Cryptomeria Japonica ‘Elegans’

[rhuarc]

Hello everyone I’m new to bonsai and would love some suggestions. Most of you (if not all) have more experience with this amazing art than I do so any input would be appreciated!

I found this cryptomeria japonica ‘elegans’ at a local nursery here in Covington, Washington State. I don’t know if it’s worth trying to bonsai or if I should just enjoy it as a tree. The bottom half has been a bit neglected — I’m assuming it was grown pretty close to others and didn’t get enough sun.

I’ll cut to the chase so you guys can go make another pot of coffee on this Sunday morning: it wasn’t that expensive, should I try air layering? That might be a fun experiment. Maybe right below the healthy clump of branches about halfway up the trunk. If not, what would you guys do?

Another option is to increase the already existing bend further, maybe even to 90 degrees if possible. Then put it in the ground as non-bonsai yard art. Which I am not against in any way, I love all trees!

I obviously haven’t trimmed/shaped the branches yet, that will come later. Any suggestions regarding that are welcome too.

Thanks and I’m happy to be a part of this amazing community!

 

[rhuarc]

6 months later:

Tried air layering after reading through a couple ways to do it. Stripped 2 inches of bark, applied the rooting hormone, then wrapped it in sphagnum and plastic. 3 months later and no luck so I repeated the process and tried again.

In late October it was exploding with roots! I was pretty sure it was too late in the year to chop so I picked out most of the moss and spread the roots out as best I could. Then I cut a 1 gallon planter pot, put that around it and filed it with pre-mixed bonsai soil (1/3 akadema, 1/3 pumice and 1/3 black lava).

It has been outside next to a fence for the last three months. Fence is to the East of it. I'm a little nervous about not insulating the roots; it was really cold week a few weeks ago, snowed about 8 inches and got below 20 a few times.

Was I right to not chop it in late October?
Should I insulate the air layer? I could maybe wrap the pot in straw and thick plastic to hold it in place.
When is the ideal time to chop it this year? Early Spring after the last frost?


Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[0soyoung]

Should I insulate the air layer?

If you haven't done so yet this year, no.

 

[caffeinated]

The roots are likely fine. They are full of carbohydrates which act as an antifreeze, and sounds as if what you've done to the rootball is what it would be sitting in if potted normally anyway. I'm in Seattle and have a few airlayers that are wintering over in less protection than you've given and I expect them to be fine. Usually are. You can chop anytime after it warms up or when you see signs of new growth, since you seem to have an abundance of roots.