panda’s mountain hemlock - elephant

[pandacular]

I haven’t posted in a while, but I’ve been very busy working on my collection and learning on the collections of others.

I’ve posted this hemlock in various threads I believe, but nowhere consolidated yet. It’s not done, but I wanted to post this photo that I think demonstrates how far my wiring skills have come in the brief two years I’ve been studying bonsai.

It’s not done yet, but I’ll make sure to come back in the spring when it’s potted up.

 

[pandacular]

This spring, I put this tree into a bonsai pot. I followed a half bare root method for the first repot out of collection. Because it was the first repot, I couldn’t get it on the right side of the pot. I also haven’t set the branches.

In the fall, I’ll do a full styling to get it set up for its future design. The tree is incredibly healthy, but also a little ugly at the moment—it needs a big push into something specific for more identity.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Things are coming along for you!

A simple mantra from RN we say over and over

Same angle
Same spacing
No gaps
Always enter a branch trunk side

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[pandacular]

Oh yes, looking at those photos it’s clear how much more I have to learn. Every time I look back on old work (even though this is only half a year ago!) I feel a pang of embarrassment.

I realized I forgot to add photos. I’ll try to remember to get some tomorrow, but I need to get to bed extra early tonight for my first day at the internship.

 

[pandacular]

I pulled this one to give it a trim. On the first and second trunks, I was seeing a bit of interior dieback, so I could tell it was time to let more light and air into those areas. The picture below shows a partial work, I wasn’t able to finish the first trunk last night.


This operation is very straightforward: cut the extending parts back to a pair of buds. If that’s not far enough, go into last years growth a bit. I also cut out anything with no active bud and pulled some of the leaves that had been sun damaged. I think I need to give this tree a bit more shade, as my hemlocks on the other side of the bunch exhibit no burn.



I love the pot it’s in, but it’s not in the right spot—would be more correct to be right of center. This was as far right as I could get it on the first repot.

Looking forward to bending the branches in the fall. The pads need some breaking up, and the top still needs to fill in, but it is coming along. I haven’t yet placed the branches, only gotten started on building pads.

 

[pandacular]

I’ve been working on wiring this one out, but it’s been slow. I think I’m just a little lost on where to take this tree. Re-reading this thread, it’s good to find that it’s not the first time I’ve felt that way!

What do you do with trees that you’re stuck on?

 

[Hartinez]

I’ve been working on wiring this one out, but it’s been slow. I think I’m just a little lost on where to take this tree. Re-reading this thread, it’s good to find that it’s not the first time I’ve felt that way!

What do you do with trees that you’re stuck on?

I feel you and I have been there.

I honestly just think you’re trying too hard to save too much of the existing tree. None of the branches seem to be working with each other at least from a bonsai perspective.

If it were mine, I feel like I would consider either, putting the tree off to the side for several years, letting it grow out like crazy, thickening branches etc. all for removal down the road to make nice Jin. Keeping only a few primary branches off of your desired trunk line.

Or I would just go ham on it right now removing all but a few branches. Be bold and make a move!

 

[Cruiser]

What do you do with trees that you’re stuck on?

Continue to let them grow until something clicks.
In the meantime, go into the forest and see these trees in person!

 

[Cruiser]

Do you want this tree to look like a full-size Mt hemlock?
As it is now, I’m getting Monterey cypress vibes. Nothing wrong with that, styling a species to look like another…

As far as I know, M. hemlock will not bud from bare wood. If you want your tree to resemble the real thing, those long lower branches will probably need to go. Wire remaining foliage closer to the trunk. Build up from there. Along the way, trim outer growth to encourage interior development.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Concur with @Hartinez et al above.

inclination here is to grow the tree out for 3ish years based upon the growth of the Mountain Hemlocks we have.

One could practice grafting on the lower two branches in the interim, rather than losing these right away. Success might change the outlook beyond what we’ve recommended. If not, and you are successful with grafting, you will have learned a really good skill!

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[pandacular]

I honestly just think you’re trying too hard to save too much of the existing tree. None of the branches seem to be working with each other at least from a bonsai perspective.

This is maybe true, but the challenge I have is that the two, funky crossing branches are the only really interesting part of the tree. The challenge will be getting them to work together as you note, which I wasn’t focused too much on last time I worked the tree.

Those two lower branches are somewhat reminiscent of the tree featured in this blog post:

Potting up a Hemlock-

Some of you may remember the restyling of this large, old Mountain Hemlock, Tsuga mertensiana, a few years ago. This spring the wooden box it was living in was replaced with a low ceramic rectangle…

crataegus.com

One approach suggested by this comparison would be to build the crown to insinuate rightward flow—in the present, I was trying to get those low branches to left, but I wonder if its better off the other way. Another approach I’ve thought about is turning it into a raft.

I’ll keep thinking on it, but as you suggest, it’s likely going on the backburner. A good friend and pro is visiting my garden this fall, so I’ll see what she thinks as a first step.