Dwarf Hinoki Cypress

[wsteinhoff]

My mother gave me this hinoki yesterday. I've read a little about them and was hoping you guys could tell me a little more. The fact that they don't backbud, they easily lose inner foliage if not thinned out, they grow very slow, and that this things so dense you can't see into it at all has me unsure how to tackle it. I can't see into it to see what I can remove and if I remove anything without being able to see what I'm doing those branches and foliage will never grow back. Pics posted below but partly being that it's evening so it's shaded and that they'really taken with a phone it looks nicer in person. It's not very big (not that they do get very big) so I imagine the trunk inside isn't very thick but being that they grow so slowly I don't know how much it'll actually thicken without leaving it be for a very very long time.

 

[M. Frary]

You need to get in there and figure which branches for sure you want to keep. They should have foliage close to the trunk. Cut the rest off. That should open it up so you can get sunlight to the precious foliage close to the trunk. It likes sun.
It likes water too but doesn't like to be wet all day so well draining soil. It doesn't like wind. Especially cold,dissipating wind. It doesn't mind cold. I can keep them here in zone 4 outside under straw and snow. Pinching is a must. There is an article called taming hinoki cypress. Google it and see if you can find it. I don't know the authors name but it goes in depth on how to deal with these trees.
They look delicate but are a lot tougher than they look.

 

[wsteinhoff]

Thanks!
I found this and read it:
http://bonsaiwonders-art.blogspot.com/2008/01/taming-hinoki-cypress.html?m=1

http://bonsaiwonders-art.blogspot.com/2009/10/taming-hinoki-cypress-addendum.html?m=1

 

[M. Frary]

That's the one.

 

[sorce]

Nice...

I recently got one and gave it Hell.

With a few knocked pieces Browning, and the rest staying good green....
It seems to have handled Hell well.

http://www.bonsainut.com/threads/the-acquisition-2.24531/

Sorce

 

[wsteinhoff]

I trimmed it up a bit. The amount of foliage on just one of it's branches was crazy. No wonder I couldn't see in there at all. I didn't want to trim it too much since it's getting later in the growing season. How's it look so far though?

 

[gallina1594]

I trimmed it up a bit. The amount of foliage on just one of it's branches was crazy. No wonder I couldn't see in there at all. I didn't want to trim it too much since it's getting later in the growing season. How's it look so far though?
View attachment 116314

Perhaps remove the lowest branch to show off the trunk more? But like you said, it's already late in the season and this guy just took a beating

 

[sorce]

Looks good...

You got a lot of green real close....
That awesome.

If you read my thread to the end....
The sad ending goes....
I shoulda left my low branch on for a sacrifice! I'd leave it on for now!

Sorce