AlainK
Imperial Masterpiece
Once again, it started as a cutting:
August 2011 (the cutting was made two or three years before):
The idea was to have a "hokidachi", a broom-style bonsai.
But I realized that it would take me more years than I have left to match the branches with the height and girth of the trunk. So I air-layered it:
July 2014:
(Behind, a jug of "rhum arrangé"
)
March 2015. I was almost certain the base would push out new buds, but to my dismay, it died!
March 2016:
10 July 2016, getting messy:
So I decided to defoliate it and trim it a bit:
Mid-july is the limit here to defoliate maples, but it's been pushing out new leaves, and some buds that I can select later to balance the design.
August 12th, 2016:
... For instance, the buds at the base of the branches on the left have no interest, but if I (partially) defoliate again, that is if this time I cut only a portion of the leaves, the buds on the branches inside the tree (like the one on the left) can develop. See what I mean?
August 2011 (the cutting was made two or three years before):
The idea was to have a "hokidachi", a broom-style bonsai.
But I realized that it would take me more years than I have left to match the branches with the height and girth of the trunk. So I air-layered it:
July 2014:
(Behind, a jug of "rhum arrangé"
)March 2015. I was almost certain the base would push out new buds, but to my dismay, it died!
March 2016:
10 July 2016, getting messy:
So I decided to defoliate it and trim it a bit:
Mid-july is the limit here to defoliate maples, but it's been pushing out new leaves, and some buds that I can select later to balance the design.
August 12th, 2016:
... For instance, the buds at the base of the branches on the left have no interest, but if I (partially) defoliate again, that is if this time I cut only a portion of the leaves, the buds on the branches inside the tree (like the one on the left) can develop. See what I mean?
