Share your tree thread

amcoffeegirl

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I would like everyone to post a photo and a description of your favorite tree and what you have done to bring it to its current condition.

You are not allowed to comment on this thread unless you have a tree and synopsis of your tree in this thread already.
Any trees posted here may be critiqued by others in this thread.
Who will be brave enough to start?
 

sorce

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20191006_181217.jpg

This is a cutting from my first tree. OG.
About 7 years into it. Love the Iker it went in a couple years back. I keep cutting it back and trying to start it over with branches in appropriate places. I'm in a Bonsai Hurry.

The roots matching the drips is the point.

A couple years in I thought it'll never have small enough leaves....but each year it gets better.

Edited for a sizer.

Sorce
 

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amcoffeegirl

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This is my tree- a ficus salicaria.
It is one of my best trees. It came to me from an eBay purchase in August 2018.
When it arrived it looked like this.
7E2FDB3C-A7FF-47BD-9906-01A9AA331AC4.jpeg
It had soft scale when it arrived. I treated it with neem oil for several weeks to get it healthy.
It has been defoliate twice. The first time was to get the neem oil into the trunk line.
The canopy is very dense.
EDCC29B3-FC03-4DFC-AB72-BB8F002A1CCB.jpeg
In July it was defoliated again and cut back hard to try to get more interior branching and keep the foliage tight.
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I have removed the side hip growth.
And here it is today- originally created by Suthin so I am honored to care for it.
BF44A7E0-BCF6-4239-A2FD-C0CFEBCF7CB6.jpeg
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To first critique myself a bit- I feel the pot is a little visually heavy for the tree.
Also Jerry Meislik offered that it needs a new canopy.
88C41AE5-CF8B-437A-A9A6-904202826F30.jpeg
And created a virt for me.
Any other thoughts on this ficus salicaria?
 

Cadillactaste

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A favorite...I have top fives. Then...ones I've actually developed into something I am proud of. I'm assuming the second classification applies.
Tamarix that had significant dieback the same time as the weeping Ryusen did during the arctic winter that stole mature stately trees a couple towns over from me. It's still in training...but I no longer hide it from visitors. Love this one of morning few on its foliage.
Screenshot_20191001-132556.pngScreenshot_20191001-132645.png
 

amcoffeegirl

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7939BCBB-C73D-4595-AB64-C98EAF54AE04.jpegI believe all classifications apply on this one. The goal here is to get people sharing.
With meaningful criticism a no back chatter. Lol.
After a critique from Jerry I did a trim tonight.
I will have to let it grow a bit to trim it further but I will keep after it.
DA758F90-3426-4880-BC72-6E3C6A333816.jpeg
 

Cadillactaste

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I believe all classifications apply on this one. The goal here is to get people sharing.
With meaningful criticism a no back chatter. Lol.
After a critique from Jerry I did a trim tonight.
I will have to let it grow a bit to trim it further but I will keep after it.
View attachment 265686
Well played there! Amazing what that accomplished!
 

Cadillactaste

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When JM suggests you get your canopy together then it’s the right time to listen. 😂
He gives great advice! He gave praises to the pot pairing with this too-little ficus. (Dan Laxdall pot.) I must admit...one year on the bench...has me loving what one can do with ficus.
image (21).jpgIMG_20190730_080254829.jpg
 

amcoffeegirl

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PABonsai

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Newbie with a new tree. This is my first, it's a shimpaku and I was told it's about 8 years old. I got this in July at an intro class, so it's very early into development. I intend to take off that first right branch and try to do an informal upright. I think I need to add more movement.
 

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amcoffeegirl

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Newbie with a new tree. This is my first, it's a shimpaku and I was told it's about 8 years old. I got this in July at an intro class, so it's very early into development. I intend to take off that first right branch and try to do an informal upright. I think I need to add more movement.
I am very happy that you shared this.
I will wait until others come along to give you proper care advice but thank you for sharing your tree.
The only advice I can give you is to get a couple more of them so you have a few to work on.
 

Smoke

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Why would you cut all these wonderful leaves? It's a ficus, they don't heal, and with out removal you will never get a new one.

Partial defoliation, in the right time of year.

265705
 

amcoffeegirl

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Why would you cut all these wonderful leaves? It's a ficus, they don't heal, and with out removal you will never get a new one.

Partial defoliation, in the right time of year.

View attachment 265705
Hello
I have seen lots of your trees and started this thread because of you.
To keep with this theme will you please share with me one of your current favorite trees?
I will then answer your questions and allow you to help me.
 

Cadillactaste

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Okay... we have gun shy members. I'm considering this one may need a new pot. The canopy has grown from early beginnings.
Pyracantha...this one I would like ones opinion.
Pyracantha 2015 arriving on my bench.
First photo:Nursery stock photo which I chose for my material.
Screenshot_20190804-073702.pngScreenshot_20190927-052027.pngFB_IMG_1570455069606.jpgFB_IMG_1570455117076.jpgIMG_20191007_092334397.jpg
 

sorce

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Is it harder for a human to hear a critique on themselves or on their teacher?

I figure anyone with a slight spine will be ok with a self critique, but may not do so well when someone is critiquing advice by those who they "know" are giving good advice.

I say that because I feel I would only be critiquing Jerry for approving this undetailed "hedging", and the "intro class" for allowing a stripped naked juniper.

That said....

I personally can't manage branches as that on the squat ficus. Seems there is no "appropriate structure" but this is hard to see. Basically, I can't "critique" the tree itself now, but the future tree, if this continues, seems like it will suffer.

The juniper....
The juniper .....
I would look into a future of using only the left branch, rewiring it in about 2-3 years, slowly removing the rest for cuttings.

Darlene...
These are in my comfort zone, well, the pyro sure, allows insight to the future of the others. Wonderful. But it deserves a pot that compliments it better.

Sorce
 

Hartinez

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I’ll jump in. I’ve had and posted this bougie a few times now. When I did the initial cut back around 6 yrs ago I should have cut back the trunks where the split further back. 1 of the 3, is far to straight and long. Fortunately it’s on the back side where it’s not as visible. I had also initially shoved a rock in the gap on the front right of the roots where you can see a gap. I decided to pull that out.

Going in to next year, my plan is to address the roots as freshly started exposed root tree. I’ll wrap the roots with sphagnum moss and then wrap that with a split bottle or mesh of some sort. With hopes of growing roots in to that void. Maybe leave that for 2 or 3 years.

Thoughts on wether that would work?

Also, I’ll probably start a thread on this tree at some point.

This from 2 years ago. Canopy is odd and not terribly fitting with the trunk and base.
265733

From this year canopy looks much better.
265734
 

Hartinez

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Newbie with a new tree. This is my first, it's a shimpaku and I was told it's about 8 years old. I got this in July at an intro class, so it's very early into development. I intend to take off that first right branch and try to do an informal upright. I think I need to add more movement.
Thanks for sharing. You’ve done your best with a first step and it’s good your asking for suggestions and advice. I think you’ve fell victim to a very common action new folks to this art take, including myself when I started. Removing too much foliage in close to the trunk and leaving little Pom poms Out at the tips. Also, not detail wiring each individual branchlet. this tree can still be something in many years though. I’d let it grow like mad for several years with out touching it much. When you’ve got significant growth, it’s absolutely necessary with junipers to wire all the way out the tips laying your pads out flat rather than leaving them rounded. Once your branch structure is established you’ll start to see better shapes and definition to said pads. And like @amcoffeegirl said! Buy several more cheap juniper and practice practice practice!!
 

sorce

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@Hartinez I like the blue pot. I feel like you must have some kind of connection to this tree because the rest of your work I have been much more impressed with. The three equal sized trunks is what kills it for me, which makes me hate the roots. I think your plan to fix them is good, but futile with the top as is. The shape of the canopy is better, but as the squat ficus, it is the underlying structure I question. Blue and pink is pimp, pimp enough to be the blinder I'm afraid.

Sorce
 

Cadillactaste

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@sorce ...one has to understand critique is just another ones opinion. As we all have our favorite artists. Critique is good to chew over. If it lines up with what one sees as their vision. Then great! If not...no biggie...but it offered possiblities one may not have considered...and improved their tree to their liking as well.

Edit: Agreed...hard to critique someone who I respect as in Jerry. He's like to Ficus as Vance is to Mugo.
 

Hartinez

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@Hartinez I like the blue pot. I feel like you must have some kind of connection to this tree because the rest of your work I have been much more impressed with. The three equal sized trunks is what kills it for me, which makes me hate the roots. I think your plan to fix them is good, but futile with the top as is. The shape of the canopy is better, but as the squat ficus, it is the underlying structure I question. Blue and pink is pimp, pimp enough to be the blinder I'm afraid.

Sorce
Oh yeah, all very fair points @sorce

This is one of few trees that is still alive from my early days. And quite frankly, I disliked it for most of its time with me. That is until this year, once the canopy started taking shape. However though, like you said those trunks being straight and of similar size drives me a bit crazy as well. I feel though, the only way to remedy that would be to chop hard and start the branching over. Which I’m not excited about doing. 😫

I think that’s why I’d like to address the roots trying to improve their appearance.

The pot, well, the pot is actually a saucer with drilled holes. 😅😅. Im on the hunt for something better and may have a friend make me something custom. What color do you envision to highlight the bright pink?

Thanks for the input Sorce. This tree def has a soft place in my bonsai heart.
 
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