Thinking...I could cut back much harder.

Cadillactaste

Neagari Gal
Messages
16,262
Reaction score
20,884
Location
NE Ohio: zone 4 (USA) lake microclimate
USDA Zone
5b
Sort of what I'm shooting for in the design aspect.
image.jpg

I did cut one branch shorter to get that arched effect off of the right side. But, curious if I need to cut that left side back more...or leave it.
The right side has an odd branch growing up. Not sure what time will do with it. So watching...and may remove.
image.jpg
Overall look...



image.jpg

image.jpg
To be honest...that far right branch...is not impressive. Wire or chop...thinking chop. But should that left front branch be left as is?
image.jpg
 

Cadillactaste

Neagari Gal
Messages
16,262
Reaction score
20,884
Location
NE Ohio: zone 4 (USA) lake microclimate
USDA Zone
5b
Then, there is those silly sacrafice branches at the base. Contemplated removal. Then curious if worth while to chop and root next season. (If that can be done) Or even worth trying...
image.jpg

image.jpg
 

Mellow Mullet

Masterpiece
Messages
3,967
Reaction score
11,229
Location
Mobile, Alabama-The Heart of Dixie
USDA Zone
8-9
I am not familiar with this species, does it sent out new shoots at the nodes when trimmed? If so, I would cut all of the top branches back to the first node (if it is the right time to prune) to get some ramification. I would also lose the bottom two branches, they are distracting (at least to me). I love the twisty movement of the trunk. I have a variety of Japanese maple that is called Ryusan that is weeping and that is what I do with it.

John
 

Cadillactaste

Neagari Gal
Messages
16,262
Reaction score
20,884
Location
NE Ohio: zone 4 (USA) lake microclimate
USDA Zone
5b
I am not familiar with this species, does it sent out new shoots at the nodes when trimmed? If so, I would cut all of the top branches back to the first node (if it is the right time to prune) to get some ramification. I would also lose the bottom two branches, they are distracting (at least to me). I love the twisty movement of the trunk. I have a variety of Japanese maple that is called Ryusan that is weeping and that is what I do with it.

John

Thanks...yes, I too like the movement in the trunk. Though...I actually was looking for a blue pot when I stumbled upon this one.

As to the right time to prune...
Well...most the fall foliage that turned red has fallen off. I was told by one to prune when that happened...another not to yet. I was told if I prune to soon...I will get die back. Yet this came to me last fall pruned with no canopy what so ever. So...yeah, I'm confused about when now. Maybe I'll wait until all leaves are off...as the other suggested. Then chop hard. It's a fast growing vine. So easy to grow out come spring next season. Invasive in my parts. That it will never be placed off my deck. Very familiar with the weeping ryusen maples...had one in my landscape for some time. Then with arctic temps that lingered...killed the top back to a foot from the ground. Now it's in a pot just goofing around with it. Replacement tree that was planted in ground...and offered witner protection of burlap also died back. So...no more ryusen for our yard. They classify them now as zone 6 to deter ones from my area planting them.

I agree...those "sacrafice vines" at the base I almost chopped off. They do absolutely nothing for the tree. Other than to help thicken that base. Which...I did ponder of chopping off next spring and seeing if they would root. But, honestly...I don't want another creeper bonsai. So...do I root and see if someone else would want it? Or...prune and toss in compost area. I see them gone come spring next year...either attempting to root...or just plain removal and compost bin. They really are distracting.
 

M. Frary

Bonsai Godzilla
Messages
14,307
Reaction score
22,116
Location
Mio Michigan
USDA Zone
4
Wouldn't you want to cut it back in the spring to avoid dieback?
 

Cadillactaste

Neagari Gal
Messages
16,262
Reaction score
20,884
Location
NE Ohio: zone 4 (USA) lake microclimate
USDA Zone
5b
My biggest thing is...you let this grow out for fall colors. Then, it's to overly huge to winter with all the vines. (Thus the sacrafice vines are cut back) but, surely one can cut back before spring. If wintered in a controlled environment come winter allowing dormant period yet, protected as well.
 

Adair M

Pinus Envy
Messages
14,402
Reaction score
34,873
Location
NEGeorgia
USDA Zone
7a
Just curious, why aren't you wiring this into the shape you want?

On deciduous material, you wire the branches when they're young!
 

Cadillactaste

Neagari Gal
Messages
16,262
Reaction score
20,884
Location
NE Ohio: zone 4 (USA) lake microclimate
USDA Zone
5b
Because its an invasion weed/vine that grows like no tomorrow. Thus...this will be chopped hard each year until it has something worth while looking at. Leaving wire on such a fast growing vine sounds like a taxing endeavor. I'm still learning it. But would prefer not having it get ahead of me and end up with scaring.
 

Cadillactaste

Neagari Gal
Messages
16,262
Reaction score
20,884
Location
NE Ohio: zone 4 (USA) lake microclimate
USDA Zone
5b
I may however...upon thinking on it,toss wire on "last year's growth" that I keep come spring...allowing the new growth to run wild. To have a bit of direction and such going on. But that new vine just grows so quickly I can't see wiring it all.
 

Cadillactaste

Neagari Gal
Messages
16,262
Reaction score
20,884
Location
NE Ohio: zone 4 (USA) lake microclimate
USDA Zone
5b
Please do, I created it to share.

John
Thanks John! I will pass along the credit where it should go.

On another note...my husband HATES (yes bold capitals) Virginia Creeper. He has fought all the years of our marriage to kill it in the vicinity of our home. So when that bonsai developed leaves...he was beyond dumbfounded...and was like..."Why!?! I just don't get it...why!?!"

I showed him your drawing...and he was impressed. He said...now that would be something to see one day! So hats off to you John...you had his interest on a tree he detests.
 

Paradox

Imperial Masterpiece
Messages
9,338
Reaction score
11,405
Location
Long Island, NY
USDA Zone
7a
Because its an invasion weed/vine that grows like no tomorrow. Thus...this will be chopped hard each year until it has something worth while looking at. Leaving wire on such a fast growing vine sounds like a taxing endeavor. I'm still learning it. But would prefer not having it get ahead of me and end up with scaring.


I would think that if it grows that fast, any scarring would also heal over fast
 

Adair M

Pinus Envy
Messages
14,402
Reaction score
34,873
Location
NEGeorgia
USDA Zone
7a
Darlene:

Wire scars are really not that big a deal! All bonsai get them. Just remove the wire before they get really deep.

Yes, you will be applying wire, and removing wire several times a season on something like Virginia Creaper. That's how it's done. Wiring isn't something you do once and that's it. No, wiring is something you do continuously, for as long as it's a bonsai.

Bonsai is wiring; wiring is bonsai.

Until you wire that thing, it will never look like you want it to.
 

Cadillactaste

Neagari Gal
Messages
16,262
Reaction score
20,884
Location
NE Ohio: zone 4 (USA) lake microclimate
USDA Zone
5b
@Adair M wired it after watching Colin's video. Now...itching for spring to remove those ugly sacrifice branches and prune back the top. (Plans of removing the wire on the trunk that was previously wired by last owner come spring as well. Hoping it holds its shape with a year under its belt with that wire on it.)

Love the virtual that John drew...it's my inspiration. Love the movement in the sketch.

image.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Vin

Giga

Masterpiece
Messages
3,813
Reaction score
4,722
Location
Virginia beach, VA
USDA Zone
7-8
Looks nice I need to update mine it grew over 30 feet this year to thick'n the trunk. I think I wired my birch 3 times this year!
 
Last edited:

Cadillactaste

Neagari Gal
Messages
16,262
Reaction score
20,884
Location
NE Ohio: zone 4 (USA) lake microclimate
USDA Zone
5b
Looks nice I need to update mine it grew over 30 feet this year to thick n the trunk
Thanks! I think I finally grasp the slingshot method. Colin's video on wrong wiring...explained so much. Just about all the things shown I had done...hearing why it didn't work...explained a lot! As to why I hated wiring not grasping how others did it and mine didn't quite hold up. Now...I understand it far more...and why what I did previously didn't work.

Wowser! I did cut mine back a bit...no clue how much mine grew...but it's an invasive weed around these parts. My husband still can't believe I have one in a bonsai pot. Would love to see an updated photo of yours.
 
Top Bottom