New Addition to my tree family! Native too!

GGB

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Damn bc is my favorite American tree. Tempted to hit up a Walmart tonight. But it's interesting that they all have scars/grafts at the same height. What's goin' on down there
 

StoneCloud

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@just.wing.it

I have to say one more time I fucking love BC!!!!! sorry had to get that out....

Don't know if you've read this article yet from Adam L. but it's a cool little story on a baldy and how it progressed. Thought maybe it can help you decide and see where it can go.

https://adamaskwhy.com/2017/03/06/a-flat-top-bald-cypress-bonsai-story-and-a-question/

I am no expert either, but I would let this thing grow and grow man! Focus on the lower branches The trunk will only get better, I know it's tempting to chop it but I would let it RIPPPPP for 2 years!!! :cool::cool::cool:

But I know the itch is there to do something and make it become something.

I can't wait too see it in a few seasons!!
 

Velodog2

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I moved to Maryland from upstate NY almost 30 years ago and was so surprised one day riding in the hills on my mtn bike to find a largish bald cypress growing in a low-lying swampy area - complete with knees. I had always associated them with more tropical area like Florida or Louisiana. Enjoy!
 

f1pt4

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These beauties don't grow up north, but man do I love them! I will follow this thread as the more experienced cypress growers help you out. I have a small one I am growing, fun trees!

I have a buddy who has been growing a beautiful BC here in Southern Ontario for the past decade or so. No real winter protection except mulch it in. Don't let dry out in the summer. That's it. Or so he says.
 

Underdog

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But it's interesting that they all have scars/grafts at the same height. What's goin' on down there
They have been chopped not grafted. One healed well and one not well at all.

I moved to Maryland from upstate NY almost 30 years ago and was so surprised one day riding in the hills on my mtn bike to find a largish bald cypress growing in a low-lying swampy area - complete with knees. I had always associated them with more tropical area like Florida or Louisiana. Enjoy!
I was the same until I found one in an Ohio strip mine pond. Then I had to have one.
 

just.wing.it

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I think mine is also a chop, not a graft.
Because there were other trees in the group that had dead wood that had not healed over and I could see the old cut.
 

Underdog

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I have read prune hard and often for any ramification and to keep top in check. I assume any serious chop should be done while dormant?

I lost my first one after a March re pot into a pond basket of Lava, bark and DE. Roots looked healthy at the time but they turned black and it never woke up. I didn't bare root it. Left much of the potting mix in the ball.
Still trying to determine how I killed it for sure. RIP my friend...

I hope I'm not piling on your thread too much Wing. I think we both have the same questions about the same trees.IMG_20170326_112256258.jpg IMG_20170326_121142597_HDR.jpg
 

just.wing.it

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I have read prune hard and often for any ramification and to keep top in check. I assume any serious chop should be done while dormant?

I lost my first one after a March re pot into a pond basket of Lava, bark and DE. Roots looked healthy at the time but they turned black and it never woke up. I didn't bare root it. Left much of the potting mix in the ball.
Still trying to determine how I killed it for sure. RIP my friend...

I hope I'm not piling on your thread too much Wing. I think we both have the same questions about the same trees.View attachment 149956 View attachment 149957
No, no, pile on as much as you like!
 

StoneCloud

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The roots will bleed if you repot when the tree isn't dormant, so if the buds are beyond "just popping" for the year it's a little to late to repot.

Also if you want it to grow knees, don't repot. Let it get pot bound. If you don't want the knees, it should typically get repotted every other year.

Potting soil like Fertilome and bonsai soil mixed 50/50 is what I've seen they like best. They are swamp trees and love muck as we know!

@Underdog Sorry about your tree man, bc are so great. Maybe the buds were too far along and the soil too inorganic?
 

just.wing.it

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So, is the the "flat top" style a natural look for the bald cypress?
Do they grow that way in nature?
Most of the ones I see are triangles, point up....but I don't know if they are mature trees....
I guess it depends on its location and what's right around it blocking sunlight, huh?
I'm thinking that a flat top style might be more likely to happen in an area where there are many trees all competing for light.....so they grow tall and spread out up top....?
What do you think?
 

Underdog

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Sorry about your tree man, bc are so great. Maybe the buds were too far along and the soil too inorganic?
Maybe soil with too much lava. Definitely not too far along as we had a mild winter and warm spring. It had no buds popping at all. If fact I waited about a month for them to and finally decided to repot anyway. Most everything else was done in Feb.

Just got my little $16 eBay one today with a wrapped root ball and put it in the same pond basket with much more bark and potting soil along with the lava. Covered in moss to help protect the top from drying out. Loosened the compacted root ball just a bit in a bowl of water but no trimming or pulling. I know it's too late but had to pot it. Sitting in the shade for a few days/weeks. Hope the same basket isn't a bad omen... IMG_20170620_100227405.jpg 1497971391676-1877072816.jpg
 

StoneCloud

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@Underdog That little guy looks pretty healthy for the trip!

Ehhh basket don't matter this one will be fine. It may have been the soil last time or just the tree, sometimes they just croak.

That tree looks good coming from ebay, making me itch to go make an impulse buy! lol wife is gonna hate me
 

Underdog

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That tree looks good coming from ebay, making me itch to go make an impulse buy! lol wife is gonna hate me
Came from Andy at New World Bonsai in Florida. Yes looks good for spending the weekend in a truck somewhere.
I was happy for 16 bucks shipped. Likely wouldn't have bought it had I already found those two big ones for 13 at wally world tho but no complaints after trying to buy a 50 dollar one here with no luck. Triple my odds of a survivor come next spring.
 

StoneCloud

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New world in Land o Lakes. familiar they have nice stuff.

I'm still trying to get a really nice BC and can't find one that makes me want to take it! I'm looking for one with a 5-6 inch base can't wait to find it!
 

Anthony

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And from the Tropics

the one here is from Lafayette, Louisiana [ once again ---------- as to a comment made before ----------- NO Miami
and No Louisiana --------- is not in the Tropics ------------ are they even in the Sub-Tropics ? ]
This as we say down here --------- slack or slurred bit of geography is what will kill a tree.

That said, the one down here [ 1980 or so ] goes dormant by shortening of days.
Awakens mid February to February's end.

When asked on-line - Guy Guidry's teacher suggested 3 ' as a good height for the design.
[ 5 inch trunk ?]

Additionally look at Seth's and Darlene's images here on Bnut and there is a link to Mr. Valavannis's images
on typical shapes of Swamp Cypresses.
It was very pleasant to see it wasn't just ---flat tops.
Best of growing Just.wing.it.
Good Day
Anthony
 

GGB

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@0soyoung and @Underdog I've only seen chopped bald cypress atually. All mine a frankestain-esque. Just trying to figure out why a commercial nursery would chop a tree down to just a few inches and regrow it. I assumed they would want to grow a tree as fast as possible and sell it at whatever target height they have. That's why I was wondering what was going on, but if you guys says it's just a chop scar I tottally believe you, doesn't look like a cultivar anyway
 

GGB

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So, is the the "flat top" style a natural look for the bald cypress?
Do they grow that way in nature?
Most of the ones I see are triangles, point up....but I don't know if they are mature trees....
I guess it depends on its location and what's right around it blocking sunlight, huh?
I'm thinking that a flat top style might be more likely to happen in an area where there are many trees all competing for light.....so they grow tall and spread out up top....?
What do you think?
Check out some photos online. Flat tops are popular in bonsai and nature but because they back bud constantly they're like playdoh. Any tree you see in nature or online you can recreate with a well timed snip. Or at least that's what I'm banking on. It's a nice feature after spending hours trying to figure out how to use limited branches on a pine tree
 
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