Torppa Shohin JBP

[markyscott]

Expanding the JBP empire, so starting a few progression threads for some recently acquired trees. This one was originally purchased from Marc Torppa in NC. This was the tree just after purchase in December, 2013.



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[markyscott]

Previous owner did some competent work progressing the tree to where it is today.



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[markyscott]

I’ll do some cleanup work on it tomorrow. First impressions are that the key branch seems a bit straight and uninterrupted. It comes out of the inside bend, but I just think that’s how its going to be. Could benefit from a graft or two. Other than that, the branch structure was set pretty well, but lacks refinement. It needs to be rewired and to mature for a few years, but otherwise a nice tree.

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[Dav4]

My favorite thing about acquiring new trees is ruminating about how to improve them. This one has a nice base and taper. Hard to tell without the tree in front of me, but if you could get the apex to move to the left, I'd be tempted to remove that lowest right branch, and have the foliage mass moving to the left as well. Cool little tree with lots of possibilities.

 

[markyscott]

Removed wires and cleaned up foliage. Cleaned top soil and inspected soil condition. Probably needs to be repotted this season.

 

[Wilson]

Removed wires and cleaned up foliage. Cleaned top soil and inspected soil condition. Probably needs to be repotted this season.

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Will you proceed with a repot this summer? I imagine in Texas, you still have tons of summer left!

 

[markyscott]

Will you proceed with a repot this summer? I imagine in Texas, you still have tons of summer left!

Sorry I meant this coming repotting season. That’s next January/February for us.

 

[markyscott]

A bit of a delicate job on this one. Top is weak. Healthy buds and foliage, but very little new growth thus season. Tree is still recovering. Better growth on the lower branches.



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[markyscott]

Instead of sending candles, the top branches simply appeared to set buds. Where they’ve extended, it appears to be juvenile foliage.

 

[markyscott]

Soil beneath the fertilizer bags appeared to be heavily colonized by mycorrhiza.

 

[markyscott]

I decandled some of the strong growth on the lower branches and did a light thinning. That’s all for this year.

 

[Wilson]

Instead of sending candles, the top branches simply appeared to set buds. Where they’ve extended, it appears to be juvenile foliage.

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Do you account juvenile foliage to a stress on the tree, or another cause? I saw juvenile on multiple JBP this year.

 

[markyscott]

Do you account juvenile foliage to a stress on the tree, or another cause? I saw juvenile on multiple JBP this year.

Likely just weak and still in recovery.

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[markyscott]

Repotted this year. Tree looks reasonably healthy, but drainage was slow making watering difficult and growth over the summer was weak.

 

[markyscott]

Rootball was solid coming out of the pot and there were clear new roots growing.

 

[markyscott]

Raking the bottom I found one issue. A hole in the base of the tree extending up the trunk about 1” up the trunk. Hole was empty, so this was an air pocket. I’ll pack soil in when I repot.

 

[markyscott]

Also found two spots with potting soil. I cleared this out and remove some crossing roots. Nothing too bad really and the roots looked healthy.


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[markyscott]

Done for now. Hopefully better growth next year.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

The last shot showing the roots combed, trimmed and arranged shows a lot of hope for this one.

 

[markyscott]

The last shot showing the roots combed, trimmed and arranged shows a lot of hope for this one.

Thank you Brian - that means a lot coming from you. Roots are in pretty good shape. I expect some healthy growth this year.