AusBonsai

This was another bargain from Jackie , and another good specimen , at over 1metre high and a base of 120mm plus i hacked it back top and bottom then dropped it into a polystyrene training box this took about 30minutes, all responsibility but no care was taken doing this one . Just for the record this umbrella tree and the privet were $10 each . Cheers Alpineart

dont cut it, it looks great like that

and are you serious that only cost $10...!

that's an incredible price, congrats

Hi mb1029 ,all the tree's i buy from Jackie cost no more than $10 on average they are $5 each .Rescued tree's are usually neglected and make excellent bonsai material . Jackie even repots the smaller plants , i purchased the JBP 4 for $40 off her they were 3metres high . She is in her late 70's and still works as a house painter and her hobbies include collecting Plants and restoring E H and EJ Holdens , the other passion i used to have .

It has a good shape hope it survives and back buds , i don't know anything about these but i have seen some awsome specimens so i thought i would give it a shot .Cheers Alpine

This was done today , after a marathon day on an Azalea i needed a break.Its had a re-pot and trim both top and the bottom was flat cut to fit the pot . The pot i paid 50 cents for , not too my liking but the Wife likes it . Now this is one tree i can hand over to Karen for her to keep it alive .Hopefully the tree will slow down being slipped into a Bonsai pot . Plenty of growth and new shoots and buds happening so it can only improve .

Cheers Alpineart

Wow thats one helluva base. I've got one of those pots too [$5] so it puts it into comparison for me.

Look forward to seeing how it turns out for you.

Hi VS , the base measures 180mm x 120mm . I was hoping to reduce the base back to 150mm x 120mm to improve the flair and taper , guess now its the wifes choice , she has moved it inside for an indoor plant .

Cheers Alpine

Great plant and super forgiving. I look forward to seeing how she goes with it, i found this while researching Umbrella bonsai.

http://www.fukubonsai.com/4a6.html


Hope it helps

Alpine your tree is actually Schefflera arboricola, the dwarf umbrella, schefflera actinophylla is also known as the Qld umbrella tree and can have leaves up to 120cm long The dwarf umbrella is the most suitable for bonsai

chris

Hi VS , Mate i chop and hack most things , but i i hack this any more the wire will hack me .Gently , gently , easy does it , and she won't know until its filled out like a good bonsai

Hi Cristatrocky , good to see someones on their toes . I will see if the Mods can change the title . i hope the small pot will reduce the leaf size by restriction . I had one many many years ago as a house plant , its foliage was 1/3 the size of this , probably neglect .

Cheers Alpine

Nice tree and pot mate..enjoy

Hi FMB, mate for $10.50 the wife has a nice indoor plant . Her choice of pot , not mine . I will keep at the trimming while she is out of site , never know one day she may hand it back .

Cheers Alpine

None of my business of course, but, from the second bottom photo (above "the pot I paid 50c for") would you consider cutting off the right and back trunk/branches, and leaning the whole thing further over to the left? Might have two advantages - tighter bonsai shape, and maybe the wife won't like it, and you'll get it back sooner!

It's a good trunk from a species that's not all that easy, to me.

Gavin

Nice work alpine thanks for sharing the pot actually works alright, brings out a 'tropical' feel
do you find these are tolerant of being worked on all year round? I've got one that was a pot plant for 6 years (got to about 7ft) before realising it could be a candidate for 'bonsaing', so over the last 3 years I've reduced pot size and height (now about 40cm). I still need to sort out the main trunk (as it has about 4 atm) and reduce pot size and root mass. I neglected to do such work over summer but your post has inspired me to push ahead but with winter weather already upon us (Victoria) should I wait until spring?

Thanks, Ryan

GavinG wrote:None of my business of course, but, from the second bottom photo (above "the pot I paid 50c for") would you consider cutting off the right and back trunk/branches, and leaning the whole thing further over to the left? Might have two advantages - tighter bonsai shape, and maybe the wife won't like it, and you'll get it back sooner!

It's a good trunk from a species that's not all that easy, to me.

Gavin

Hi GavinG , I have considered both left and right trunks , i was working on it when Karen came home and she made a suggestion i reduce all the 3 tops and make for a broom . Done bun can't be undone , so i will consider the back budding which is good but some dry up , then suggest another serious chop .The wife has a few bonsai and i let her make the decisions on when and where to cut and chop her tree's. I like the left trunk but it has a lot of damaged stubs which are full of dry rot . I was going to clean them out and paint with Steri-prune . If it is tilted to the left the base would need a trim back of about 50mm to remove the outer section .I have a new puppy , might get him to chew on it , that would make for a restyle . I don't know much about these so its trial and error . The flat cut might be its undoing only time will tell

Cheers Alpine

Hi Cre8ivbonsai , mate i have only worked this twice , i know absolutely nothing about this species , just clapped the eyes on it and always wanted to try it on as Bonsai . I can recall these growing all year round as indoor plants in Melbourne when i lived there many years ago . It is growing new leaves so it still moving . Its supposed to be Autumn but i don't have any Autumn colour , i have a flowering plum with a flower and no leaves , my Maples beds are still in full growth mode .

Cheers Alpine