Portulacaria afra Shohin Project

[Patmet]

My Grandad gave me this portulacaria in 2019 when I was a beginner. I've always thought it had potential with good taper and trunk line.

I had a crack at first styling it, and shortly after took it out of the small bonsai pot and put it into a cut down plastic pot. Since then it has been on the back burner doing it's own thing for the most part with some cutting here and there.

Recently I decided to start giving it some attention again and gave it it's first repot in a number of years. I've also gone in with wire to set up some better structure again, and cut everything back to the first few leaves to push growth in.

There are a couple of "bar branch" sections, especially up the top, but I'm still unsure of getting rid of any one part at this stage. Any ideas/critiques/advice for the design welcome.

Cheers, Patrick

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April 2019 as I got it

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2019 first styling attempt

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Some time 2019 after being potted up

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Before work Jan 2024

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After

[TimIAm]

Looking good. If it was mine I'd remove the lowest branch. Then tidy up some of the overlapping branches. I'd then grow out some of the lower branches to thicken them up because (from the photo) they all look like the same thickness.

Something like this:

pafra.jpg

I really like the base.

I'm probably not suggesting anything you don't already know. Anyway, I think you'll end up with something very decent. I'm growing a couple of these myself. I like that they're easy to work with and you can ignore them as long as you like. No fuss and easy to style.

[Patmet]

Looking good. If it was mine I'd remove the lowest branch. Then tidy up some of the overlapping branches. I'd then grow out some of the lower branches to thicken them up because (from the photo) they all look like the same thickness.

Something like this:

pafra.jpg


I really like the base.

I'm probably not suggesting anything you don't already know. Anyway, I think you'll end up with something very decent. I'm growing a couple of these myself. I like that they're easy to work with and you can ignore them as long as you like. No fuss and easy to style.

Thanks for the feedback, it is appreciated. I think what you have suggested is probably the direction I will head. Removing that main low branch is something I've considered, and seeing it removed in the virtual you have done helps me get a better visual.

I think the base and lower trunk are the strongest features of this tree. I agree with you. I know they aren't everyone's cup of tea, but I think they get an unfairly bad rap in bonsai. In my opinion they can make very attractive trees, and are an amazingly resilient species.

[Akhi]

That's great work, one thing I recommend is that you score the trunk at this stage so that it calluses over and that way you don't see the rings as it matures. I did that with some of my Jade's and the trunk looks more mature.

[Patmet]

I ended up removing two of the low front branches. I'm happy with the decision I made in the end.

It grew back so fast from that last round of work, so I've just cut it back again to keep pushing the growth in. I also tightened the guy wires some more. I want to over bend the larger branches down to allow for a bit of spring back when the wires are removed.

I've taken a photo from all sides of the tree now. Something I want to start doing more to give a bit better an idea of the tree in three dimensions.

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Before

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After - Front

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Back

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Side

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Side

[Patmet]

I brought this in last night for a trim and decided to make some big cuts. Some of the branches near the top were just too thick for my liking, an all radiating from one point. The low branches were too long and thick with little taper. There’s some bare patches now and new branches to grow, but it will be a much better tree for it.

I’m going to keep it under cover for a while now to let the big wounds dry out so they don’t rot. It’s getting a tad bit wet here now to put it back on the benches.

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Before

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After

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Left side

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Right side

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Back

[TimIAm]

I like what you've done with it. Once it fills out it will look even better and make the cuts worthwhile.

Hard to tell accurately from a photo, in your front photo it looks like the apex is going back away from the viewer, but the photo of your chosen back looks like there is a branch going forward?

Also, have you considered (maybe when it moves into a bonsai pot) angling the top forward a bit? (Again, I could be wrong looking at a 2D picture).

Looking great

[Patmet]

I like what you've done with it. Once it fills out it will look even better and make the cuts worthwhile.

Hard to tell accurately from a photo, in your front photo it looks like the apex is going back away from the viewer, but the photo of your chosen back looks like there is a branch going forward?

Also, have you considered (maybe when it moves into a bonsai pot) angling the top forward a bit? (Again, I could be wrong looking at a 2D picture).

Looking great

It’s actually the other way around, the apex leans heavily forwards at the moment. (Maybe a bit too much) but I’m just going to wait and see what new buds I get to possibly remove some of the forward lean. That will also help with taper, as the forwards leaning part at the very top is also a little thick. I’m expecting I should get a decent amount of budding along the trunk after this cut back.