Species Study - Taxodium distichum

[Cajunrider]

2 weeks later, the tree didn’t drop any leaves. Buds are forming on every branch and on the trunks wherever the bark is exposed. Time will tell but its chance of survival is increasing.
View attachment 508190
View attachment 508191

 

[Cajunrider]

I am about to do some major trunk wedge on a BC. We have always been told that it will leave unsightly scars and I think so too but I still want to try. I am going to do it to one BC in this second growing season. If the top die the tree will be chopped low for a sumo BC in the spring. Do it?

 

[Maiden69]

I don't think it would be worth it, not only because of the scar, but BC wood is way harder than pine wood, and it may crack while trying to close the wedge.

 

[Cajunrider]

I don't think it would be worth it, not only because of the scar, but BC wood is way harder than pine wood, and it may crack while trying to close the wedge.

Hmmm... BC lumber has been pretty flexible for me. I think I am going to use a BC that I don't mind chopping to try this out.

 

[Cajunrider]

So I cut a 1” thick wedge out of this BC.


Then I pulled the wedge cut closed and wrapped it with electrical vinyl tape sticky side out. I used one guide-wire to keep the cut closed. We will find out if that lives in a week and how well that works in 6 months.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

It should work, I have done the same work several larger branches.

 

[Cajunrider]

So I cut a 1” thick wedge out of this BC.
View attachment 509665

Then I pulled the wedge cut closed and wrapped it with electrical vinyl tape sticky side out. I used one guide-wire to keep the cut closed. We will find out if that lives in a week and how well that works in 6 months.
View attachment 509666

Even though that cut was 3/4 of the trunk, the leaves are not wilting after 48 hours.

 

[Cajunrider]

I have 5 large 22” diameter pots densely packed with BC seedlings growing in shallow soil (around 3-4”). These are left over from replanting the swamp. I am considering leaving them this way and let them grow into large clumps.

The alternative is to separate them this winter into about 100 individual trees.

Your thought?

 

[KateM]

Would be interesting to see how they grow as a clump, but 50 a clump is probably a bit too dense?

 

[Cajunrider]

Would be interesting to see how they grow as a clump, but 50 a clump is probably a bit too dense?

They will self prune. I expect the weak ones to die. Meanwhile I am giving them maximum nutrients to force extensive growth both up top and down below and fusing of roots and even trunks.

 

[Cajunrider]

A lot of wiring that I did a month ago will need to be removed soon. The wires are already digging in.

 

[Cajunrider]

I don’t have a before picture but this crack in the trunk that is 9ft long 6” wide at the biggest spot took just 3 years to heal. The crack was caused by hurricane Laura in 2020 and the picture was taken today.

 

[Cajunrider]

Looks like the tree is thriving. The next question is if and when the vertical split will heal.

 

[Cajunrider]

View attachment 507036

Growing fast.
What do you think about doing bridge grafting using some of the new branches to close the carving wounds?

 

[Cajunrider]

Looks like the tree is thriving. The next question is if and when the vertical split will heal.
View attachment 510690

 

[Cajunrider]

So I cut a 1” thick wedge out of this BC.
View attachment 509665

Then I pulled the wedge cut closed and wrapped it with electrical vinyl tape sticky side out. I used one guide-wire to keep the cut closed. We will find out if that lives in a week and how well that works in 6 months.
View attachment 509666

22 days later and the tree is back to growing again.

 

[Cajunrider]

Branches from the edges of the carving were pinned into the carved cavities.

 

[Cajunrider]

Would be interesting to see how they grow as a clump, but 50 a clump is probably a bit too dense?

They will self prune. I expect the weak ones to die. Meanwhile I am giving them maximum nutrients to force extensive growth both up top and down below and fusing of roots and even trunks.

I checked them yesterday. A lot of the smaller BCs in those clumps have died. I now have 15-20 trees left in each pot.

 

[Cajunrider]

So I cut a 1” thick wedge out of this BC.
View attachment 509665

Then I pulled the wedge cut closed and wrapped it with electrical vinyl tape sticky side out. I used one guide-wire to keep the cut closed. We will find out if that lives in a week and how well that works in 6 months.
View attachment 509666

I wonder if I can cut another slice and bend this tree a whole lot more just for the heck of it.

 

[Cajunrider]

I want to design a BC bonsai with a target final height of 14”. I don’t have any ready made interesting stump on hand. What I have are some collected stump with decent bases. What size would you recommend I start with? I am planning the first chop at 5-6”