Agapetes serpens "Himalayan Lantern"

[parabola]

Found this today and after getting ID'd went to work on it. Unsure of it's age... which is a shame...


Before.


A little trimming to see how it could flesh out.


Thats enough for now.


From above.


Some sneaky moss hiding in there too

Ive struck the cuttings (fingers crossed) Ive got about 10 in some soil so lets hope I can get a couple going.

Now Im still insure of a final destination in style... Im going to run with the "main" trunk that shoots off to the left. But i'd like to encourage the 2 smaller on the right to thicken up as well. Its leaning towards a clump at the moment, but I am open to suggestion. Im also inclined to just let it go its own way and see how that pans out. The newer stem thats shot up at the back (easily visible in the above picture) is another part im not sure of. Cut or leave?

Ok, any comments or critiques are appreciated!

Thanks everyone,

Nick.

[Mitchell]

Nice trunk mate, plenty of character!!

I'm thinking it would make a lovely root over rock.
Secondarily, I'd get some wire on those branches before it bursts new growth and whack at least a couple of twists/turns in them. The smaller ones are good to go, the larger is at the point where it may snap as it is thick. I personally would try the "clip 'n' grow" method, easier than wiring.
See virt.

Can't wait to see where you head, please keep us posted.

[parabola]

I like the virt. That trunk is to thick to bend had a quick flex earlier and its not really giving. The others are all very supple though, so there are options.

I had considered r/o/r, but the nebari is quite bulky. Maybe if the cuttings strike i'll be able to send one in that direction.

[MattA]

Hey Nick,

That didnt take long... I am searching thru my archives for you... succeess... sort of

may08 063.jpg

Its just the other side of the pond on top of that white stool

The new shoots while supple snap easily, older thicker wood takes some effort but can be bent & holds its position well once its fully set. Older wood is prone to cracking during bending, as long as you go slowly & dont over do it at any one time major bends are possible. The bark is very thin on both new & old wood so wiring needs to be done with care. They respond so well to clip & grow methods I only used wire once to reposition a branch during the years i grew it.I would shorten the long new shoots even further to start getting movement into them right from the start then let it grow until next spring before thinking about the next bit of work.

Matt

[parabola]

Haha great picture

[MattA]

Haha great picture

I didnt say i found a good picture, just a picture of what was a pretty good little tree. Heres another from a diff angle a bit closer but trust me you wont like it.

agapetes.jpg

I told you .....Now if either of those photos had been on film I could have them blown up heaps with very little loss of quality.. digital hahahahahahahaha not likely

Matt

[parabola]

All good. Thx for trying to dig some pics up for me Matt

[MattA]

All good. Thx for trying to dig some pics up for me Matt

I am a dog with a bone... wont let this go till i get a decent pic for ya...May take a while but is all good.

These should be used more for bonsai, it was one of the easiest trees to work with that I have ever grown! Once you realise you have to prune HARD & constantly... Once your frame is set up, let new shoots extend 10-15cm then cut back to 1-2cm long. They throw heaps of new buds & away you go again.

One other thing to watch out for is strong upward growing new shoots close to the base of trunk or branchs, this will sap all the energy & everything beyond that point will slowly loose vigour & die off.

Keep us posted as it goes along.

Matt

[parabola]

Quick update!

Had a check on my pets this morning to see some nice back budding starting to pop on the older branches!

A couple on the middle trunk (that splits into 2 branches) towards the top and another couple on the left hand thicker trunk.

And it seems the cutting I took are also holding up well, no wilting or browning of leaves. Not getting my hopes too high but it would be great if a couple of the cuttings take. The flowers that i've seen on the interwebz look amazing so heres hoping I get some next season

[parabola]

Update!

After prolific back budding I nipped a couple that were going no where good. Now the others are powering along.

This photo is from last weekend and it has grown more since!



Not the best angle but you can get an idea of where its started to fill out. Im a bit cut that the center branch that splits into a Y hasn't popped any new shoots yet. There was what looked like a couple of them starting off but they didnt eventuate.

I'll take some better picks when I get a chance.

[Guy]

dunno-----I
this is my personal opinion-and I have very little experience with this type of plant,but I really can't come at the really fat, bulbous,elephant man roots that this and some figs seem to have--I have yet to see a believable bonsai with this style --do you have any examples ie pictures that could possibly change my obvious and possibly (or probably)unjust prejudice.

[parabola]

Not in my own collection. I just troll the internet for pix to inspire.

Its the first real bulbous knobbly rooty sort of stick I have so Im in uncharted territory