Large Flowering Quince

[FlyBri]

As it was in June 2007 when I purchased it. Apparently the blooms are red, but I have yet to see it in flower... At this stage, it stood about 400mm tall, and the long, straight leader was about 30-40mm thick. [EDIT] The leader was no more than 25mm thick, and I have the stump to prove it... [/EDIT]

BaLoc_Quince_June_07_01.jpg

Baloc_Quince_June_07_02.jpg

* * *

Now, I'm not sure why, but the metadata in my pics suggests that I performed this root work in March 2008. I believe that I had repotted this tree at least once before, as by this stage I had taken a number of root cuttings which were growing strongly.

Ba_Loc_Quince_Repot_01.jpg

Ba_Loc_Quince_Repot_02.jpg

I managed to get deep into the roots and remove every last sucker. In these views, there is a very obvious 'blank spot' in the root spread which severely restricts my choice of viewing angles...

Ba_Loc_Quince_Repot_03.jpg

Ba_Loc_Quince_Repot_04.jpg

Ba_Loc_Quince_Repot_05.jpg

Ba_Loc_Quince_Repot_06.jpg

Using a few short lengths of hardwood dowel and a bit of wire, I had wrenched and levered the roots into a more desirable shape.

* * *

In the October 2008, I began work to create an air layer from this tree.

More to follow...

Thanks.

Fly.

[MelaQuin]

Good start. Must admit, the first pics didn't impress me at all ... just goes to show the gold's in the ground when you start to mine. Spreading the roots is really bringing interest and when [as I presume] you start cultivating lower growth, this could turn out to be a very nice tree.

[FlyBri]

... Must admit, the first pics didn't impress me at all ... just goes to show the gold's in the ground when you start to mine. Spreading the roots is really bringing interest and when [as I presume] you start cultivating lower growth...

Gday MelaQuin!

Looking back at the photos, I can't help but agree with your initial assessment. When I bought this 'tree', it represented the biggest root spread (and second highest dollar purchase) in my so-called collection. Like your good self, I believe there could be improvements on the horizon...

* * *

Following are some fairly bad photos of the Quince as it was after a cursory prune and subsequent 'de-pot'. The height is reasonably reduced, due to the removal of the aforementioned air layer a month or so ago. This work was performed last weekend, late July 2009.

BaLoc_Quince_Aug_09_02.jpg

BaLoc_Quince_Aug_09_03.jpg

BaLoc_Quince_Aug_09_04.jpg

BaLoc_Quince_Aug_09_05.jpg

* * *

Still more to follow...

Thanks.

Fly.

[anttal63]

come on mate getm on so far i like very much where you're goin with it.

[FlyBri]

Here it is trimmed back a little further.

BaLoc_Quince_Aug_09_06.jpg

BaLoc_Quince_Aug_09_07.jpg

BaLoc_Quince_Aug_09_08.jpg

BaLoc_Quince_Aug_09_09.jpg

You might note that there are a couple of "suckers" which I have left untouched: in fact, these are the leaders from a pair of root grafts I performed at the last repot (but it appears that i didn't get any photos of them at the time). Following are a couple of photos of the grafts as they are now:

BaLoc_Quince_Aug_09_10.jpg

BaLoc_Quince_Aug_09_11.jpg

The grafts were put in place to attempt to fill some of the gaps in the root spread, but looking at the 1st and 3rd photo of this post, there is still an awkward bulge where there is no thick root. Perhaps it is time to add another root?

* * *

Still more to come...

[FlyBri]

Perhaps it is time to add another root?

And so I did... I unearthed my collection of root cuttings from this specimen, and sorted through them until I found what I believed to be a good candidate for a graft. I was looking for a thick, mature root with a nice, straight(-ish) stem, and I think I found it...

BaLoc_Quince_Aug_09_12.jpg

BaLoc_Quince_Aug_09_13.jpg

BaLoc_Quince_Aug_09_14.jpg

I roughly measured the thickness of the stem against my drill bits, and selected one that was just wider than the stem. Given the amount of deadwood at the site, I had to scratch around a bit to find a place where there was live bark at both the entry and exit points. I carefully drilled a pilot hole with my finest bit, followed by the bit I had selected earlier.

BaLoc_Quince_Aug_09_15.jpg

Once the hole was the correct diameter, I simply inserted the stem of the cutting as far as I could, so that the root was sitting flush with the trunk of the Quince.

BaLoc_Quince_Aug_09_16.jpg

BaLoc_Quince_Aug_09_17.jpg

In the photos above, it can be seen that the orientation of the new root is a little off in comparison to the rest of the spread, so a bit of brass screw and clothes peg therapy is in order...

BaLoc_Quince_Aug_09_18.jpg

Looking from the side, it can be seen that the new root has filled the gap nicely.

BaLoc_Quince_Aug_09_19.jpg

* * *

If I get the chance (and the inclination) I might take the Quince out of its pot again today to get some more photos of it as it stands today.

Thanks.

Fly.

[FlyBri]

If I get the chance (and the inclination) I might take the Quince out of its pot again today to get some more photos of it as it stands today.

Nah - can't be bothered. I know what it looks like under the soil, and you all will have to wait until the next repot to find out...

Anyway, here is how it looked about 5 minutes ago. In the 2nd photo, you can see the stem from the latest root graft (just to the right of the trunk).

BaLoc_Quince_Aug_09_20.jpg

BaLoc_Quince_Aug_09_21.jpg

Thanks.

Fly.

[LLK]

Impressive job.

LLK

[Jester]

Coming along nicely. Very underrated species the flowering quince.

[FlyBri]

Gday folks!

It's been yet another year without flowers for this Quince, but it has still grown relatively strongly. I suspect that my feeding and watering over Summer still leaves something to be desired. Anyway, here are some photos of the 'tree' as it was the other day:

BaLoc_Quince_Aug_10_01.jpg

BaLoc_Quince_Aug_10_02.jpg

BaLoc_Quince_Aug_10_03.jpg

BaLoc_Quince_Aug_10_04.jpg

More to come...

Thanks.

Fly.

[Jow]

From year to year it is really trying to become a clump, then you cut it back to a clear trunk again. Any reason you are trying for a single trunk style?

[craigw60]

I am with Jow on this one these plants make fantastic clump style bonsai and with a base like yours it would very quickly be a great tree.
Craig

[GavinG]

I've had trouble getting them to flower as well - any ideas from the wiser amongst us? I

Gavin

[FlyBri]

From year to year it is really trying to become a clump, then you cut it back to a clear trunk again. Any reason you are trying for a single trunk style?

I am with Jow on this one these plants make fantastic clump style bonsai and with a base like yours it would very quickly be a great tree.
Craig

Gday fellas!

By the sounds of things, you're not going to like where this is going...

I have toyed with the idea of working the tree as a clump, but there is also the temptation to try to force the thing into being my most tapered tree. Judging by the way the suckers grow on this one, I can always choose to work them into the picture later if I so desire. As it stands, the Quince will spend this Summer in Sumo training, and I may reappraise the situation next Winter.

Now, I don't intend any disrespect to either Jow or Craig, and I value both of your opinions, but I had already pulled/cut out all the suckers and shortened the main trunk (yet again) before I had posted this morning. All I did today was to apply some fairly useless wire, trim the branches and work towards more firmly attach last year's root graft.

Anyway, here's some really ordinary photos that I snapped off in the rain:

BaLoc_Quince_Aug_10_05.jpg

BaLoc_Quince_Aug_10_06.jpg

BaLoc_Quince_Aug_10_07.jpg

BaLoc_Quince_Aug_10_08.jpg

As always, comments, criticism and/or advice is always welcome.

Thanks!

Fly.

[Jow]

No disrespect taken. I was just curious as to why you were going down the path you are. I think that with this species you will be able to create a single trunked tree but you may struggle a little with internode spacing on a tree of this size. Mine doesnt seem to reduce its internode length easily. I will be cutting mine back hard after the mass of blooms finish in a hope to create more ramification down low.
I am still learning how to drive mine correctly and look forward to seeing how you get on with yours and any techniques you develope along the way.

Joe.