AusBonsai

Well I've been waiting to post this here for ages-I guess it's my first progression and first bit of stock I've worked from the ground up.
I entered it into the Ryuga styling comp more to motivate me to keep working on it and keep learning.
Enough talk here it is.

Collected for free-already dug out. It was separated from its mum.


It was left to recover for a few months before any work commenced.



It lost it's leaves-probably a mixture of shock and frost, but it then grew like mad. Back budded everywhere, the top was shipped and new leader selected.oh and the whole thing was wired.



Through summer fed and defoliated a number of times-it even flowered!


Before defoliation

After.

Final images:


Big flat scar was carved/softened.


Where too next-well it needs work on nebari-it was full of curl grubs when I repotted so that will wait until spring perhaps. The scars that don't continue to heal over will get some attention with the dremel.
It will also be cut back to promote ramification and more branches.
This has been my first real "project" starting with nothing and making "something"

Keen to hear people thoughts, good, bad or indifferent!

Addit I know my photography skills need "sharpening" but I'm just lazy when it comes to photographing my trees.

hi isitangus
i have attached a photo of a hibiscus i saw in Taiwan in 2007. i'd like to draw your attention to how the branches are shaped. they move gracefully upward which i think is most suited for deciduous species.

regards

Tien

Awesome progress Isitangus, looks like it could be a Rose of Shannon to me.

My folks have a very large 100+ year old shrub going on tree at their farm, I have taken a few successful air layers off, but nothing with any movement or taper unfortunately. I was experimenting with propagation techniques when I started. They are very hardy in my experience.

How have you found the craved areas reacts to the weather?

Really curious to see where you go with this.

Cheers
Elmo

Nice trunk there angus.
As it develops and ramifies it will improve with age.

Ken

BonsaiElmo wrote:Awesome progress Isitangus, looks like it could be a Rose of Shannon to me.

How have you found the craved areas reacts to the weather?

Really curious to see where you go with this.

Cheers
Elmo

they are quite soft and need protection / preserving ( i use earls on mine), and that has lasted a few years now.

Ken

Thanks for the feedback-
Tien that is a beautiful specimen and if my tree looks anywhere near as elegant then I'll be happy.
Elmo I have had no issues with propagation-I took some very large cutting (wrist thick) and they all survived. I also still have the "mother" plant so will continue to take parts off it but will most likely layer as it a will develop nebari quicker and help my layer practise.
Ken I also treated with earls. The only carved section is where the flat scar was the rest is au natural. It was soft when it was first separated but it rock solid now.