tanlu
Shohin
This tree is 18 years old and was potted in March 2024 in terracotta, with a good amount of garden soil mixed with bonsai soil. It was repotted again to remove the garden soil this spring into pumice, lava rock, and turface (1-1-1) in a 12” Japanese Tokoname training pot.
The tree has lots of flaws, but these are the most important ones.
- No bends until the top of the trunk
- 1 par of branches originating from the same location in the middle of the trunk that are still there because I haven’t chosen the front.
- One of the higher branches is thicker than the rest of the branches, which I’m considering making into a Jin.
- the apex is undecided. There’s currently a large stub (will become Jin this winter or next) that was the previous upper portion of the tree (the largest tree in the first photo). This was removed because I wanted a shorter tree and those branches were all too thick and in the wrong places.
On the positive side, the tree is barking up well for its age, has lots of back buds, and is in good health. I’ve fertilized it heavily this year with hollytone and osmocote.
I also think there is already a character to it that I’m trying to bring out over time.
I’ve already shortened all the branches last year, will do so again this autumn, and will continue to compact the branches over time with continued back budding. I will probably style the tree and remove one of the bar branches this winter after the front is decided.
Anyway, I’m excited to read everyone’s ideas and comments!
The tree has lots of flaws, but these are the most important ones.
- No bends until the top of the trunk
- 1 par of branches originating from the same location in the middle of the trunk that are still there because I haven’t chosen the front.
- One of the higher branches is thicker than the rest of the branches, which I’m considering making into a Jin.
- the apex is undecided. There’s currently a large stub (will become Jin this winter or next) that was the previous upper portion of the tree (the largest tree in the first photo). This was removed because I wanted a shorter tree and those branches were all too thick and in the wrong places.
On the positive side, the tree is barking up well for its age, has lots of back buds, and is in good health. I’ve fertilized it heavily this year with hollytone and osmocote.
I also think there is already a character to it that I’m trying to bring out over time.
I’ve already shortened all the branches last year, will do so again this autumn, and will continue to compact the branches over time with continued back budding. I will probably style the tree and remove one of the bar branches this winter after the front is decided.
Anyway, I’m excited to read everyone’s ideas and comments!
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