BC ..... FU

[just.wing.it]

Grabbed this one back in April off a Lowe's clearance rack, it was neglected, like my other BC from Wal-Mart's clearance rack.... It was over 8 feet tall so I chopped it down in the parking lot, leaving no foliage.
Got weird looks from employees as I threw the tree top into the dumpster.....you know, the usual.

I decided to attempt a Formal Upright style tree with this BC....never tried one before.
I believe this style is difficult to make look very nice, hence the initials FU....its like it laughs at those who attempt and says "F-you....try another windswept you fool, bwahahaha!"

Well anyway....
Enough clowning around....to the pics.

 

[AZbonsai]

No mercy! Did you start wire at the top or bottom? Is it one long piece?

 

[just.wing.it]

Bottom up.
2 branches per wire.

 

[AZbonsai]

That was a dumb question!

 

[Shinjuku]

Thanks for posting these pics. Can you tell us more about the screw and wine cork(?) at the top? Is the cork just so that the thick wire doesn’t damage the new leader?

If you had been drinking a long neck instead of wine at the time, would the bottle cap have worked just as well?

 

[BrianBay9]

How tall do you anticipate this being when "finished"?

 

[just.wing.it]

Thanks for posting these pics. Can you tell us more about the screw and wine cork(?) at the top? Is the cork just so that the thick wire doesn’t damage the new leader?

If you had been drinking a long neck instead of wine at the time, would the bottle cap have worked just as well?

I stole the screw idea from someone else here on the forum....wish I could remember who, I'd tell you.
Yes the cork piece is just a pad to keep the wire from biting in so fast.

 

[just.wing.it]

How tall do you anticipate this being when "finished"?

That's a good question, I dont know what the base of the tree looks like yet or how far down the bucket it goes.
Ioo find that out in the spring when I bare-root it.
Roughly I'm thinking 24 inches.

Hopefully when I do see the roots, I can keep the front I used here.

 

[BuckeyeOne]

@just.wing.it , have you played with Dawn Redwoods?
I have 8 seedlings that are about 24" and need to know then to chop?
They're planned for a forest planting.
Buck

 

[just.wing.it]

@just.wing.it , have you played with Dawn Redwoods?
I have 8 seedlings that are about 24" and need to know then to chop?
They're planned for a forest planting.
Buck

Negative on the Dawn Redwood....they are out here though....Im trying to remember who has one....hmm.

 

[BrianBay9]

That's a good question, I dont know what the base of the tree looks like yet or how far down the bucket it goes.
Ioo find that out in the spring when I bare-root it.
Roughly I'm thinking 24 inches.

Hopefully when I do see the roots, I can keep the front I used here.

If I were going for a two foot tree I think I'd try to get taper started 8 - 10 inches from the bottom. Looks like you've got a tiny bit of taper in the bottom half. You might think about making the trunk chop lower.

 

[just.wing.it]

If I were going for a two foot tree I think I'd try to get taper started 8 - 10 inches from the bottom. Looks like you've got a tiny bit of taper in the bottom half. You might think about making the trunk chop lower.

Yeah, I've had a similar thought....
I've also seen other BC bonsai with less taper than this tree has...
My other thought is that if I allow the lower branches to run as sacrifices while keeping the top in check, the taper may improve....

But yes, I don't totally disagree with you.

 

[just.wing.it]

Removed the cork and wire today.
Major thickening of the new leader.
Its out of the water tub now too.
All the branches grew well over August and Sept.

 

[BillsBayou]

I love the wood screw, cork, and copper technique!!! I'm putting that in my toolbox.

The tree is coming along very nicely. Try to find a nice big tub to pot this into. You want something shallow. But that's just me. Great work!

 

[plant_dr]

Negative on the Dawn Redwood....they are out here though....Im trying to remember who has one....hmm.

@Leo in N E Illinois does

 

[just.wing.it]

I love the wood screw, cork, and copper technique!!! I'm putting that in my toolbox.

The tree is coming along very nicely. Try to find a nice big tub to pot this into. You want something shallow. But that's just me. Great work!

Thanks Bill!
It did react well to the initial work.
I like your thinking too, I will bare root it in the spring and get it into something shallower for sure.
This is my second year sitting my BC's in water from end of June till early September.
The seem to love it!

Can't wait to see what lies beneath the soil surface....hopefully its not too awful....

 

[Wilson]

@just.wing.it , have you played with Dawn Redwoods?
I have 8 seedlings that are about 24" and need to know then to chop?
They're planned for a forest planting.
Buck

Really depends on the scale of the forest. If they are all the same age/size, then I would chop some and let others grow wild.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

@just.wing.it , have you played with Dawn Redwoods?
I have 8 seedlings that are about 24" and need to know then to chop?
They're planned for a forest planting.
Buck

Start a new separate thread for dawn redwoods. Tag me in it and I'll share photos.

 

[BuckeyeOne]

Well, I had eight saplings that were about 24" tall until a thunderstorm knocked one of the pond baskets off the bench!!

I lost one of the four in that basket and two others have developed a major bend. I may just wait 'til spring and order some more seedlings. That way I'll have four older and a few younger trees.

Buck

 

[BuckeyeOne]

Start a new separate thread for dawn redwoods. Tag me in it and I'll share photos.

Will do!