer

matt

Ah ic ic, and I understand. The tree is in the pot a bit, which the picture doesn't show, plus there's more in the soil which I'll clear when I pot it. It looks low, but it won't be that low when it's done. And thanks for the wiki link, very helpful.