AusBonsai

G'day,

I picked this one up at the National sale day last weekend. Noel Summerell had been growing it for the last 15 years from seed, the first 10 years it was in the ground.
I like the base but there are issues with the tree.

What would you do if it were yours?

Regards,
Steven

Hi Steven,

Looks like it was never trunk chopped while being grown in the ground.

Old wood like this trunk is unreliable for pushing out new buds.

I would do lots of thread grafts aiming at a classic formal upright. And some root grafts to fill in some of the gaps in the nebari.

Regards

Paul

Hi Steven , i see a few options and it will take time .

1/ Flat cut the base at or just below ground level and completely build a new root mass leaving all the branches in place until next year to promote the new roots required .Then do step 2 next year

2/ Remove all the thick branches not flush a couple of millimetres should be enough enabling new shoots to emerge from the trunk , retain the apex however removing any thick branches in and around that apex and the few small thinner branches midway i would also keep . Next season do step 1

3/ Layer and or angle cut it midway using the smaller branch no-2 as a new leader, remove the lower thick branch not flush and start a new tree from the base and the layer .
Remove the layer mid season assuming with all the growth up top it will throw roots in a couple of months enough to severe it at least . Grow the base for the rest of the season and do step 1 next season .

Only a few suggestions that i wouldn't hesitate to do .

Cheers Alpine

Spring: Repot into a mix you know, root graft with seedlings to fill in the gaps.

Spring/Summer: Apply high fert and high water and get it growing well. I have had successful back budding from old wood like this, but AFTER a season's growth, pushing energy up the trunk stimulating new buds. Watch the bottom branch for cluttered branch divisions

Late Summer/Autumn: Cut back to the red line that I have indicated below, possibly in another place depending on what pops throughout the season. Winter: clean up any branch divisions of more than two, clean the chop back, select leader (if you already haven't)

Spring: Apply high fert and high water and let the terminal bud on the leader grow as tall as you can to get thickness in the new leader

Rinse, repeat...and aim for a tree like Walter's below

yes it has no taper to the trunk unfortunately. Time to trunk chop it back severely.

How about a layer above the 2nd eye poker branch?
Just above the "trunk chop" red line?

2 for the price of one and the layer will likely have desired taper and branching?

Straight trunk, unusual/undesirable root structure..... what to do with them? How about making them into a feature: We know you like a challenge Steven! This one is from Peter Tea's blog and would certainly keep you busy for a while.....
http://peterteabonsai.wordpress.com/201 ... ent-maple/

Of course if it does take a lot of time to train I'm happy to look after some of your Mel's and Casuarinas while you've got your head down

Thanks for the feedback and ideas

I decided to put an air layer on to create a shohin and medium sized tree like Walters that Scott posted.
This was done a week ago and it has been powering on since.

Regards,
Steven

So is that 100% spag moss in the layer pot?

Will make a great little tree i reckon.
Did you remove the eye poker branch?

Look forward to seeing what happens with the base too.