the party ends

[Jamie]

gday craig

good work! Im big on defoliating trees and pushing them to their limits even when I probably shouldnt. I will be interested to see the alder in time I beleive they can make great specimens and leaves probably dont come into thoughts with them of their interest, trunk, bark, catkins all things that the tree can be grown for!

by the way, some of the corky barks have shot out like crazy, others are somewhat slower. nothing much to really show though

jamie

[craigw60]

Thanks Mojo, its been in a bonsai pot for a long time I don't think my rank amateur photography shows that.
I will put it back in a good pot next year the current one is a bit shiny
Craigw

[craigw60]

Hi Jamie, reduce the number of growths on the root cuttings to 2 very quickly or they will develop a lump that is hard to cure, that can happen over night so you need to be on to them. Glad to hear they are shooting.
Craigw

[Jamie]

hi mate

thanks for the tip, I was thinking of doing that, best go do it asap actually as there are several with 3+ shoots out of them. they have come out very quickly though one will make an excellent broom form which I will be taking progression shots thank you heaps again for them

jamie

[craigw60]

Shohin broom ? this species would be perfect for that

[Jamie]

Shohin broom ? this species would be perfect for that

got it in one champ I have really become infatuated with broom style bonsai, there just inst that many around in Aus. that I have seen and feel that good ones are few and far between trying to change that

jamie

[craigw60]

I think the problem is that if you are wanting to grow brooms in the Japanese style they are such formal trees, and I don't think you see too many formal trees in Australian collections. you need to be very disciplined to get it right.
Craigw

[Jarrod]

Here it is defoliated



80% wired, no branches have been positioned


With cooking dinner (BBQ) and being bitten by mozzies I didn't get time to finish the wiring however I will get it finished by the end of the weekend.

You can also see that I have not yet cut any branches back and this will occur once I start to position branches.

[craigw60]

You have got quite a lot of pruning to do there Jarrod don't let the branches get too heavy to quickly, you have a whole lifetime to thicken them and as the tree ages its more of an issue trying to keep them fine.
Craigw

[Jarrod]

Well, during a break in the rain, I got the work on this tree finished. Thoughts?

[craigw60]

I think the crowns on both trees are too tall, on the main tree I would take out the back piece and use that short front piece for the top. The secondary tree its a bit hard to tell from the pic what to do but it certainly needs to be shortened. The rest of the tree looks great its good to see you have cut back the branches good and hard.
Craigw

[Jarrod]

Yeah I agree about the tops. Also going to bring the second branch on the left down! On my way to watch Australia beat England so it will have to wait till later!

[craigw60]

what are the australians and english having a bonsai styling comp ?

[Jarrod]

Nah there is a little rugby being played this arvo, should be nice and wet!

[Steven]

G'day Craig and Jarrod,

I'm interested to see how these trees have progressed after nearly 12 months. Do you mind updating with some current pictures?

Regards,
Steven