Another Boxwood I am working on

[Poink88]

Here is another Boxwood I have been working on.

Look at these closely and see how much some of the branches are bent. The ones on the back are basically "relocated" from left to center and the one on the center to right. The branch at the left with guy wire & turnbuckle is 1".

For reference, base is at least 4", container is 12" x 15"

After initial trimming at collection January 19, 2012

A month or so after...

As of Oct. 4, 2012 (8.5 months later)

This morning 10/17/2012 (6am before going to work) I bent the main top-left (1"+ thick "S" curved) branch to bring it down and forward. Not yet finished...had to do it in increments/slowly so it won't break. Front-right branch also bent backwards and down. Back branch also re-positioned again. Pics will follow this weekend.

Here it is now (10/19/2012), exactly 9 months from collection date. It is a bit more compact now...

As of 03/29/2014...about 2 years and 2 months from collection. Finally repotted to a bonsai pot.

After re-applying a few guy wires (04/19/2014)...

 

[JudyB]

You are becoming the bend king aren't you? Good work.

 

[Poink88]

Thanks Judy,

Just learning and putting some of what I've read into practice. I find it very interesting to really manipulate the tree. If only I have a clearer design goal (my biggest weakness) I may actually build a descent (to me) bonsai.

I never mentioned it but Kimura (The Magician) is an idol of mine. We can't all be Ryan Neil but I have to start with coin, handkerchief, and card tricks somehow (baby steps).

Someday, I will share a pic of my cheap homemade branch bender out of a box wrench. Works great too!

 

[bonsaibp]

Thanks Judy,

Just learning and putting some of what I've read into practice. I find it very interesting to really manipulate the tree. If only I have a clearer design goal (my biggest weakness) I may actually build a descent (to me) bonsai.

I never mentioned it but Kimura (The Magician) is an idol of mine. We can't all be Ryan Neil but I have to start with coin, handkerchief, and card tricks somehow (baby steps).

Someday, I will share a pic of my cheap homemade branch bender out of a box wrench. Works great too!

Why wait until someday? What's wrong with today?

 

[Poink88]

Why wait until someday? What's wrong with today?

You're right...I will try to snap a pic of the tool also when I take a pic of this tree.

 

[Poink88]

Added a current pic at the OP.

 

[Nybonsai12]

Wow, very impressive. I think this is going to end up really amazing.

 

[bonsaibp]

You're right...I will try to snap a pic of the tool also when I take a pic of this tree.

well.........see the newest picture of the tree where's the tool?

 

[Poink88]

well.........see the newest picture of the tree where's the tool?

LOL...here it is sir. Not impressive looking but works well. I just used a cheap diamond cut off bit and Dremel to chop it. Honestly, I am actually surprised it went through this.

EDIT: I plan on changing it a bit later and grind some curve at the top and bottom to fit the branch being bent better....also to make sure the "spikes" to hold nuts won't cut the bark/wood when bending. For now I just use leather or old hose as cushion when bending.

 

[Poink88]

Update pics taken today 04/02/2013
View attachment 33494 View attachment 33495

 

[Beng]

I gotta be honest Dario I saw your bending pic about a month or two ago and I laughed at how absurd it looked. In fact I thought WTH kind of forum did this guy see to come up with this ridiculousness...

That said you did a great job, I'm quite impressed with the amount of bend you've accomplished here. Can you do a detailed post of the anchoring you used to attach that thing?

Now you just have to show me the benefits of honey as a cut paste.

 

[Poink88]

I gotta be honest Dario I saw your bending pic about a month or two ago and I laughed at how absurd it looked. In fact I thought WTH kind of forum did this guy see to come up with this ridiculousness...

I appreciate the honest response

That said you did a great job, I'm quite impressed with the amount of bend you've accomplished here. Can you do a detailed post of the anchoring you used to attach that thing?

Now you just have to show me the benefits of honey as a cut paste.

I will see if I can post detailed pics this weekend. I have to tell you that the top branch bend was 2 stage and the 1st stage was to move if forward, a few days later, I bent it down. No pics were taken during stage 1. You will probably laugh harder if you see my anchoring. (...and someone might post another spoof of it for everyone to have fun with - I am glad I can provide some fun).

It is not honey per se...more like bees wax with cooking oil. Honey was added to soften the mix without making it too oily. I am satisfied with the results so I am not changing it even if I get ridiculed for it. As a matter of fact my first batch is almost finished and I made the next batch already.

 

[Beng]

Why not try soy wax instead of beeswax. Sugar will attract insects. Does beeswax have sugar in it?

Did you have to cut the branch to bend it that much? Boxwood is super brittle, the bend seems amazing since you did it in such a short period.

 

[Poink88]

Why not try soy wax instead of beeswax. Sugar will attract insects. Does beeswax have sugar in it?

Did you have to cut the branch to bend it that much? Boxwood is super brittle, the bend seems amazing since you did it in such a short period.

There could be minimal sugar in beeswax but lots in honey. I am not familiar with soy wax but I'll check it. Thanks!

I did not make any cuts...just straight bend but done over a few days. Boxwood is brittle but can be "massaged" to be flexible in a few days. I know it will take time to set though...but I know not nearly as long as I was originally told. I have a few that set in less than 6 months but not this size. I also over did these a bit to allow for some spring back.

 

[Beng]

There could be minimal sugar in beeswax but lots in honey. I am not familiar with soy wax but I'll check it. Thanks!

I did not make any cuts...just straight bend but done over a few days. Boxwood is brittle but can be "massaged" to be flexible in a few days. I know it will take time to set though...but I know not nearly as long as I was originally told. I have a few that set in less than 6 months but not this size. I also over did these a bit to allow for some spring back.

My kingsville sets between spring and early fall each year. But I've never bent a kingsville branch that big.

 

[Poink88]

My kingsville sets between spring and early fall each year. But I've never bent a kingsville branch that big.

Thanks, nice to know.

This is a Japanese Boxwood (I was told it is about 30 yrs IIRC from a hedge), you would be very lucky to find a Kingsville with branch that size. I know they exist but would probably need to be more than a hundred years old to have that girth.

 

[Poink88]

Today is my 2nd year bonsai anniversary and decided to post a few updates for some of my trees in training. (hope you don't mind)

Not much change to this....

 

[Poink88]

Repotted this today...

Not bad progress for 2 years & 2 months work.

Pot is by Erin. It cracked and he basically gave it to me and just charged me $20 for the repair work (free shipping too w/ my other order).

 

[Mike123]

First I'd like to say I like the tree! Its coming along nicely! But trying to bend mature Box branches is really difficult. A lot of the foliage is covering what you intended to do. Looking at the previous pics. On the left trunk the major branch seemed to go back to its original place. Not being to judgemental just seems a lot of work to cover it up. Nice progress.! I like how far it's come.!

 

[Poink88]

First I'd like to say I like the tree! Its coming along nicely! But trying to bend mature Box branches is really difficult. A lot of the foliage is covering what you intended to do. Looking at the previous pics. On the left trunk the major branch seemed to go back to its original place. Not being to judgemental just seems a lot of work to cover it up. Nice progress.! I like how far it's come.!

Thanks.

FYI, I am not covering it up...just letting the tree recover then I will clean it up. Most of my trees go to a pom-pom stage then I give them a haircut...it is a cycle esp since they are in development.

Right or wrong...that is my style.