AusBonsai

Hey,
I bought this tree about 7 months ago. Removed a few branches and did some wiring. It stands currently about 600mm high. I was hoping to get some advice on where to go from here. I was thinking about removing the second branch up on the left (red). The top would be somewhere around the (orange) lines. Let me know what you think. Cheers.

If it were mine I would remove the upright and replace it with the back branch to the R. and the rest just keep growing and formong the pads. chris

I would look at chopping it where you can see the last twist of wire. The upper middle section lacks taper as opposed to the lower section. I would leave the lower branch for now and see where else it buds first before cutting it off - you may be able to incorporate it later. My eye is drawn more to the branches on the right hand side but again I would leave them for now


Tony

hi mate,

clero are a great tree to work with. they back bud like setting fire to a couch thats been covered with petrol!

what do you want from this tree? a taller tree? a shorter tree? more movement? more thickness? chris has given you some good advice in regards to movement and placement for the tree as is. but if you want a stockier tree these guys thicken really quickly, I cut the top of one of mine to rebuild the apex, so far it has gone from a new shoot thickness (around 2mm) to around 12-14mm across in less than 6 months. so if left to grow freely these guys can take off, especially giving room to grow. the root growth is rediculous too, I generally have to repot at least twice a year, they grow strong thickish roots, also develop nebari very nicely. the tree in my avatar is clero. from when I got it, it was just trunk, the pic is about 12 months development.

here is the thread to the triple trunk - viewtopic.php?f=104&t=3297&hilit=triple+trunk+clero

this will give you a good idea of growth.

also, remember to put any thing you cut off into some medium. these guys strike without trying, I think out of all the cuttings I have ever taken (medium to hardwood, soft wood take too but cant see the point with how they strike easy) I have had atleast a 95% strike rate, the other 5% loss isnt exactly loss, moreso me not remembering where I put them or them being soft wood.
just use some diatomite or similar to strike. I did use vermiculite for cuttings with them and they struck but most ended up rottting a little. most were saved, the rotten section cut off and re done as a new cutting, all struck.