Chinese Quince

[MichaelS]

Here's my CQ. As I mentioned in Brian's thread, It's a constant wrestle with the heavy apex. It's pruned more often and defoliated more often but still it over thickens compared with the rest of the tree. Hopefully one day it will settle down,
Looking at it on the screen, I think another heavy prune up top?

 

[Tim.E]

Here's my CQ. As I mentioned in brains thread, It's a constant wrestle with the heavy apex. It's pruned more often and defoliated more often but still it over thickens compared with the rest of the tree. Hopefully one day it will settle down,
Looking at it on the screen, I think another heavy prune up top?

View attachment 108801

View attachment 108802

That's a sick quince

 

[Stickroot]

That's a sick quince

I'm betting it's not sick at all
Very healthy, looks great!

 

[sorce]

heavy prune up top

I'd do anything it took to catch up that left branch....

This is raw!

Sorce

 

[armetisius]

cool tree; be sure to update @ blooming.

 

[JudyB]

Really nice quince. I have made mine into a broom style tree, so I don't seem to have the apex issues that you have with your tree. I love the movement your tree has, it's lovely.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

That's a nice quince bonsai. It does appear strong up top. Mine is the same way, but until now, for building the trunk, it's been an advantage. When it's becoming refined like yours, it will be a challenge.

One of my favorite BT articles is #46 on the old CQ that was restyled after being shown in Kokufu-ten in the 1980s, and he was sawing off branches about the size of your tree, leaving branch stubs that were 2" across and had movement. He replaced the apex too, but like yours, it appears he had plenty of options, and it resulted in better movement and taper.

 

[Giga]

Looks nice - looks like a nice pot color too

 

[MichaelS]

I'd do anything it took to catch up that left branch....

This is raw!

Sorce

Yeah that branch was grafted on 3 years ago. It's slowly getting stronger...

 

[sorce]

Yeah that branch was grafted on 3 years ago. It's slowly getting stronger...

Great Friggin progress then!

Excellent!

Sorce

 

[MichaelS]

Slooooowly improving. This one is a bit reluctant to ramify. You can see where I have replaced the apex if you compare with the first pic.
I think leader replacement will need to continue forever. Look at the difference in the strength up there. On the smaller trunk too!

 

[cmeg1]

Looking very nice!Great job on the apex.
Would be nice to see that middle,left branch/graft? get bigger,more ramified.
And then on the secondary bottom trunk,replace it’s chunky leader with a bit finer growth like the main trunk has.
I really think that secondary trunk contributes to the bonsai as a whole.
Perhaps more grafts in order?

 

[JudyB]

Looks great!

 

[Stan Kengai]

Slooooowly improving. This one is a bit reluctant to ramify. You can see where I have replaced the apex if you compare with the first pic.
I think leader replacement will need to continue forever. Look at the difference in the strength up there. On the smaller trunk too!View attachment 195275

What techniques are you using to try to ramifying it? I have one that will begin that stage next year, and was wondering how one can get the plant to slow down. Mine are so vigorous, throwing foot long extensions in a month.

 

[MichaelS]

What techniques are you using to try to ramifying it? I have one that will begin that stage next year, and was wondering how one can get the plant to slow down. Mine are so vigorous, throwing foot long extensions in a month.

I'm defoliating the strong branches once they have about 5 mature leaves and then cutting back to 2 nodes. I'm also going to plant it a finer mix this spring and not root prune too much. I think it just takes years until you build a nice fine lot of roots rather than a few heavy ones and it should start to behave itself. Also I believe seed grown plants are better than large fruited varieties like this one.

 

[Stan Kengai]

I'm defoliating the strong branches once they have about 5 mature leaves and then cutting back to 2 nodes. I'm also going to plant it a finer mix this spring and not root prune too much. I think it just takes years until you build a nice fine lot of roots rather than a few heavy ones and it should start to behave itself. Also I believe seed grown plants are better than large fruited varieties like this one.

Thank you for the response. I think you're on to something with the soil mix. I have one that came in a fine, relatively water retentive soil, and it was not as vigorous. I replanted into a larger particle mix of akadama, pumice and scoria 1:1:1, and it has exploded with growth.

 

[MichaelS]

Thank you for the response. I think you're on to something with the soil mix. I have one that came in a fine, relatively water retentive soil, and it was not as vigorous. I replanted into a larger particle mix of akadama, pumice and scoria 1:1:1, and it has exploded with growth.

I think that generally most people use too course a mix for deciduous trees. Especially ones which are a bit more advanced.

 

[MichaelS]

Looking very nice!Great job on the apex.
Would be nice to see that middle,left branch/graft? get bigger,more ramified.
And then on the secondary bottom trunk,replace it’s chunky leader with a bit finer growth like the main trunk has.
I really think that secondary trunk contributes to the bonsai as a whole.
Perhaps more grafts in order?

I agree with all of that.

 

[MichaelS]

Spring is on the way! Repotted last week into a fine red clay/ sand/ humus mix about 2 to 3 mm with a little coarser on the bottom. Attempting to ''fine down'' the branch tips now. We will see.....

I topped it with old cow manure - hence the weeds

 

[ihaveaspaceship]

Has some great character. Love the patchy colorization.