AusBonsai

WOW

Inspiring and Very Impressive, Thanks for Sharing this.

Regards
Deemon

After a bit of a prune, I guess it is time for an update on this one...

Steven wrote:After a bit of a prune, I guess it is time for an update on this one...

2013 December (a).jpg

uhhh...oh well Perhaps you could call it... 'the untold frustrations of an enthusiast'

could you elaborate on your new plans for us steven?

Cheers,

Ces.

Hi Steven

I guess that means you won't need the pot anymore !(that's the old one )
Should I pm my postal address
Regards Steve
PS a very brave decision

I suspect a Shohin in the making
A bit late for the comp steven

Ken

Interesting move.
I'm surprised you didn't leave and work with the two lowest branches as new leader and branch no1?
Can you explain a little more for us please?

Sorry Steve, I'll hang onto the pot for now. Unless you want to swap it for one of your figs

I wasn't happy with the straight trunk which isn't reflective of how they grow (or how I like the look of them). I repotted it into this larger pot at the beginning of this year and have been getting it very healthy in readiness for the chop. I'm confident that I'll get an explosion of new growth within the next couple of weeks. I'll then choose what to keep, carve the chop to make it realistic and grow a new tree - a much better one. I'll keep you posted.

Bonsai should be continually improved each time you work on them. I reckon this will, in time, be a big improvement on what it was.

Regards,
Steven

It's now been about 4 weeks since the chop was done and I've now got plenty of foliage to grow a new tree from.
Next stage will be selecting what to keep. If you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear.

Regards,
Steven

Nearly 3 years on and I've just cut this one back hard again... harder this time.
Unfortunately no before shots. Once it gets some foliage I'll ground layer at the red line in the second shot and have a nice shohin about 180mm tall.
Regards,
Steven

Wow Stephen.

Interesting Journey this tree has gone.
You don't settle for anything less than perfection do you?

I can't help but shed a tear for what was (in my eyes) a beautiful foundation of a natural looking tree back at the start of this thread!

Based on your documented experiences I'm sure this will turn out well though.

I would back your decision 100%

I didn't like the look of any of the before photos, before the major cut but I didn't want to voice it.

I think this is a great decision and I would have done the same.

EDIT: This species makes lovely bonsai. I can't wait to see what you do with it Steven.

Hi Steven,

That is a heck of a journey this tree has been on, since it came into your possession and I admire what you have done with it.

Really looking forward to seeing this progress from here mate.

Cheers

David

Should be a cracking shohin in no time at all. Great structure for it.

Be interested in how you go about the ground layering. I have a couple of these I've been torturing for a few years now. I've been able to airlayer the smaller branches pretty successfully but haven't had much luck with ground layering at the base. After killing one off trying a full "ring-bark" I've tried toothpicks over the last couple of years but haven't got any roots to show for it. Was thinking about trying the tourniquet method, but the angles don't really work. Might be a matter of me misjudging what is actually cambium and going to deep on the bases. I'll be keenly watching over your shoulder as you get to work on this one!

This is my first catch up on this thread, looking at the beginning I didn't quite like where it was heading and gave me the impression it had years to "grow into itself"
never being afraid of a big trunk chop myself I admire what you have done, but add me to the list on waiting on further progress on this one.
Luv the natives