10 years training this hinoki

[october]

Well..Every year I post this tree.. It has been about 10 years since I purchased this tree from a local garden center. I made every mistake in the book in the beginning and the tree forgave me for every one of them. This is probably the most forgiving Hinoki Cypress ever. The tree has not been trimmed this season.

The first pic is the tree now, the second one was the tree shortly after it came out of Winter storage. You will notice that when it came out of storage, the foliage was not as healthy of as green as the recent photo. However, after a couple of months of being outside, the foliage is a beautiful, healthy green again.

Rob

 

[jk_lewis]

A pretty tree.

 

[october]

Thank you very much jkl.. I tried to go with a very natural look. It only took 10 years to achieve the "natural look"...

Rob

 

[milehigh_7]

Jim that is the first thing I said when I saw the picture, "That is a pretty tree". I just love your work Rob.

 

[october]

Thank you very much mile... This tree is very special to me.. It has been with me the longest. The foliage grows very fast. However, as far as trunk and branch growth.. You will be waiting forever. I think that in 10 years, this tree might have put on 1/2 inch on the trunk.

Thanks again,
Rob

 

[Smoke]

That is a lot of work keeping a Hinoki that nice for ten years in the USA.

Bravo.

 

[mat]

Very nice, Rob. Definitely reminds me of a beautiful real tree.

 

[october]

Thank you Smoke... There are some definite techniques that I utilize to keep this tree healthy. I will share them if anyone is interested.

1) This tree loves a lot of water. It has always been one of the biggest water drinkers in my collection.

2) This tree is somewhat babied. I notice you cannot treat it like other conifers..pines and junipers etc.. These trees need protection from extreme cold and wind.. Cold winds are a big enemy of this tree. In 10 years, you could probably count on one hand the amount of times that this tree has seens temps in the teens or even low 20's.

3) I like to let this tree grow. I do not do too much pinching, but more cutting. Also, when pinching is done..you cannot pinch back to the dark green or old foliage. You should pinch back, but stop at the point right after the new growth begins. Pinching back to dark green, may render the tree unable to ever produce foliage in that area. Basically, always leave at least a small tip of new, green foliage.

4) Regarding pruning times... It is a good idea to to do pruning in Spring/Summer, but not in Fall or Winter... Although a lot of conifer work is done in Fall, with Hinoki.. you do not know what you are going to be left with at the end of winter because of die back. If you prune in Fall, then natural dieback takes place in Winter. You could be left with a very bare tree and then you will have problems.

Thanks mat... I really appreciate the compliment

 

[edprocoat]

Yes thats definetley a beautiful tree ! I seen the wires in the first pic and assume they are to keep the wind from tipping it over? Eitehr way it gave me an idea about wiring my trees to my bench as the wind storm that tore up central Ohio before moving on to W. Virginia blew my Ficus over breaking the old blue lotus pot and it knocked over my Phoenix graft and busted the large branch off the right side leaving it one branch and a broken pot, oddly enough it looks pretty good after I wired the remaining branches in closer too the deadwood.

ed

 

[Smoke]

Yes thats definetley a beautiful tree ! I seen the wires in the first pic and assume they are to keep the wind from tipping it over? Eitehr way it gave me an idea about wiring my trees to my bench as the wind storm that tore up central Ohio before moving on to W. Virginia blew my Ficus over breaking the old blue lotus pot and it knocked over my Phoenix graft and busted the large branch off the right side leaving it one branch and a broken pot, oddly enough it looks pretty good after I wired the remaining branches in closer too the deadwood.

ed

It's quite possible he has electricity in those wires! Keeps the dogs away....

 

[october]

Thanks Ed and Smoke.. Actually, those wires are a kind of illusion.. It is tree wire purchased at, I believe, Lowes. It is not touching the tree or pot..but rather wrapped around 2 brick columns on either end of the row of trees. It is used to prevent the trees from blowing off the ledge in windy conditions. Basically it is like a fence. Unfortunately, it doesn't work very well and I have still had trees blow right off the ledge even with them there... In fact, this hinoki was one of them. Basically, I aways need to pay attention to weather and forcasts every single day..in fact, evey few hours. If it is going ot be windy, I take them off the ledge. Successful bonsai keeping can be a lot of work..for me..it is probably more work than the average enthusiast has to do.. I constantly have to monitor the wind. I also don't allow them to get rain. I prefer to control their watering needs myself. Also, due to sun requirements, the trees are moved around so they get the most sun during the important seasons.

Ed.. I am sorry about the wind damage to your trees. I have had this happen a few times..pots breaking etc.. Fortunately, all the trees that did fall, are ok.. Also, since mine are up high. If they fall one way, they fall about 3 feet, if they another way, it is about a 7 foot drop.

Rob

 

[grouper52]

That is really quite nice, very pretty. Great work.

Where do you live? Hinokis won't thrive just anywhere, so the kudos may be even more pronounced.

When talking about how much work Hinokis can be, Dan Robinson likes to say, "Everyone should have a Hinoki in their collection - but not MORE than one!"

Once again, great tree.

 

[october]

Thanks grouper.. I live in Massachusetts. I love hinoki cypress.. I would love to have more of them. However, good candidates are hard to find. I have learned that they are all not as forgiving as this one. Also, it is very important to start with very healthy material.

Rob

 

[davetree]

Why don't you wire your trees to the bench if the wind is a problem ?

 

[mc4mc44]

Why don't you wire your trees to the bench if the wind is a problem ?

Wiring them down would help. I have some tall maple seedlings in 4 inch pots that used to get blown over all the time, then i made wires that go around them and hook to a nail under the bench. You can remove the wire in a second to move them for more or less sun, and I haven't had one blow down since. And it keeps the neighbors cats from knocking them down too.

Now if only I could find a way to keep the cats from thinking they're litter-boxes...

 

[october]

Hello davetree...They are not on benches.. It is a brick wall that they sit on.. There is really nothing to tie them too

rob

 

[davetree]

Masonry bit, hammer drill, screw some bolts in, now you have something to attach the wires to.

 

[JudyB]

October, I really like this tree! Thanks for taking time to post it.

 

[milehigh_7]

Now if only I could find a way to keep the cats from thinking they're litter-boxes...

Dachshunds = no cats (plus they can't reach tall walls and benches)

 

[october]

Thanks Judy...10 years is a long time... However, the tree has always looked pretty good, so all the years of waiting wasn't so bad.. I mean, at least you could tell it was a bonsai..lol

Hello milehigh...yup...Also, pekingese and yorkies