Progression of One of My Bald Cypress

[Mellow Mullet]

This one has been in the family for quite a while. It was started from seed in 2001 or 2002. My dad later gave it to me around 2006. The first picture is the tree as a 2-3 year tree, the second is from 2006.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

I took possession of the tree and just maintained it, not many pictures, then, in 2012, I came up with a plan for it. I chopped it. Here it is in the Spring of 2013.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

It grew strongly and the new leader grew 6 - 8 feet. Here it is at the end of summer and in December, after leaf drop (not in order, end of summer photo is last)

 

[Mellow Mullet]

In early Spring if 2014, I carved the initial chop to help the transition and shortened the new leader which I later carved in May after it put on some new growth.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

Here it is today. I took it out of the tub of water it sits in Spring - Fall and I snapped a few pictures. Check out all the roots that escaped the pot. The chop/carves are healing well and should close next year.

 

[sorce]

Dam MM.

Thats impressive! That new leader? Huge.

I really like the transitions. The wounds are healing nice.

Any final branches started? Or still growing it out?

Sorce

 

[Zach Smith]

Here it is today. I took it out of the tub of water it sits in Spring - Fall and I snapped a few pictures. Check out all the roots that escaped the pot. The chop/carves are healing well and should close next year.

Very good progression for a seedling BC. It appears you may need to re-chop the top as you're getting a bit of reverse taper there. The angled cut you made looked to be a bit too soon. If you do re-chop, make it a horizontal cut as you did the first time then let it regrow for a full season before making that angled cut in spring of the next. Makes all the difference in the world as the callus can't overtop the horizontal cut in its initial dynamic growth stage. Then when you do the angle the rollover comes out just right.

All in all, nice development work.

Zach

 

[Mellow Mullet]

Thanks for the comments.

I have a few branches selected, haven't decided which others I want to keep.


I am gonna keep an eye out on the taper issue. The first cut's new leader grew so quickly that it almost completely healed the flat cut in one summer, so one the second I went ahead and carved it ahead of time. Live and learn, at least with bald cypress, it all happens fast., in tree-time anyway.

John

 

[Giga]

really nice! I have a 40'ish year old bald cypress I collected this spring that I'm gonna carve thise coming spring then style say early summer-they grow so ridiculous that it's a fun tree to work on as you can ez'ly start over if need be as it'll grow new branches quickly

 

[Zach Smith]

Thanks for the comments.

I have a few branches selected, haven't decided which others I want to keep.


I am gonna keep an eye out on the taper issue. The first cut's new leader grew so quickly that it almost completely healed the flat cut in one summer, so one the second I went ahead and carved it ahead of time. Live and learn, at least with bald cypress, it all happens fast., in tree-time anyway.

John

If you like I'll be glad to send you a series of drawings I did for a customer detailing how to develop the apex of a bald cypress. Just PM me.

Zach

 

[Poink88]

Very nice progression. I have one where I did the top cut as you did, the concave shape worked really well for me. It is healing right now.

What caused that semi-reverse taper is probably the late removal of the other branches in that area. Something to watch for and be mindful next time you chop.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

In my experience, when you leave the extra branches around the wound, especially on a bald cypress, it causes all kinds of wonky things to happen. Usually all that you need is a good leader.

John

 

[Mellow Mullet]

Here she is today, I need to thin the top and I am waiting on the new growth to harden off so I can wire it. What do you think?

John

 

[sikadelic]

Looking really good so far! The progression shots are great and show really just how long it takes to make some nice transitions and good taper.

What are you thinking for this guy? A flat top or a more informal upright form? I look forward to seeing what you do with it.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

I live in Mobile, Alabama and there are a lot of Bald Cypress in the Mobile Bay-river Delta. I am trying to emulate on of these. As it looks now, It I thin the top a little and lose some of the lower branches, it will resemble one of those trees. I am not sure it that would be considered a "flat top" or not. Maybe a hybred form of flat top and informal upright. I have always found the flat top styled bonsai a good design, but not very realistic for the cypress that grwo around here.

Thanks for the coments and encouragement.

John

 

[DougB]

John how about a couple of pictures of the BC you are trying to emulate.

 

[sikadelic]

I have always found the flat top styled bonsai a good design, but not very realistic for the cypress that grwo around here.

I completely agree. I was in SC for 3 years and saw the flat tops with a lot of deadwood. Now I am in Indiana and see tons of formal upright "Christmas tree" style trees. It all depends on where you are.

 

[wireme]

Thanks for sharing, I really enjoy seeing nice trees that people have grown from seedlings.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

Thanks for all the comments.

If I get a chance the weekend I'll see if I can take a few pictures of some trees in nature around here.

John

 

[jedge76]

Very inspirational work John...I have a BC that I bought as a seedling in a 4" pot last year and it put on a good 1-2" in base circumference. This post gives me some ideas of where I want to go with it after this season of growth. Thanks for sharing--progressions are often the most helpful threads to me and I am sure for others as well. Looking good and can't wait to see future posts of this progression!