Big Squamata

[benbonsai]

So this is the pot I had in mind... even though the idea of a rectangle or oval pot has been shot down haha. Thoughts?
It obviously won’t look as wide when the tree is actually in the pot.

Also did some more trimming and wiring today. I shifted the back/lower left branch and the one above it closer to the trunk. I think I will also shift the branch that the apex is on to the left a little which will shift the apex to be directly over the base. Doing all this has allowed me to change the front angle so you don’t see the bends in the trunk as drastically as before. I like it more I think.

Also I found a bud coming out of the base right where I wanted. So in the coming years this will be a sacrifice branch and hopefully thicken the base.

This tree really has got me excited and has resparked my Bonsai fire!!
All thoughts and suggestions welcome

[Mbunro]

That pot actually looks quite nice.
Always hard to tell in photos like that but it's perhaps a bit big but would be a good first "real pot" for this tree anyway


I really like what you have to with the angle change too. Apex looks great.
I think the Jin is a bit out of place now but then again they always look better in the flesh than in a 2d photo...

Also just a tip for when you repot. Don't place the trunk so close to the centre of the pot. I would go at least another trunk width to the right.



Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[benbonsai]

That pot actually looks quite nice.
Always hard to tell in photos like that but it's perhaps a bit big but would be a good first "real pot" for this tree anyway


I really like what you have to with the angle change too. Apex looks great.
I think the Jin is a bit out of place now but then again they always look better in the flesh than in a 2d photo...

Also just a tip for when you repot. Don't place the trunk so close to the centre of the pot. I would go at least another trunk width to the right.



Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

The photo does make the pot look bigger than it is as it’s closer to the camera, it may be a bit oversized but I would prefer that so it doesn’t dry out as quick in summer. Though it will be a while before I get it into the pot so my mind might change ten times by the haha.

[benbonsai]

Did a repot on this guy today to get him into a shallower pot with akadama.
Getting it ready for a bonsai pot.
Due to the warmer winter it has been growing for a couple weeks now so it’s starting to fill in a bit.

[Watto]

Good progression, thanks for the up-date.
I thought for sure it was going into that bonsai pot!

[benbonsai]

It probably could have gone in that pot, but I didn’t want to take the risk and cut more of the roots off.
It had quite a large root system from being in the larger pot.

[MJL]

It probably could have gone in that pot, but I didn’t want to take the risk and cut more of the roots off.
It had quite a large root system from being in the larger pot.

Het Benbonsai,

You are sure teaching me patience. I bang things into bonsai pots way too early... so my trees don't fill out quickly and my pots usually look too heavy. Your patience is admirable. I thought that bonsai pot looked great for this tree and I look forward to seeing it in-situ when it finally arrives.

Thanks for posting the progression.

[benbonsai]

It probably could have gone in that pot, but I didn’t want to take the risk and cut more of the roots off.
It had quite a large root system from being in the larger pot.

Het Benbonsai,

You are sure teaching me patience. I bang things into bonsai pots way too early... so my trees don't fill out quickly and my pots usually look too heavy. Your patience is admirable. I thought that bonsai pot looked great for this tree and I look forward to seeing it in-situ when it finally arrives.

Thanks for posting the progression.

Thanks MJL, it has taken a few years to train myself to be patient, and to respect the roots of a tree as much if not more than the top of the tree.

[benbonsai]

Slight angle change and better angled photo makes it look a bit better.

[benbonsai]

So over the last couple months this guy has been going well after the repot, though I have started to lose the lower branch. It seems to be going pale and dieing. This scares me a lot because losing this branch will ruin the tree.
Does anyone know what could be causing this?
There does seem to be new buds on one of the almost dead branches so this does bring hope, but I would like to know why it’s has done this so I can stop it from happening again.
At first I thought not enough light, the place I had the tree wasn’t the best but I didn’t think it would do this. I have been fertilizing as normal (once a month), the only change was the akadama.

Do I need to liquid fert more often with akadama? I mixed some slow release fert with the akadama when repotted.

It has since been moved to a position that gets full sun all day.

[MJL]

Hey bb,

Fingers crossed mate. I don’t have the expertise to answer but I hope you save the branch or learn what may have happened to help in future.

If you do lose the branch ... it may stimulate creative juices on the future design anyway ... I can’t remember who but recently someone on this forum lost the top of a tree in a storm and I remember being amazed at how quickly the tree was redesigned to suit.

Best of luck.




Bonsai teaches me patience.

[Akhi]

I had mine do that too. I was guessing that it was a combination of the hot sun and water on those branches in my case. This happened to me when I watered my juniper just before a scorcher.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[benbonsai]

Thanks for the replies.

I don't think its copped a scorching, the rest of the tree is fine.

Any others want to chime in, could really use and experienced opinion.

[Boics]

The rest of the tree looks perfectly healthy which is a good sign.
I'd search the forum for remedies to rust / juniper issues - there is a disease out there that can do this (slowly lose branches for no reason).
From what I've read there isn't any definitive solutions either.

One other point I'd mention is balancing of energy.
By default this lower protected branch will always be weaker due to the dominance at the top of the tree and potential shading.
With the top of the tree looking so dominant and healthy it can sometimes cause a tree to decide that lower / weaker limbs are unnecessary.
As a result it may weaken and be lost.. I'm by no means certain this is the case but balancing of energy is particularly important for most species.

Good luck!

[terryb]

One other point I'd mention is balancing of energy.
By default this lower protected branch will always be weaker due to the dominance at the top of the tree and potential shading.
With the top of the tree looking so dominant and healthy it can sometimes cause a tree to decide that lower / weaker limbs are unnecessary.
As a result it may weaken and be lost.. I'm by no means certain this is the case but balancing of energy is particularly important for most species.

Definitely not an expert but I think Boics is spot on, based on observations of my own squamata. Super vigorous growth up top, leaves me with weak growth down low, unless it is kept in check.