But you only do it once. That is, if the grey smooth part comes off, peel it off. Brown mature bark will be revealed. Don’t peel any of that off.
Zuisho White Pine
- Thread starter Brian Van Fleet
- Start date
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Nice shot of the zuisho stretching out in the sunshine.
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Night shot. I may start some branch selection this fall.
cmeg1
Imperial Masterpiece
Awesome ,Brian!
Holy wow...
2009?
What a thread......this has grown for sure.Nice it is on black pine roots.
Holy wow...
2009?
What a thread......this has grown for sure.Nice it is on black pine roots.
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
Check through some of the old Bonsai Today and International Bonsai for articles. In one of those publications the cultivation of this cultivar from cuttings is detailed, I think it was in Bonsai International, Bill Valvanis' publication.
Hartinez
Masterpiece
My thoughts exactly. Truly an exceptional example of patience and horticultural expertise in this art. Can’t wait to see what your next steps are Brian.
They “can” be grown from cuttings, but the success rate is very low, about 5%. Julian Adams has been growing them for years, and he’s very successful using air layers. But only 5% of his cuttings make it.
Brian, have you thought about air layering the branches you’re going to remove?
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
Point is: It is better to do something with what you cut off than to simply throw the remains in the compost pile/can even at 5% success.
just.wing.it
Deadwood Head
.......yeah.....unless your wife starts wondering why you keep running out of space....
It’s also good to set realistic expectations. It’s easy to say, “take cuttings. Zuisho grow from cuttings”. Then, when none of them grow, the guy feels like a failure. Maybe he takes 20 cuttings. Maybe one will take. Maybe. Julian is very experienced, and the BEST he can do with an elaborate cuttings set up is 5%.
Layers, on the other hand, have a much better success rate.
I think it would be better for someone to try taking layers than cuttings.
I hope you’re doing well, Vance!
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Hadn’t seriously considered a layer, but a couple of those bottom branches could be good candidates to try, after grafting something into the space between the lowest and second whorl.
Cuttings? No. Tried several times with dozens each time, to no avail.
Cuttings? No. Tried several times with dozens each time, to no avail.
I would layer the one on the right, all other things being equal. It’s kinda heavy. Zuisho have a bad habit of developing really heavy branches, relative to the size of the trunk. So, working with thinner branches makes the trunk look thicker.
Any sign of the JWP smooth bark splitting yet?
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Spring update. I almost sent this to Bjorn’s for initial styling, but opted to hold off for another year. The trunk is actually starting to fatten up noticeably, so I’m glad I held off. What’s another year, right?
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Fall update. The base is really starting to fatten up. I’m getting close to wanting to start working on it.
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Took this to Bjorn’s in November and we decided to do some branch selection and set some branches before they get too thick to use. Over time, we will continue to reduce the cut at the top, and build out the pads. First real pruning and wiring since I got the tree in 2006.
The plan is to allow the right branch to extend (I like that old school long first branch Zuisho look), and to allow the first left branch to become a second trunk. As the base swells, the branch will naturally look like a second trunk. The third branch going toward the back is still there for the moment, and may be an air-layer candidate later.
At some point I’ll write a more detailed post about it. For now, a decent shot in the sun after some snow.
The plan is to allow the right branch to extend (I like that old school long first branch Zuisho look), and to allow the first left branch to become a second trunk. As the base swells, the branch will naturally look like a second trunk. The third branch going toward the back is still there for the moment, and may be an air-layer candidate later.
At some point I’ll write a more detailed post about it. For now, a decent shot in the sun after some snow.
Looking good! You got more snow than I did.
There was a famous old Zuisho that had the iconic “strong arm” first branch. And it grew to be stronger than the main trunk. And taller! Several attempts were made to “pull it down”, and each time the tree responded by having the strong arm grow even stronger! Until, suddenly, for no apparent reason, the strong arm died!
Zuisho are weird!
Have fun with it! And Happy New Year!
Nybonsai12
Masterpiece
What a testament to patience. Looks great Brian. I’m a fan of the long arm first branch and am shooting for one with a young JBP. There is one somewhere with a super exaggerated long arm and I love it. (Can’t recall where but thought I read that long arm trees were frequently placed at the entrances of homes as a sign of welcome).
Crazy Diamond
Omono
That style was called Tatami-eda or something similar I think, it was very popular a long time ago but now very few trees exist in that style
Eckhoffw
Masterpiece
Great tree Brian!
loving the avatar as well
loving the avatar as well
Moridin
Shohin
Beautiful tree!
Makes me wish I could grow them in my climate.
Makes me wish I could grow them in my climate.
