AusBonsai

Hi,

First time working with Larch, have always wanted one, love the colours in autumn and early spring.

Looking for some guidance around timing for pruning and repotting. From what I've read, early spring before buds break is the best time for repotting, and wiring, think i'm ok there.

My immediate thoughts turn to pruning, can I prune the unwanted growth now, or is it better to leave until early spring? Thinking of removing around 2 / 3 of the foliage to create the frame for this weeping style. If I pruned now, would prevent all that wasted energy in spring, and could then wire and repot early spring, with little risk to the tree, or is this a bad idea?

Any suggestions / recommendation?

Looks like nice stock.
Where did you get it from?

Larch is a beautiful species to work with . I have several japanese larch in the garden and two as bonsai. They are extremely slow to grow and i think in my area the hot summer can take a toll on them. Autumn colour is stunning and they respond well to root pruning and branch pruning. I would work with them in late winter b4 bud swell. look to prune back to a set of buds they usually are easy to spot. i have taken 70% off young larch roots without issue. They like water and in summer you will be throwing lots of it around. I had a mature pendula in the garden but the summer got to it too much

Boics, found the tree at http://www.conifer.com.au/welcome in the Dandenong's. They had others as well, but this was the best with weeping branches, the others had thicker trunks, with little taper. Lovely nursery, large varierty of pine, spruce, junipers, japanese maples etc. If anyone is looking for smaller stock, definitely worth a visit. The weeping stock was apparently grafted to Japanese Larch around 5 years ago.

Matthew, thanks for the feedback. Was chatting to the nursery guy today, and he said the same, would wait for late winter just before bud swell, and should be fine to repot as well. Will see how brave I feel when I get around to it, for now will wait for the autumn colours

Sweet.
Thanks Craig.
I must get out there one day.
I've known about that nursery for some time, just never had the time to drop in.

Gave the tree it's first pruning and wiring couple weeks ago, was a pity removing the growth, but was necessary to create a decent framework to build on. This was also done taking into consideration thickness of the main trunk.

Re-potted the tree over the weekend, buds are just starting to push, had to remove a fairly thick tap root, should be more than enough roots remaining to keep the tree going. The tree is currently planted deeper than I wanted, due to surface roots not being strong enough at present to support, will raise in a season or two depending on growth. With the angle of the tree and removal of the tap root had to add additional wire to counter balance (also tied into container), I have a prop under the hanging section as well (not in picture) to support while roots establish.

Look forward to watching this tree develop

Big change from the first photo and nice effort

Please post photos regularly so we can all enjoy its changes too

Ken

Nice one Craig.

I too look forward to seeing some updates on this.

P.S. That container looks familiar to me.
Where did you get that one from mate?

Thanks guys, will keep posted on progress.

Boics, purchased the container from the Bonsai Northwest show towards end July, suspect was made by one of their members, if I recall correctly has initials VC underneath.