Podocarpus
- Thread starter Jim G
- Start date
0soyoung
Imperial Masterpiece
Well, not exactly.
I would put some heavy wire on the trunk and bend it into an interesting shape, then just let it grow. If you don't have the wire on hand, wrap it around a stick (bamboo, hardwood dowel, round planting stake, etc.). Trying to do this in situ is sometimes quite troublesome and can easily damage the roots. So, it may be easiest to first unpot the tree and remove most of the soil from the roots, do the bending/wrapping, and then repot it before you just let it grow.
I would put some heavy wire on the trunk and bend it into an interesting shape, then just let it grow. If you don't have the wire on hand, wrap it around a stick (bamboo, hardwood dowel, round planting stake, etc.). Trying to do this in situ is sometimes quite troublesome and can easily damage the roots. So, it may be easiest to first unpot the tree and remove most of the soil from the roots, do the bending/wrapping, and then repot it before you just let it grow.
Jim G
Sapling
I do have some 4mm wire and was about to attempt to do that but the trunk seems very stiff. Should I try to bend below the first branches or higher up?
just.wing.it
Deadwood Head
Even just subtle curves are good....
Or don't bend the trunk and make a tiny broom style out of it...
You can also bend till you think its about to start cracking, and leave it for a month, then bend a little more, and so on....
Don't listen to me actually...
I don't even know what podocarpus is....
Jim G
Sapling
AKA Buddhist Pine & Japanese Yew, I think.
When was this repotted last time? Asking, because if recently, then it should gain some strength and root well. In this size, the trunk and branches are very playable and there's no need to hurry. Podocarpus grows very slowly. I would bet you will find in books that it has only one flush of growth a year. I've found it incorrect... Truly, it is similar to j. black pine. If you leave new growth almost harden, cut it or it's part in the summer it will sprout again, create back buds too.
Jim G
Sapling
I repotted 5 weeks ago when I purchased it. The bonsai guru at the nursery talked me into not wiring the tree to the current pot so its not wired down at this time. Thanks for the additional growing info. It does seem like a slow grower...
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Well, the trees should be always wired to their pots. It provides better connection tree<=>pot, better stability and allows us to work with the tree safely (wiring, bending...). Additionally it keeps the tree firmly potted in case of strong winds, heavy rains and "bird attacs".
Jim G
Sapling
I agree. At some point I will wire it in.
Please DO NOT try to fix it by repotting now, it shouldn't be disturbed now. There're other means to do it somehow... I use these on the picture in case the roots are weak or when repotting seedlings...
1st picture - funny connection to the pot (rope/wire)
2nd picture - you can push wire through the drainage hole carefully, tie it, wire the trunk and can be used to add some movement to trunk in short future, after it shows signs of new growth. Sorry for pics, I hope it's readable.
1st picture - funny connection to the pot (rope/wire)
2nd picture - you can push wire through the drainage hole carefully, tie it, wire the trunk and can be used to add some movement to trunk in short future, after it shows signs of new growth. Sorry for pics, I hope it's readable.
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Jim G
Sapling
The images are perfect!
I will carefully work on getting the tree wired in.
I will carefully work on getting the tree wired in.
