Bald Cypress Clump...Kinda a Progression

[Mellow Mullet]

I have had this one for a while, the first picture is what happens when you leave your trees in the care of your ex-wife that is not fond of bonsai. It was somewhere around 2010, and is a testament to how tough these trees are. The second is a picture of how it looked at the end of the summer of 2013. The other two picture are how it looks now.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

The last two in this set are pictures of some knees forming.

 

[bonsaiBlake]

The last two in this set are pictures of some knees forming.

amazing how well they've pulled through. the bark on those guys is wicked looking. so what exactly is a "knee" on a tree?

 

[edprocoat]

amazing how well they've pulled through. the bark on those guys is wicked looking. so what exactly is a "knee" on a tree?

The kneee is a projection from the roots upwards to get air when they are growing in water or wet conditions, like you see in BC in swamps or river banks. Pretty amazing to see in Bonsai culture.

ed

 

[Mellow Mullet]

Thanks for the comments, I am excited about the knees and I hope that the squirrels don't gnaw on them, I hate those little bas#####.

John Lee

 

[Mellow Mullet]

Actually, the knees will form on them when they are growing just about anywhere, I have seen them growning as lanscape trees in the parking lot of Home Depot projecting knees. Also, there was a zoo or botanical garden that I visited in the past that had some huge ones growing that were far from any swampy conditions that had knees. No one really knows why they make knees, it is just something that Bald Cypress do. There are many theories and a lot of research that has gone into the reason for the knee, but no solid proof.

John

 

[marineonenine]

do people prefer that "knee" type growth in the roots?

 

[Mellow Mullet]

I would have to say "yes" as it is one of the things that the species is known for ,so it would be desirable to have them on a bonsai tree. It is not unheard of, but uncommon for them to be reproduced in a pot.

John

 

[GrimLore]

I would have to say "yes" as it is one of the things that the species is known for ,so it would be desirable to have them on a bonsai tree. It is not unheard of, but uncommon for them to be reproduced in a pot.

John

Nice work! It is refreshing to see that occur naturally in a container. I get disturbed a bit when I see people force "knee type" root bases.

Grimmy