2015 Box Store Challenge Overview

[Vin]

Well, the first part of the challenge is complete and I would like Mr. Pall to know I sincerely appreciate what he has done for our contest. Thank you Sir for everything you’ve done. You jumped in with both feet and as promised gave a detailed critique of each tree. Your passion for the art is very evident.

Everyone should be very proud of their accomplishments. It was quite a challenge and many naysayers were proven wrong about using evergreens. Sawgrass and jedge76 your trees were outstanding and well deserved winners. Fraser67 I thought for sure your tree was going to win. You did a really great job. I am truly humbled by Mr. Pall’s comments about my tree and I’m thrilled it’s in the company of so many other wonderful ones. I can’t wait to see them all in September of next year. It’s going to be interesting to see them develop for sure.

Soon, I’ll be creating a thread for everyone to post updates of their trees. Information and questions about your tree can be posted there at will. If anyone has any input on how to improve the process please don’t be bashful. Trust me, I need all the help I can get.

All in all it’s been really fun and I’ve learned a lot. I hope others feel the same. Thank goodness there is a forum like this for us to share our trees and experiences. We all owe the Nutter a big “THANK YOU”!

Keep those cameras handy!

Vin

 

[barrosinc]

Awesome Vin!

 

[A Random User]

You, Vin proved the Naysayers wrong!
I only showed up for the fact that I grew up in a family where an "I can't do something attitude" was not acceptable.

So, I thank you for the opportunity. With this I part ways from the competition. My tree has since been sold and as of tomorrow will be on it's way to it's new owner.

 

[jedge76]

Congrats on selling the tree (should've hit me up if you were selling it!!! lol), but I am going to miss seeing the progress in 2016! I really enjoy your work.

 

[Cadillactaste]

You, Vin proved the Naysayers wrong!
I only showed up for the fact that I grew up in a family where an "I can't do something attitude" was not acceptable.

So, I thank you for the opportunity. With this I part ways from the competition. My tree has since been sold and as of tomorrow will be on it's way to it's new owner.

Yeah, I seen your auction looking through FB auctions. I was a bit taken back by list price you set for a $9 tree. But, the exposed roots and such did make it a sweet little piece. Let alone it going for over that price. I guess you could say you scored.

Those roots will have me poking around Lowes to see if I can get so lucky. Your little tree was out of my price range from the get go...

 

[Cadillactaste]

I would love to hear from those who participated...of the challenges they found in the material they chose...and anything else they might care to share.

 

[jedge76]

Hey Darlene, and others...I really didn't know what I had when I bought the boxwood that I worked other than a decent trunk and a somewhat interesting nebari. It was quite a web of branches to go through once I got into pruning the tree. There were so many branches emanating from the main trunk that you couldn't see from the front to the back, so I started removing what I thought was unnecessary knowing that there would be plenty of options regardless. When it came to wiring, I decided to go with guy wires because the bark seemed easily marked when scraped by accident, so I wanted to minimize that. Also, as we know, boxwoods are pretty difficult to wire due to the density of the wood and can be kind of brittle as well. The one thing I regret is not removing about a third of the roots in preparation for a pot next year...I want to try to have it potted up properly by next 2016 September's continuation of this contest, but it may be a little late to get a head start on that. I would love to hear more comments and critiques from those of you out there!

 

[Paradox]

Yep many thanks to Walter and Vin for their work and putting up with us. Especially Walter for being willing to judge an contest of "lowly Home Depot trees".

I too was pleasantly surprised at Walter's comments on my tree. Very constructive and no sense of putting any of the trees down.

 

[Vin]

Hey Darlene, and others...I really didn't know what I had when I bought the boxwood that I worked other than a decent trunk and a somewhat interesting nebari. It was quite a web of branches to go through once I got into pruning the tree. There were so many branches emanating from the main trunk that you couldn't see from the front to the back, so I started removing what I thought was unnecessary knowing that there would be plenty of options regardless. When it came to wiring, I decided to go with guy wires because the bark seemed easily marked when scraped by accident, so I wanted to minimize that. Also, as we know, boxwoods are pretty difficult to wire due to the density of the wood and can be kind of brittle as well. The one thing I regret is not removing about a third of the roots in preparation for a pot next year...I want to try to have it potted up properly by next 2016 September's continuation of this contest, but it may be a little late to get a head start on that. I would love to hear more comments and critiques from those of you out there!

Joe,

You did a great job with your tree and it was a well deserved win! For the most part, Boxwoods seem to do better in deeper pots, much like Azaleas. Yes, I've seen them in very shallow pots and on slabs but from what I hear they eventually will show signs of decline. I think you'll be fine with a repot next spring that reduces the root mass by a little more than half. If you select the right pot it will look great. I would much rather be criticized for using a pot that's too deep then lose the tree just so I could get it in a shallow pot. I'm not saying to do this but I have personally reduced the root mass on Boxwoods by as much as 75% and they act like nothing happened. However, when I've done this I've also removed the foliage by about the same amount. In order to get the tree prepared for next year, remember Boxwoods are slow growers so I would work on getting your primary and secondary branches set this season. Generally, lower branches are larger in diameter than those above them so your lowest branches will be the hardest to work with. I really like what you've done so far. Hopefully I'm not saying things you already know.

Vin

 

[jedge76]

Thanks a lot, Vin. That is great advice and an aspect of this process I am most unsure of--appropriate sized potting. And I didn't know boxwood may well suffer from a very shallow pot, so maybe something with about 2.5" of depth at minimum might be the way to go. I have read the general rules of picking the appropriate sized pot from people like Harry Harrington, but as he says, that's just general. I am thinking of a faded blue pot, probably oval (maybe round). I have a lot of time to shop until I am ready next year or so. Thanks again!

--Joe

 

[Vin]

Thanks a lot, Vin. That is great advice and an aspect of this process I am most unsure of--appropriate sized potting. And I didn't know boxwood may well suffer from a very shallow pot, so maybe something with about 2.5" of depth at minimum might be the way to go. I have read the general rules of picking the appropriate sized pot from people like Harry Harrington, but as he says, that's just general. I am thinking of a faded blue pot, probably oval (maybe round). I have a lot of time to shop until I am ready next year or so. Thanks again!

--Joe

I've got a twin trunk in an oval that seems to work well. With a twin trunk there are really only two choices for the front so that makes it easy. If you put a single trunk in an oval pot then you have to commit to only two choices. If you put it in a round pot you have 360 degrees of choices. It will make it a lot easier when the time comes for your final photos. Just my two cents.

 

[jedge76]

That makes sense. Kinda like not really having to pick a front, in a sense. Thanks Vin!

 

[Walter Pall]

If one really wants a great tree one should start with great material. If one wants a world class tree one should start with world class material. If you make compromises on the material you pay dearly in time. Sometimes it takes twenty to fifty years to get a good bonsai from poor material. Most of the time it never happens.

If one competes in an 'instant bonsai challenge` one MUST find the very best material - you don't have the time. For this challenge here finding the material was 90 % of the problem. Only 10 % for the work. Most have failed by far in the 90 % and surprisingly most have failed in the 10 % work. Some have found good material but have cut most of the good parts down.

Why this result? Because in general finding good material is no taught. It is THE critical skill in building a good collection. It is NOT wiring and such which is taught a lot. And then it apparently has not leaked through to most folks that on most trees one has to wire EVERYTHING. Some may have been under the impression that they do naturalistic styling and this means to let nature do what it wants and not interfere with too much wiring. Well, this is a deep misunderstanding - read my articles. Some may really think that they get away with being lazy. Well, bonsai is 95 % sweat and 5 % fun. If you really hate to wire you should reconsider your decision to do bonsai - or have someone wire for you. If you hate detailed tedious dirty work, you should find another hobby

Three lessons here:
1) the most important skill is to find good material.
2) do everything as far as possible right away to have a chance.
3) bonsai is a lot of work - he who does not do it does not really do bonsai

 

[Bunjeh]

Hey Darlene, and others...I really didn't know what I had when I bought the boxwood that I worked other than a decent trunk and a somewhat interesting nebari. It was quite a web of branches to go through once I got into pruning the tree. There were so many branches emanating from the main trunk that you couldn't see from the front to the back, so I started removing what I thought was unnecessary knowing that there would be plenty of options regardless. When it came to wiring, I decided to go with guy wires because the bark seemed easily marked when scraped by accident, so I wanted to minimize that. Also, as we know, boxwoods are pretty difficult to wire due to the density of the wood and can be kind of brittle as well. The one thing I regret is not removing about a third of the roots in preparation for a pot next year...I want to try to have it potted up properly by next 2016 September's continuation of this contest, but it may be a little late to get a head start on that. I would love to hear more comments and critiques from those of you out there!

The hardest part, as Mr. Pall stated, was finding good material. I submitted and withdrew two trees before finally settling. To quote the the old saying, "you can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear".

 

[Alain]

I would love to hear from those who participated...of the challenges they found in the material they chose...and anything else they might care to share.

Hi Darlene,
I picked my tree at Home depot and my first selection criteria was that it was a 50% off week-end on the azalea, which was perfect for an evergreen challenge and a broke contestant
I was looking around their selection when my daughter picked one up because she found its overall shape interesting.
I looked at it, didn't really like its leafs and the fact that it had 2 trunks (I was more looking for a single, thicker, trunk) but then I scratched the soil a little and immediately fall in love with its nebari.
That was it

 

[Alain]

Joe,

Boxwoods seem to do better in deeper pots, much like Azaleas. Yes, I've seen them in very shallow pots and on slabs but from what I hear they eventually will show signs of decline.

Vin

Hi Vin

Well that's a bad news...

I was thinking in potting my azalea in a shallow oval pot... I will obviously have to reconsider.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Hi Darlene,
I picked my tree at Home depot and my first selection criteria was that it was a 50% off week-end on the azalea, which was perfect for an evergreen challenge and a broke contestant
I was looking around their selection when my daughter picked one up because she found its overall shape interesting.
I looked at it, didn't really like its leafs and the fact that it had 2 trunks (I was more looking for a single, thicker, trunk) but then I scratched the soil a little and immediately fall in love with its nebari.
That was it

That's real cool that your daughter was the one who picked your tree. It will always have a great story behind it. I ended up with tunnel vision. Wanting to go a certain way. That no one around here had material I was searching for. Even though they tried to order it in.

I thought you did a great job with the material you had...and the price was a win/win.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Hi Vin

Well that's a bad news...

I was thinking in potting my azalea in a shallow oval pot... I will obviously have to reconsider.

No, not bad news. Bad news is potting it already in a shallow pot. And having it decline. This will allow you to find a new pot that you will love even better.

 

[Cadillactaste]

The hardest part, as Mr. Pall stated, was finding good material. I submitted and withdrew two trees before finally settling. To quote the the old saying, "you can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear".

Love your idiom...never heard that one before.

I hear ya...I had tunnel vision...then, decided since I couldn't find material...to go with one on my want list. Then was so excited I worked it as soon as I got home. (Face palm) Love my little tree.

 

[Alain]

That's real cool that your daughter was the one who picked your tree. It will always have a great story behind it. I ended up with tunnel vision. Wanting to go a certain way. That no one around here had material I was searching for. Even though they tried to order it in.

I thought you did a great job with the material you had...and the price was a win/win.

Thanks!

Yes I loved the fact that my daughter found it.
It's even cooler when you know that I have to argue with her frequently because she kinds of belong to the 'you are so torturing the trees you, bonsai maniacs' school.
So I really appreciate the twist that she was sort of the executioner on this one