Indeed! I did some tap root removals when I put them into these pots a week ago so I'm going to wait until they're happy and actively putting out new leaves again before I make any major chops.Looks like you're going to have the opportunity to start a lot of cuttings, when you start trimming.
Good advice, thanks! Yup I definitely see number one getting the most drastic cuts once it is healthy enough to take it.Looks like you have trunk and primary branching set in both plants, so now it’s a matter of cutting the branches back hard so you can develop secondary branching and a nice collection of foliage.
General rule of thumb suggests a 1:6 ratio of trunk width to tree height, so these would probably be best suited for shohin sized tree. 6-8” I’m guessing.
You can only make these cuts once, so make them count! Take a couple weeks or even months before deciding where you’re going to cut. I included an example photo just for discussions sake, I didn’t put much thought into the location of the cut
Thanks for the idea, much appreciated! That's close to what I had in mind as well.
good eye! Yeah this one is closer to finished than I initially thought.
I know what I said and I'll dare say it again!Holy Crap! .... My climate does NOT allow a P. Afra to EVER get that kind of bark.
Wowzers!!... I honestly... got nothin’ else... NICE!
@Wires_Guy_wires
That was an AWESOME read!We get some absolute monster afra's down here.
Examples:
Portulacaria afra “the underdog“
Portulacaria afra, "Porkbush" or “Spekboom“ is a popular succulent plant found on rocky slopes in the Karoo scrub and semi-arid landscapes. In this article, Andre Swart, a keen bonsai enthusiast shares of his 15 years of experience growing this species as bonsai.www.bonsaitree.co.za