Japanese Larch. Conifer and Deciduous

[Grant Bowie]

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[Grant Bowie]

I have started a major overhaul of this tree now that the autumn colour has passed.

The tree has become extremely ramified since the start of this thread and is now ready for its next stage. I will style it as a conifer rather than a deciduous tree; just easier without the foliage of course.

The bark is becoming rough and all scars from previous wirings have largely disappeared so I am trying copper wire this time and am finding it satisfactory. The split where I inserted the knife has healed very well and did not open up despite a bit of pulling down with a guy wire.

I am still assessing how to eventually place the branches once the wiring is completed; size and position of pads; outline and contours; compactness, simplicity vs complexity etc. It will be a few days more yet but here is as far as I have got.

Obviously apex still to wire and the tree could be a bit shorter by the time this overhaul is complete.

Grant

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[Ces]

love this progression Grant. Thanks mate.

I love where you are taking this tree now even more. I cant grow Larch here in Sydney but if I could I'd have heaps of them. Nick Lenz's larches are fantastic and I am doing my best to capture components of his haunting styling (through my own artistic filter of course) in some of my trees. When you're done with placement this tree is going to look great and will have that spooky feeling that I'm so attracted to.

Looking forward to the next update.

Cheers,

Ces.

[Grant Bowie]

I was googling Larch bonsai images but haven't found anything like I am looking for yet; so it will be new ground for me.

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

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And still a fair way to go to finish.

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

Update

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1 week after experimental Autumn repot in full leaf. Will stay in shaded spot for another week and then into 90% full sun. Into a new Tokoname pot just bought back from Japan.

Tree is performing very well and ramifying nicely since last update almost 2 years ago,

Grant

[Webos]

G'day Grant,
I'd like to hear about your double colander technique seen behind this tree. What have you discovered about this method? How about a new thread and discussion about it?

Adam

[Grant Bowie]

G'day Grant,
I'd like to hear about your double colander technique seen behind this tree. What have you discovered about this method? How about a new thread and discussion about it?

Adam

They are Ash seedlings left over form the soil trials from a few years ago. They are very thirsty and in summer need a water tray under them and watering at least twice or more per day.

Had to cut them back before I went to Japan to save my wife the stress of looking after their watering and working full time, so I didn't get the full advantage of thickening this year with sacrifice branches.

It will give a very good root system within the confines of the inner colander. The outer colander was just to add a growing/water buffer but it quickly filled with roots as well. No problem when removing the outer colander; just trim the roots back and then you can remove from the inner colander as well when ready.

Only recommend the method with Ash or other thirsty trees if you can put in the effort; otherwise just go for ground or standard pot. One other thread thought the double colander was a waste of time but I find it OK,

Grant

[Ces]

Great tree, Grant. Thanks for posting. Love the new pot and the autumn repot seems to be going well.

I'm a huge fan of Nick Lenz's work with larch and would love to have a few but here in the Botany Bay area of Sydney they just go toes up. Anychance we can get a shot of the new needles emerging nexte Spring? That is my favourite time to view larch with the small neeedles and extra negative space.

Thanks again, mate.

Ces.

[Grant Bowie]

Great tree, Grant. Thanks for posting. Love the new pot and the autumn repot seems to be going well.

I'm a huge fan of Nick Lenz's work with larch and would love to have a few but here in the Botany Bay area of Sydney they just go toes up. Anychance we can get a shot of the new needles emerging nexte Spring? That is my favourite time to view larch with the small neeedles and extra negative space.

Thanks again, mate.

Ces.

It will need a lot of work over winter as I will have to remove 2 years of wiring and then cut in some space.

I would love to get some Yamadori Japanese larch but it just ain't going to happen in Oz.

Will try and remember to photograph for you. It comes into bud very early in late winter; much quicker than most other deciduous. It is a very cold climate tree but maybe responds to the warmer temperature than its home region.

Didn't see one in Japan.

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

Starting to get some autumn colour down here.

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Grant

[Boics]

Another fantastic thread Grant.

Thanks for updating this tree and continuing the journey for all to enjoy and learn!

[Grant Bowie]

I like the pot it is in for size; width, depth etc. and its style and shape.

How about colour?

Thoughts on glazed vs unglazed etc

Grant

[Sean M]

The colour/glaze of the pot is tricky, most of the conifers I've seen usually live in brown unglazed pots. Deciduous seem to be put in glazed pots with a bit of colour to compliment their look when bare. I think this pot will work with the creamy yellow/brown of the needles in Autumn and provide "colour" when bare, yet is not too much to take away from the tree when in leaf/needle. My eyes are not what they used to be but I'm guessing that the pot is unglazed?

[Grant Bowie]

The colour/glaze of the pot is tricky, most of the conifers I've seen usually live in brown unglazed pots. Deciduous seem to be put in glazed pots with a bit of colour to compliment their look when bare. I think this pot will work with the creamy yellow/brown of the needles in Autumn and provide "colour" when bare, yet is not too much to take away from the tree when in leaf/needle. My eyes are not what they used to be but I'm guessing that the pot is unglazed?

It is in a cream glazed pot. Its not super shiny but the glaze is pretty uniform.

Grant