AusBonsai

Alrighty initial styling has been done. Only lost a few buds on insignificant branches and the only tear was on that upper left branch on the main tree, that will go eventually anyway so im not too concerned.
As you can see the buds are starting to get going, as it was slip potted about a month ago and ive done a fair bit of carving, gouging etc... should a serious repot wait until next year?

cheers

Hayden

Good work!

Leave in foam box now as it is leafing out. You would probably get away with doing a repot by trimming off the new growth but equally there is no hurry.

Right hand tree.
1 Put a few more wiggles in the apex
2 pay attention the bar look at the end of the top right hand branch. Squeeze the two tips closer together as it does not look natural.
3 Make the lower back branches more back branchy rather than side branchy.(Technical term)
4 Harmonise the rest of the branches(Easiser said of course). At this point you need to decide if you are going to make the entire branch system simple, complex, extremely wiggly, tips up, tips down etc.
5 Lower slightly rh lowest branch
6 shorten slightly the long branch going to the left front.

Pics to follow.
Grant

Examples of wiggle wiring by john m

got it.
more wiggles and pay a bit more attention - admittedly i spent about 4 hours wiring and looking, so probably need to go back with fresh eyes.
Im thinking tips down - would you class your tree as simple branching? Im after elegance so not going overboard with aggressive wiggliness (also a technical term)
Are you happy for the lowest branch on the right hand tree to be brought back to become a full back branch? In that case pull it down and put a good bend in it.
Shorten branch heading left by tightening bends or trimming?
Cheers

Haydenmc wrote:got it.
more wiggles and pay a bit more attention - admittedly i spent about 4 hours wiring and looking, so probably need to go back with fresh eyes.
Im thinking tips down - would you class your tree as simple branching? Im after elegance so not going overboard with aggressive wiggliness (also a technical term)
Are you happy for the lowest branch on the right hand tree to be brought back to become a full back branch? In that case pull it down and put a good bend in it.
Shorten branch heading left by tightening bends or trimming?
Cheers

Yes its always good to go back with fresh eyes. Even look at it in a mirror and see if in reverse it works as well.

I would class my tree as middle wiggliness, tips down and flattish pads.

Re low right hand branch; yes it would work as a back branch' more bend/wiggle. The other branch above it at the back could be shortened in time.

The tree will pop lots of buds so some future branches don't exist yet.

Shorten branch by bending first in harmony with the rest of the tree; then shorten if necessary by trimming.

Grant

Hi Grant,

I have returned home after a week away and what were just bursting buds when i left have gained some serious momentum in that time - so reading over the other threads its time to start balancing.
How far back would you like the strong growth pinched (or perhaps cut - some around the apex have gone crazy) to the first internode or back to last seasons wood?
Some of the lower branches on the big tree need to be thickened - should i leave the strong growth on them and let it run wild?
Thanks

So hidden somewhere under a mass of spring growth I've noticed some of the branches towards the apexes that have had more extreme bends are starting to have wires cut in.
Is now about time to think about a partial defoliation?
I have the growth strength pretty balanced - with the exception of lower left branch that I am wanting to grow out and thicken.
Picture to follow - tomorrow morning.
Cheers


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Pic as promised


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as of yesterday morning


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Yes, Looks like time for defoliation.

When the new growth starts, pinch out the strongest first and let the slower catch up. Then defoliate again in about 6 to 8 weeks time.

grant

totally defoliate or cut back to a pair of leaves?
or should i be leaving growth on developing branches - the lower on the main tree especially?
how do you recommend i treat the apexes at the moment? the smaller tree has a leader im thickening with little other growth but the main tree is a mess. should i be cutting back or allowing all buds to pop to diffuse growth strength as youve spoken about at other times?
thanks

hayden

Haydenmc wrote:totally defoliate or cut back to a pair of leaves?
or should i be leaving growth on developing branches - the lower on the main tree especially?
how do you recommend i treat the apexes at the moment? the smaller tree has a leader im thickening with little other growth but the main tree is a mess. should i be cutting back or allowing all buds to pop to diffuse growth strength as youve spoken about at other times?
thanks

hayden

I think this early in the season I would just do a full defoliation(and cut/pinch out all buds except the weakest) . This will cause it to bud back all over.

You could exclude the thickening branch from the defoliation and just pinch the tip only out.

Grant

Something like this perhaps?


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You could lightly wire new growth down, incorporate any new branches that have popped, trim off any new branches you don't want and defoliate again in about 6 weeks.

The more branches and growth tips you keep the better at this stage, It stops any individual branch taking off too quickly and strongly. If there are areas you wish to thicken up you can let them elongate for 6 weeks or so then cut back with the next defoliation.

grant