Hibiscus - the dark horse of Bonsai - tree 2

[Brandon]

Hi all,

This is the second of 4 possible hibiscus plants that I have been slowely pullingup from the side of the house. It is the biggest of the bunch and I think close to 20 years old.

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As always any thoughts and suggestions are more than welcome, I have 2 ideas...
1. crack the top off the main trunk (shari/jin it)and build the tree with the lower part and the lower trunk...giving the impression of a tree that has been hit by lightning etc, a bit along the lines of my avatar (goshin)
2. Jin the lower trunk and build a more traditional informal upright, however I think trying to create taper with the consist trunk size will be nigh on impossible.

[Jamie]

hey pal :d nice stump again!

as for your first option i dont know if it would suit the tree. by that i mean it is a tree with flowers and a broadleaf, something not often seen with broken tops like being hit by lightening. i think your best option would be to build the tree up and create dense ramification in the branching, first things first though, your gonna have to get it strong and healthy


jamie

[Asus101]

No jin... its not the wood for it.
I can keep posting pics of those hibiscus, I cant remember seeing one jin. Maybe a small shari caused from branch removal, but no jins.

[kcpoole]

I doubt Jin woudl work as the wood is very soft and tends to rot quickly. you woud have to apply a real good preservative/hardener, and I doubt it would be worth it.
Nice stump though
I woud take the tall stump back the large branch and build the top there. The smaller trunk will make a nice lower trunk feature of the tree

Ken

[Brandon]

Cheers for your input guys, I'm gathering the jin idea is a no goer, and I see your logic in that, not really 'natural' and inappropriate wood. I am diffinently crossin' my fingers that it recovers being lifted as it could be an interesting project over the next few years, if not challenging.

Attached a virtual, demonstrating some vicious pruning, Don't laugh to hard, it's my first one!

[Brandon]

I woud take the tall stump back the large branch and build the top there. The smaller trunk will make a nice lower trunk feature of the tree

Ken

Do you mean this branch Ken??

[Asus101]

go look at the images I posted and study them....

[kcpoole]

Yep Brandon
I would make my first cut there and see how you go
You can always lower later if you think needs it or you get a really good branch further down

I like your Virt of where you want to go with it but I think the short trunk is too tall. Take back to the Second branch on that one and make it the short apex

Ken