Two more field grown Ume

[Dav4]

I thought I started a thread on these two last year but apparently not... so here we go! These two were sourced from Brent at Evergreen Gardenworks at least 13 years ago as seedlings. They were planted in my yard in MA for approximately 3 months before they were dug up and shoved into 1 gal cans in preparation for the move to GA back in '09'. They were planted among the landscaping on the sloping front yard of my house down south and lived there for another quite happily, other then getting chopped back ruthlessly every winter or getting nibbled on by the occasional deer, for the next 10+ years. They were dug from the yard in the spring on 2021 and put into these oversized mica pots. I don't have pics from collection... my bad. These were typical ground grown ume- good root base and taper but several very heavy roots. They were cut back hard to get them into the mica pots but would need more drastic reduction this round, too. Anyway, the roots really respond to these cuts and the tree/pot combos here are literally 50+% lighter then they were last week... and it'll be fun exposing the nebari as it allows over the next few re-pots. Also, lots of carving planned for these later this spring. As a side note, the training pots these currently sit in are made by two of my favorite American potters, Richard Robertson and Sara Rayner .

 

[Nybonsai12]

Nice! First one looks huge! Any idea on specific variety or flower color?

 

[Dav4]

Nice! First one looks huge! Any idea on specific variety or flower color?

Nah, purchased as seedlings so no specific variety. I have seen them both flower and the flowers are an off white which is typical for seedlings I think. Thy're both pretty chunky, though that first one is THICK! The Rayner pot it's in is pushing 14" wide, I think.

 

[namnhi]

Quite a bold move with the first one on taking so much roots off. Definitely nice materials.

 

[Dav4]

Quite a bold move with the first one on taking so much roots off. Definitely nice materials.

It should be fine. I’ve found you can be ruthless when reducing Ume roots and I repotted this one at a good time. It’s sitting on a heat mat in my cold room and the temperatures in there shouldn’t fall below 45f going forward.

 

[Pitoon]

Very nice! Looking forward to seeing the future progress on these two.

 

[badatusernames]

Those are great, looking forward to the development.

When you say you chopped back ruthlessly, was it always to a bud? I'm going to work mine for the first time this year, and my understanding is that they do not readily back-bud. That said, that may be on older wood vs. younger material you're ground growing? Curious to know how it went for you.

Looking forward to seeing more!

 

[Dav4]

Those are great, looking forward to the development.

When you say you chopped back ruthlessly, was it always to a bud? I'm going to work mine for the first time this year, and my understanding is that they do not readily back-bud. That said, that may be on older wood vs. younger material you're ground growing? Curious to know how it went for you.

Looking forward to seeing more!

It depends, as usual, but you should know that young and vigorous Ume bud back extremely well. Check out this thread where I've got some pictures of what happens after hard pruning https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/another-ume.32214/ . With these two, I either chopped back to the trunk to remove a sacrifice branch... which had developed from a bud from the trunk ... or sometimes I cut a branch or secondary trunk back hard but left a few buds as I wanted to build taper and movement but wanted to keep said branch or trunk.

 

[badatusernames]

It depends, as usual, but you should know that young and vigorous Ume bud back extremely well. Check out this thread where I've got some pictures of what happens after hard pruning https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/another-ume.32214/ . With these two, I either chopped back to the trunk to remove a sacrifice branch... which had developed from a bud from the trunk ... or sometimes I cut a branch or secondary trunk back hard but left a few buds as I wanted to build taper and movement but wanted to keep said branch or trunk.

that’s perfect info, thank you!

 

[Crazy Diamond]

View attachment 426381

Are you going to hollow it?

 

[Dav4]

Are you going to hollow it?

Oh, yeah!

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

good, aggressive work. Nice.

 

[Trueblackpercula]

Awesome, i sure wish i had either on of them as they have taken on great form already in such a sort time

Michael

 

[Dav4]

These two are recovering nicely from last month’s root work… hoping to get some carving done soon.

 

[queenofsheba52]

Wow, I'll say!

Lookin good

 

[Dav4]

I started carving this one last week. I’ll let the work age for a few months then reevaluate. I may do more mid summer.

 

[Pitoon]

I started carving this one last week. I’ll let the work age for a few months then reevaluate. I may do more mid summer.

View attachment 433955View attachment 433956View attachment 433957View attachment 433958View attachment 433959

What bit did you use?

 

[Dav4]

What bit did you use?

You mean “bits”…
There’s the terrier bit on the Makita die grinder, several kutzall carbide bits on the ryobi, and multiple 3 to 12 inch long drill bits on the Dewalt.

 

[Pitoon]

You mean “bits”…
There’s the terrier bit on the Makita die grinder, several kutzall carbide bits on the ryobi, and multiple 3 to 12 inch long drill bits on the Dewalt.View attachment 433962

Good job with those. You going to do the other one too?

 

[Dav4]

Good job with those. You going to do the other one too?

As we speak …