Larch Progress

[mc4mc44]

Here is my only Japanese Larch, I've had it since it was a 2 yr old seedling. I figured I'd post pictures before the fall color starts. The big trees here are already starting to blush. Ill get to the american larch when they turn, and with more pictures of this tree and all my pines. This year I lost my favorite ponderosa to borers, and an RMJ to a mix of of caterpillers/scale/being to wet/I shouldnt have had it in my location anyway. But everything else is doing good this year.

I just widened the shari last week, you can see a difference in the color. I can just see callous on the edge. The crown will fill out and become more round, the right side needs to ramify and push out, the apex needs lots of time. Next year i'll repot and wire. I'll continue to push the lifeline to be smaller until it's about 1/4 the trunk, its about 1/2 the trunk now. I want it to pop out and become rounder. As long as i don't kill it i'd say ill have a unique show ready larch in 5 years.

It's one year and 2 months since the first picture. Hows the transformation? This spring i realized this tree is stronger then i think and i wanted to see how far i could push it. I'm happy i did, i learned something important. Young trees can do amazing things. And once this tree has 10 more yrs under its belt all the work now will be worth it. It's still only six right now too!

 

[larlamonde]

Here is my only Japanese Larch, I've had it since it was a 2 yr old seedling. I figured I'd post pictures before the fall color starts. The big trees here are already starting to blush. Ill get to the american larch when they turn, and with more pictures of this tree and all my pines. This year I lost my favorite ponderosa to borers, and an RMJ to a mix of of caterpillers/scale/being to wet/I shouldnt have had it in my location anyway. But everything else is doing good this year.

I just widened the shari last week, you can see a difference in the color. I can just see callous on the edge. The crown will fill out and become more round, the right side needs to ramify and push out, the apex needs lots of time. Next year i'll repot and wire. I'll continue to push the lifeline to be smaller until it's about 1/4 the trunk, its about 1/2 the trunk now. I want it to pop out and become rounder. As long as i don't kill it i'd say ill have a unique show ready larch in 5 years.

It's one year and 2 months since the first picture. Hows the transformation? This spring i realized this tree is stronger then i think and i wanted to see how far i could push it. I'm happy i did, i learned something important. Young trees can do amazing things. And once this tree has 10 more yrs under its belt all the work now will be worth it. It's still only six right now too!

Elegant tree you must be treating it good. Keep up the good work. Thought about carving the top? Looks a little smooth.

 

[mc4mc44]

Elegant tree you must be treating it good. Keep up the good work. Thought about carving the top? Looks a little smooth.

The top is actually full of holes and has a piece of deadwood that twists back down and to the left. The colors match too well and you can't really see it from the angle the picture was taken. I plan to carve more anyway though. The shari on the trunk is full of interest because of all the layers in the deadwood. The only thing to worry about is the deadwood root, once its out of a training pot i plan to put a stone under it to keep it dry and keep away rot. The other roots form an almost perfect flare and nebari, so i decided i wanted to keep the one strange root. It will be planted high in a small round pot to show off the base.

 

[mc4mc44]

Not any interest really... I posted because i could always use tips. Im still a beginner. Did i screw it up so bad its hopeless now? are the long branches too much? should i aim to shorten them? I like the flow now, but could this be bad in the future? What about the deadwood root? like it, hate it? The tenjin on the top? like it, hate it?

Am i doing what i should for the developement of this tree?
Most importantly, what would you do next?

 

[Vin]

I really like the Larches. It looks like you've done well. However, the bar branches at the top and bottom are very much a focal point. Is there anything you can do with them to make them not so obvious?

 

[mc4mc44]

I really like the Larches. It looks like you've done well. However, the bar branches at the top and bottom are very much a focal point. Is there anything you can do with them to make them not so obvious?

Hmm.. i never considered this as an issue, in person they're at different heights, but if its noticeable, then it's noticeable... I could hide the top one eventually... the bottom not so much, and that ones worse then the top. I could graft a branch on either side maybe, i'm fine with through-grafting on larch. It would be good to do since it's still young now. it would pay off in the future...

But, is it bad enough to use a graft? That could be my project next year, let a couple twigs go wild and graft. I could put some down real low to get sacrafice branches all over too. I could get that twisting fin even faster.

 

[Vin]

I wouldn't do anything with it based on my opinion. It's just what I see. Others here can offer a much more educated opinion. However, (and you'll hear this a lot) it's your tree and if you like it that's all that matters. I do like the tree but the bars are noticeable to me. I have trees with them as well and am not sure what I'll do with them.

 

[wireme]

I like your Shari and the fact that you didn't kill the tree creating it. If I were growing it I'm pretty sure I'd be looking at just using the first branch on the left. If you reach your design plan in five years and are ready for a change.