6 months in the life of a noob!
- Thread starter HotAction
- Start date
HotAction
Chumono
Grouper, thankyou sincerely for the reply. It is not only helpful to me, but to others who stumble through as well. The points you raise, are ones that I've been pondering over the now 14 months I've owned the tree.
When I aquired it, the tree wasn't in the best shape. When I asked an experienced local club member to help with my first ever repotting, he saud sure. I went to his place, and he proceeded to TEAR the dead stump and other clumps of roots from the rootball that was long overdue for a repot.
It pushed buds, and grew well through the beginning of summer, then took a turn for the worse
? I put it in the "bonsai hospital" for the rest of the summer, and it pushed some healthy fall growth.
First and foremost I haven't wanted to push this tree to much, as it was a gift from a friend and the last remaining tree of his collection. So, I have done some minor work to set the stage for the future changes to come. What they are is up in the air.
As you said, the height presents a problem. The main tree is like a gangly teenager, too tall and thin. Yet he's growing a full beard that hasn't yet turned grey.(semi-ancient crown) It's a bit of an anomaly at this point. I'm looking at many options, including removing some of the lower braches, and planting in a small drum pot. Reducing it will be a bit tricky because of the way all the branches leave the trunk. If a new bud pops, I'll train it upward to give me the option if I want it.
I'm planning on reducing branches in spring and adding guy wires. All in all, it has been fun to work with, nurse back to health, and set it on the path to its future. Thanks for the advice and have a merry Christmas.
p.s. I know we all say it, but here goes... There is more movement than apparent in the 2-D photo, but I hear you. If you take the 4+ hours to wire it, might as well bend the son of a gun. Copper would probably help out some, huh?
-Dave
When I aquired it, the tree wasn't in the best shape. When I asked an experienced local club member to help with my first ever repotting, he saud sure. I went to his place, and he proceeded to TEAR the dead stump and other clumps of roots from the rootball that was long overdue for a repot.
It pushed buds, and grew well through the beginning of summer, then took a turn for the worse
? I put it in the "bonsai hospital" for the rest of the summer, and it pushed some healthy fall growth. First and foremost I haven't wanted to push this tree to much, as it was a gift from a friend and the last remaining tree of his collection. So, I have done some minor work to set the stage for the future changes to come. What they are is up in the air.
As you said, the height presents a problem. The main tree is like a gangly teenager, too tall and thin. Yet he's growing a full beard that hasn't yet turned grey.(semi-ancient crown) It's a bit of an anomaly at this point. I'm looking at many options, including removing some of the lower braches, and planting in a small drum pot. Reducing it will be a bit tricky because of the way all the branches leave the trunk. If a new bud pops, I'll train it upward to give me the option if I want it.
I'm planning on reducing branches in spring and adding guy wires. All in all, it has been fun to work with, nurse back to health, and set it on the path to its future. Thanks for the advice and have a merry Christmas.
p.s. I know we all say it, but here goes... There is more movement than apparent in the 2-D photo, but I hear you. If you take the 4+ hours to wire it, might as well bend the son of a gun. Copper would probably help out some, huh?
-Dave
HotAction
Chumono
bwaynef
Masterpiece
Kudos on the neat and even placement. Looks like you need to work on using a wider/longer angle though. Too-tightly coiled (not too tight on the branch but too tight an angle) wire is weaker.
Re: the 1st branch, I'd consider chopping it back to the first main sub-branch.
Re: the 1st branch, I'd consider chopping it back to the first main sub-branch.
grouper52
Masterpiece
Hi HotAction - LOL! Your points are well taken.
1. I'm no stranger to "the actual 3-D tree looks MUCH better than it does in the photo." Story of my life as well. Yeah, the lower branch looks rather unimpressive in that latest photo, but I can get a better idea of some of the motion you did bend into the other branches. Double or triple wrap if you have no thicker wire or copper wire, or wrap with raffia if you really want to bend a lot without much risk (and also do it some other time than winter, when dormant barnches are much less supple, and snap more easily). Subtle bends now will be lost as the branches thicken over time, so go for the gusto!
Branch motion in all planes is also a great idea when wiring movement into them.
I'd also say, the branches extend out too far at this time: in a few years it will look much better if you merely bend the first several thin shoots on each main branch, then cut the branch off after that, and let those contorted ones grow out and thicken, repeating the process once or twice each year - larches can usually take that kind of abuse and keep coming back for more. That way, you will get the advantages of a combination of both wiring and a modified clip-and-grow approach. The image quickly becomes quite pleasing from an attractive combination of contortion and ramification.
2. My LOL also covers your other point - the inherited or gifted or auctioned-off-by-the-widow tree with serious structural problems - I've been THERE a few times myself as well: awkward! Got a tree like that sitting out there nagging me even as we speak, a similar tall lanky fellow who's prospects won't be definitively improved by mere chopping either. I've hacked and die grindered and bent him into an absolute "ancient survivor" mess, and he still ain't gonna look good without just throwing what's left in the ground for a decade or so - and even then . . . . ??? But that's all I can do, and I've got the room in my yard, even if I may not have the life span, so that's where he's going in the spring.
I always think these sorts of trees are great to learn on. Radical problems often require radical solutions, and we learn by trying such things. And once your larch is healthy again, it should be able to withstand such radical cures without dying on the table, to use a surgical metaphor. I think you'll do great with this guy over time, so keep us posted.
1. I'm no stranger to "the actual 3-D tree looks MUCH better than it does in the photo." Story of my life as well. Yeah, the lower branch looks rather unimpressive in that latest photo, but I can get a better idea of some of the motion you did bend into the other branches. Double or triple wrap if you have no thicker wire or copper wire, or wrap with raffia if you really want to bend a lot without much risk (and also do it some other time than winter, when dormant barnches are much less supple, and snap more easily). Subtle bends now will be lost as the branches thicken over time, so go for the gusto!
Branch motion in all planes is also a great idea when wiring movement into them.
I'd also say, the branches extend out too far at this time: in a few years it will look much better if you merely bend the first several thin shoots on each main branch, then cut the branch off after that, and let those contorted ones grow out and thicken, repeating the process once or twice each year - larches can usually take that kind of abuse and keep coming back for more. That way, you will get the advantages of a combination of both wiring and a modified clip-and-grow approach. The image quickly becomes quite pleasing from an attractive combination of contortion and ramification.
2. My LOL also covers your other point - the inherited or gifted or auctioned-off-by-the-widow tree with serious structural problems - I've been THERE a few times myself as well: awkward! Got a tree like that sitting out there nagging me even as we speak, a similar tall lanky fellow who's prospects won't be definitively improved by mere chopping either. I've hacked and die grindered and bent him into an absolute "ancient survivor" mess, and he still ain't gonna look good without just throwing what's left in the ground for a decade or so - and even then . . . . ??? But that's all I can do, and I've got the room in my yard, even if I may not have the life span, so that's where he's going in the spring.
I always think these sorts of trees are great to learn on. Radical problems often require radical solutions, and we learn by trying such things. And once your larch is healthy again, it should be able to withstand such radical cures without dying on the table, to use a surgical metaphor. I think you'll do great with this guy over time, so keep us posted.
HotAction
Chumono
Already there Harry, merry christmas. (It's no shimp, but I do accept belated holiday gifts
)http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2736
http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2370
Thanks fer lookin'
Dave
Dav4
Drop Branch Murphy
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HotAction
Chumono
HotAction
Chumono
Bill S
Masterpiece
A healthy larch is a good larch, lookin good HA.
HotAction
Chumono
Bill S
Masterpiece
Coming along nicely, are you considering making this tree shorter??
HotAction
Chumono
![IMAG0049[1].jpg](/data/attachments/12/12631-d8d0a1adbc0138a4d32b3bd102808810.jpg)
![IMAG0050[1].jpg](/data/attachments/12/12632-4f775cfc4c0d0eed9bcdfb2df1da7624.jpg)
Jason
Chumono
Huge progress! I like the pot too.
bonsaiTOM
Mame
So glad you brought this tree in for the repotting class. Terrific match of tree to pot. Can't wait to see it again in May and in July.
How is your 4th of JuLarch project tree doing?
We were all very impressed with the trident you showed. (maybe you can update those 2 threads)
How is your 4th of JuLarch project tree doing?
We were all very impressed with the trident you showed. (maybe you can update those 2 threads)
HotAction
Chumono
Tom, I already updated the trident thread, and you posted about it. The 4th of Jularch is awaiting spring patiently, and hasn't really changed at all since I posted it originally.
Dave
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
I like the tree. Not so wild about the pot.
The tree is long and lean, yet the pot looks well, pot-bellied, pudgy AND it's not dark enough.
I'd think a darker , lower, rectangle-ish pot would serve the lean image better.
I was thinking along the lines of a glazed rectangle or tray like these:
http://albrightpots.com/
In a darker thicker matte glaze--look at Albright's glaze colors and think of any of the greys with this tree...
The tree is long and lean, yet the pot looks well, pot-bellied, pudgy AND it's not dark enough.
I'd think a darker , lower, rectangle-ish pot would serve the lean image better.
I was thinking along the lines of a glazed rectangle or tray like these:
http://albrightpots.com/
In a darker thicker matte glaze--look at Albright's glaze colors and think of any of the greys with this tree...
Last edited:
HotAction
Chumono
Hey Rock, thanks for looking and the input. I took a look at some of those rectangles, and that very well could be a route I try out in the future. As for now, the pot was a gift and is the nicest I have. It wasn't bought "for" this tree but the fit was decent, and I couldn't stand to leave it empty for another year or two.
Dave
Dave
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
"As for now, the pot was a gift and is the nicest I have. It wasn't bought "for" this tree but the fit was decent, and I couldn't stand to leave it empty for another year or two."
Been there I should've said the pot is very good, but not so good with the tree. Who is the potter?
Been there
I should've said the pot is very good, but not so good with the tree. Who is the potter?Similar threads
