I have been reading here for a bit and am finally making my first post. I am not a bonsai addict at this stage but I have always wanted a nice large bonsai from scratch and came here to learn how. My favourite tree is the Queensland bottle tree and so I wanted to try and use this species iny bonsai. A few months ago I got a small tree with an interesting base and immediately repotted to show more of the base. At the time i also cut the tree right down and crossed fingers that it would grow. Well it did and after a few more weeks i repotted into a bonsai-ish pot.
I know this was a no no so soon but this plant seems bulletproof and took it in its stride. A few weeks on I want to start training my tree but I don't know where to start. I am posting this so hopefully I can get some suggestions from you much more experienced people. Ill try and post up future pics here to as a record of its progress. Here is my tree.
and welcome. I too am a big fan of the bottle tree. I now have 4 and have trouble walking past one at a nursery If this was mine I would cut off that root coming off the side and cut back to one leader - I would use the one on the left (1st pic) to continue the movement. Give it some native fertiliser - I find these trees grow well even in a bonsai pot.
Last edited by Bougy Fan on January 7th, 2013, 4:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason:Clarify which pic
Regards Tony
"The problem with quotes found on the Internet is that it's hard to be sure of their authenticity." Abraham Lincoln
I will take your advice on the leader this evening maybe make it continue across in a sweep at the base does?
Regarding the root I do kind of like it and wondered what it would look like as the tree ages. You are right though that the tree would probably look better without it. Hmmm will take my time thinking but will probably do it
Well cover it with something and look Dan - but remember it will thicken the new trunk at that point and make a bulge eventually. Yes I would continue with the movement to the left, but that's the way my brain works - yours may be different.
Regards Tony
"The problem with quotes found on the Internet is that it's hard to be sure of their authenticity." Abraham Lincoln
So after playing with it I took Tony's advice. It sweeps to the left and forward. I wanted it to go to the side but the sweep naturally went to the front so I will just reorientate it when I repot.
Thanks Tony
I made It sweep a bit towards the front following the movement of the base. I like the look if it does thicken up one day in that shape. The tip is already pointing skyward so when it grows another cm or two Ill start to angle that back towards the tree. I was also thinking of maybe cutting just above this bend (once it has grown a bit) so I could have a branch at the bend and then a main leader that could continue back to above the base of the tree.
I have no idea about traditional styling but thought this might look cool... maybe haha.
I will have to do some reading and will probably get another tree (different/less leggy species) at some stage as I do like the traditional looking trees and would like to do one one day.
I have seen some wild pictures of bottle trees with lots of movement and bends - I don't think they lend themselves to "traditional" styling. You may find yourself with more than one - like me
Just give it a go and keep going - I reckon as long as you are moving forward you are learning
Regards Tony
"The problem with quotes found on the Internet is that it's hard to be sure of their authenticity." Abraham Lincoln
It is starting to grow its secondary leaves again now and I am going to try and make it branch at the point it is now. Thought it was a good time for an update pic I also think I have a new front when I repot and changed the wiring to suit a couple of weeks back. It moves back as it tapers up which breaks a rule (I think) but it then sweeps back forward in the bend. Meh I like it
Last edited by klaery on January 24th, 2013, 6:33 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Oh also if anybody has any other or better ideas about which way this tree could go please let me know I am a true beginner and have next to no idea what I am doing haha. I just do what I think might look nice based on no experience.
Watch the wire - these trees grow very quickly. You just have to decide if the apex is going to keep going away from the base or come back towards it. I do find it a bit conflicted at the moment with the movement. The base has strong angular movement and then the top section you have wired is sort of "sweepy". It's like the base of the tree is very masculine and then the top is feminine
Regards Tony
"The problem with quotes found on the Internet is that it's hard to be sure of their authenticity." Abraham Lincoln
I did want to angle it back so I could do a hard angle back from where it starts to go vertical. Would take away the soft sweep and give it a jagged tree look.
Bougy is giving great advice and is mentoring you a little, which is fantastic. Imagine a sweeping tree more, sort of like a curvy swans neck and follow that line up.
"Advice is rarely welcome, and the one's who need it the most welcome it the least"
and welcome. I too am a big fan of the bottle tree. I now have 4 and have trouble walking past one at a nursery 
If this was mine I would cut off that root coming off the side and cut back to one leader - I would use the one on the left (1st pic) to continue the movement. Give it some native fertiliser - I find these trees grow well even in a bonsai pot.
