Procumbens

[Nybonsai12]

First time I have had one of these since 10 years ago when I killed one or two mallsai of this species. Hope this one has a better fate.

 

[John Ruger]

I love those things; only wish I could find them with fat trunks!!

The local nurseries where I live material might yield 1 at best that has an interesting character to it and thicker than a magic-marker.

Your's looks like it has nice options, good luck with it.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Nice! I have one to small to actually work with...but was purchased at a local box store...I really enjoy seeing these styled and what ones can do with them.

How thick is your trunk on this one? Appreciated the photos...thanks again!

 

[october]

A nice tree, but challenging bonsai material.

Rob

 

[cascade]

A nice tree, but challenging bonsai material.

Rob

Very..



Best,
Dorothy

 

[Nybonsai12]

So tell me what the hell I am supposed to do with this thing!?

 

[Smoke]

So tell me what the hell I am supposed to do with this thing!?

Ahh man....I could have went all year without hearing that.....

 

[cascade]

So tell me what the hell I am supposed to do with this thing!?

Let it grow.

Best,
Dorothy

 

[Nybonsai12]

Ahh man....I could have went all year without hearing that.....

Not unless your wife travels a lot for work.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Let it grow.

Best,
Dorothy

Guess we're in the same boat...sorry guess we must ride it out.

 

[Nybonsai12]

With winter dragging and this being the only tree I could get to on my yard not buried under snow I got stir crazy. With the help of a local forum genius in design ideas, I gave it a shot. The plan is tentatively to break up the left branch further into pads down the road. Thoughts comments appreciated.

 

[bonsai barry]

You've created an interesting trunk line with lots of curves. Its hard to tell in the photo but it looks like the large left branch could use a few bends to compliment the trunk, and I would also carve and reduce the jin as well. I think the tree is on its way to becoming an excellent bonsai.

 

[Nybonsai12]

You've created an interesting trunk line with lots of curves. Its hard to tell in the photo but it looks like the large left branch could use a few bends to compliment the trunk, and I would also carve and reduce the jin as well. I think the tree is on its way to becoming an excellent bonsai.

Thanks Barry. To be fair this wasn't my creation, but rather my implementation. I had help since I have a tough time seeing the tree within.

The plan is to reduce the large stumps left from removing the two lowest branches. Jin will likely be on the left side and right will be removed entirely.
The large left branch was actually pretty tough to bend but you are right that it could use a little more movement from what I have done thus far.

 

[Vance Wood]

Guess we're in the same boat...sorry guess we must ride it out.

That's always a good excuse to buy another tree and try again while letting this one rest and develop.

There is nothing wrong with developing your own pre-bonsai. The term pre-bonsai does not necessarily mean a tree purchased from some pre-bonsai-grower-dude-who-charges-a-lot guy that sells from the back of his truck along the highway. Some people will argue you should pay a little or a lot to obtain material from someone who grows material just for bonsai. There is no guarantee that the so called pre-bonsai has had any more bonsai training than the nursery tree you now have. It's kind of like--- what's the difference between Kosher salt and just plain salt--- The blessings of a Rabbi? The same with some pre-bonsai. Some reputed grower of pre-bonsai walking the rows of trees saying: "Thou art bonsai", does not make for a significantly better tree. Some growers of pre-bonsai are worth what they charge; the problem is knowing which ones to trust.

Any way forgive me for the cabin-fever rant about pre-bonsai.

 

[Vance Wood]

With winter dragging and this being the only tree I could get to on my yard not buried under snow I got stir crazy. With the help of a local forum genius in design ideas, I gave it a shot. The plan is tentatively to break up the left branch further into pads down the road. Thoughts comments appreciated.

Actually you have this tree going in the right direction it just needs a couple of seasons to gain new foliage and fill out a little. You have a workable branch structure and nice movement in the trunk. You just need to let it wrest and see what it does this next year. But I believe you can now see that the key to making bonsai is not growing a tree into a bonsai but cutting one down into a bonsai.

 

[Nybonsai12]

Actually you have this tree going in the right direction it just needs a couple of seasons to gain new foliage and fill out a little. You have a workable branch structure and nice movement in the trunk. You just need to let it wrest and see what it does this next year. But I believe you can now see that the key to making bonsai is not growing a tree into a bonsai but cutting one down into a bonsai.

Thanks Vance. I'm going to let it rest this season and just give it fert to fill out. I'm learning little by little and this forum and it's members are a tremendous help.

 

[Smoke]

I think there is a good future here. Looking good so far.

 

[Nybonsai12]

Thanks smoke, this was robs design and instruction so credit is truly owed to him. I just try not to mess it up too much

 

[KennedyMarx]

I like where it's going. Keep us updated.

 

[edprocoat]

NYBonsai, on your bottom left branch did you remove all the foliage? I ask becuase I have had several pro-nanas that when I remove all the foliage on a branch the branch dies, of course you may be making the branch a shari. I found they do backbud great when they are trimmed and some foliage is left on the trunk. They are also extremely brittle branches to bend and break easily.

ed