AusBonsai

Gday folks!

This is a River Red Gum (E. camaldulensis) that I have owned for a few years now. Since I purchased it from BaLoc Bonsai, I have done little in the way of styling except for a bit of clip & grow. I have raised the soil level around the trunk to attempt to rectify a bit of reverse taper.

Our recent warm, windy weather, coupled with my 5 day absence in Perth has seen the tree dry out to the point where all the foliage is cooked...
In my experience with Eucs, a drying event like this can be an indicator that the roots have become crowded and inefficient, and that a repot is in order. None of the foliage will survive, so all of it is removed. Likewise, the raised soil is gently removed to reveal that my little experiment has been largely successful: there are new roots forming above the original ones. I removed all the large roots from the underside of the root ball, and finally trimmed the fine roots.
Last night, I got the thing all strapped up, ready for some heavy manipulation, but now that I look at the photo above, I'm kinda liking the lines. The major problem is that it is quite flat in the profile.
At this point, I have not adjusted the trunk at all. Any thoughts or suggestions?

Thanks.

Fly.

Sorry to hear about the cooked gum Fly. I dont actually mind it as it is. Nice system of manipulation though. Would you consider cutting back to the shorter branch further down.? Might make a nice new leader.

Hi fly.
Might be a silly question, but what is all the tape on the trunk for?
What a great idea using a turn buckle for manipulating the trunk. Great thinking
Mick

I like the base just as it is
I do not like the branch on the upper right tho. Looks like a Rhino horn to me. too thick and long

Ken

Yer. Cut it back. I think that you should tilt it to the right a bit and tighten the turnbuckle. Just to give a bit more 'character'. I love it!

bodhidharma wrote:I dont actually mind it as it is.

kcpoole wrote:I like the base just as it is

Gday folks!

As I mentioned in the original post, I'm starting to come to terms with the trunk more-or-less as it is. I've done a couple of virts that increased the two existing bends, and the results were unconvincing at best (sorry I didn't keep the virts to show - maybe I'll redo one to show what I mean). So much for the couple of hours' work and the waste of wire and silicone tape. It will just be repotted a couple of centimetres deeper(I have been encouraged by the appearance of new roots), and I will likely trim back the 'rhino horn'.

Pics to come.

Thanks all!

Fly.

mick wrote:Hi fly.
Might be a silly question, but what is all the tape on the trunk for?
What a great idea using a turn buckle for manipulating the trunk. Great thinking
Mick

Gday Mick!

The tape is silicone self-adhesive tape: it is highly elastic, and sticks only to itself. It covers a layer of hessian webbing which has been applied to the trunk. These measures - as well as the thickish wire - have been put into place to prevent damage to the trunk during the aborted extreme bending. You can see another example of this process here.

I thought it might have been something along those lines, just wasn't sure.
I think it looks good the way it is.How old is it fly?
Mick

mick wrote:How old is it fly?

Sorry I missed the question, Mick. I've had it for a few years now, and judging by the bark, I reckon it's probably 10 years old or more.

As expected, it has made a return to full health, with little dieback on the longer branches. All this talk of Bunjin on the site has given me stupid idea...
Thanks!

Fly.

Well Fly, I cant see any reason why not I think it has huge potential.