The Crab Apple Twins

[Watto]

I have a shohin crab apple that I think is quite nice. I like it because its the correct size for shohin and has movement in the trunk, it flowers and fruits so an all round winner for me.
I also have a large crab apple that is pretty straight in the trunk but it flowers and fruits. I think it has potential to be a good bonsai in a few years, with some additional foliage and ramification.
One I call Danny DeVito, the other Arnold Schwarzenegger. Guess which one is which

[TimS]

Looking good watto, haven’t grown crab apple myself but have heard they aren’t the easiest to ramify so looks like you’ve done well

[John(JP)]

Greg,

Both are awesome thanks for sharing.

I have a couple - one is a bit young to do anything, one just Flowers and one flowers as if it's trying to rival Floriade but then has the most pitiful attempt to fruit - starts out looking as if it knows what it's doing and then seems to say "oh dammit I'm too tired those piddly little things are all your getting" - maybe give it a triple PK drink in 2023

John(JP)
CBS

[Watto]

Tim, ramification is not quick like a maple but it can be done.
Thanks John.

[melbrackstone]

Tim, ramification is not quick like a maple but it can be done.
Thanks John.

Watto, can you share your technique for ramification please? Up here in Qld the ones I have just want to bolt straight up with three leaves at the top. I've started just tipping out the top of a new branch to see if that works, and it "sort of" does. I'm just wondering if you partially defoliate to help it ramify as well, or is it just staying on top of the tips?

[Watto]

Without sounding boring Mel, I try to get as much foliage close to the trunk before I worry about things like flowers or fruit.
In the early stages I do my first trim of the spring flush as soon as the new growth hardens off. I cut back to two leaves and the second flush comes from that cut and the process continues.
When they are nearing the finalisation phase I nip out the spring shoots as soon as I can as the amount of foliage needed to keep the tree healthy is contained closer to the trunk and there are more leaves and these leaves are smaller.
I don't defoliate apples or hawthorns as these are from the same family and I treat them the same.
Ramification is more difficult than say maple or elm but is just a matter of sticking to the process and it slowly happens.

[melbrackstone]

Thanks so much Watto, that's what I started this year, and it's definitely bringing the foliage back. I'll attempt to keep at it and hope that I can get something as beautiful as yours!