Bay Tree?
- Thread starter ABCarve
- Start date
ABCarve
Masterpiece
SniffingKrylon
Shohin
Really nice tree, good work!
ABCarve
Masterpiece
Every year this tree seems to need a different pruning regime. I think it maybe I just keep learning a little more about it and it is becoming more refined. So this photo is a result of a recent defoliation thread https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/defoliation-101.43851/page-3 @sorce . Each year I would incrementally remove old ugly leaves as the season progressed. Maybe 50% through mid-July. Late last summer I did a fairly heavy cut back and the tree put out another flush of late growth. I really did care as the tree spends the winter in the greenhouse where that late growth would be protected. That late growth harden off in the greenhouse and those leaves became acclimated to the indoor light. Once brought out into full sun this spring they all sunburned to a crispy black. I learned something new about this species.
So I cut them off or at least 90% of them. The interior of the tree has much more light now and seemingly more new buds pushing than I have ever had before. Its made the tree much easier to work on without all those pesky old leaves getting in the way.
So I cut them off or at least 90% of them. The interior of the tree has much more light now and seemingly more new buds pushing than I have ever had before. Its made the tree much easier to work on without all those pesky old leaves getting in the way.
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
I don't think I've found anything more satisfying in bonsai than removing them clinging old big dry nasty usually with a gold crease in them punk ass last year leaves that won't fall off until who the fu@k knows when got dam student of boon ass come off like the battery door on a remote been lost in the couch for just as long shitty broadleafed evergreen motherfuckers!
Ahhhhhh!
Sorce
Ahhhhhh!
Sorce
ABCarve
Masterpiece
????
ABCarve
Masterpiece
Results after spring defoliation and cut back. Big leaves !! Not sure if that's from defoliation or environmental conditions of our weird spring. I had many trees throw out much larger than normal leaves this year. Getting ready for fall wiring.
ABCarve
Masterpiece
In the fall of 2020 before it got cold I wired the tree out and let it sit in the greenhouse. In late winter as the buds were starting to swell I cut the terminal buds (and maybe some more) back. I took it outside with my other trees in mid-April. These trees can withstand a light freeze. The colder weather (colder than the greenhouse) kept it leafing out in the shorter days of April. When it finally leafed out in the warmer/longer days of mid-may it promoted shorter internodes and great back budding. It just got its first haircut and wires removed.
ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
Joked to my wife once during quarantine last year that I needed one of these so we could have well seasoned food during the apocalypses.
This year she actually got me one for father's day!
But I have a nasty habit killing trees still. Don't want to do that to this gift, so I'm reading up as much as I can, though there doesn't seem to be much out there besides growing zones and bright full sun.
Would you mind telling us more about how you care for this one, and what conditions you've worked with through?
This year she actually got me one for father's day!
But I have a nasty habit killing trees still. Don't want to do that to this gift, so I'm reading up as much as I can, though there doesn't seem to be much out there besides growing zones and bright full sun.
Would you mind telling us more about how you care for this one, and what conditions you've worked with through?
ABCarve
Masterpiece
They can take a freeze but not much more. Mine is kept in a temperate greenhouse for the winter. The growth habit is straight up, so it requires a lot and frequent wiring. Recently I started removing the previous years leaves. Substrate is APL. Repotting is infrequent as root pruning really slows its vigor. What are your concerns?
ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
Mostly that, and a couple more specific questions.
Do you generally keep the same seasonal work schedule as other deciduous evergreens, or more like regular deciduous? They don't seem to be too finicky and will take some mistakes in good humor. Is that true?
I may not be able to build a real greenhouse this year like I'd hoped, and it can get to sub-freezing temps for days on end here. Do you suppose a well lit southerly window inside the house would be enough in winter, or would it need substantial suplimental light?
Thanks for the help, BTW.
ABCarve
Masterpiece
Many people seem to keep these as house plants so your thought of a bright southern window seems reasonable. Cooler temperatures would help. It is a broadleaf evergreen and responds in kind. I’ve never had real problems with health. You should read the entire thread and see what you can glean from it. My tree has been treated differently as it has developed. Quite a learning process.
ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
I imagine so!Many people seem to keep these as house plants so your thought of a bright southern window seems reasonable. Cooler temperatures would help. It is a broadleaf evergreen and responds in kind. I’ve never had real problems with health. You should read the entire thread and see what you can glean from it. My tree has been treated differently as it has developed. Quite a learning process.
I'll be reading through as I have time. I imagine keeping it alive will be less work than making it look good, which will be a nice change of pace for me. LOL
Thanks for everything!
ABCarve
Masterpiece
ABCarve
Masterpiece
This years marks ten years of development for this tree as a bonsai. I've gone back through the thread and realized the trees journey as well as mine. You learn a lot in ten years.
Last spring this tree took a 40" tumble off my teeter-tot display stand (it has since been fixed
). As it was falling I could only imagine the worst, broken branches, broken pot that I didn't have a replacement for. When I went to inspect I was amazed.........nothing was damaged or so I thought. As fall came around I noticed the long crack in the front of the pot. At first I was mortified, mmmmm, one of my favorite pot/tree pairing. It had been 6 growing seasons in that and I guess it was time for a change, so I embraced the opportunity.
For those that don't want to do the whole thread. Then and now.
And for the repot.........there are many comments of incurve pot (which this is one) and how they're hard to get out. This tree has been in there for 6 years and the potting scythe got it out in just a few minutes. The media is Aoki akadama which is actually a blend with pumice. I added Growstone (no longer available) and charcoal. I would not have repotted if the pot was not broken. If it ain't broke don't fix it!! This media was draining as well as the first year. This tree does not go through freeze/thaw cycles which I'm sure helped.
Look at the mass of roots tangling the bottom, yet where I mounded Growstone (I now use big pumice) over the drain holes is free and clear. I do not make an entire drainage layer as it take up space where roots can grow. Two inches were sawz-alled off the bottom of the rootball. No tangled roots in that zone......only unbroken down media. It could be screened and used again.
Scrubbed off the moss creeping up the trunk and new pot here we come.
Last spring this tree took a 40" tumble off my teeter-tot display stand (it has since been fixed
). As it was falling I could only imagine the worst, broken branches, broken pot that I didn't have a replacement for. When I went to inspect I was amazed.........nothing was damaged or so I thought. As fall came around I noticed the long crack in the front of the pot. At first I was mortified, mmmmm, one of my favorite pot/tree pairing. It had been 6 growing seasons in that and I guess it was time for a change, so I embraced the opportunity.For those that don't want to do the whole thread. Then and now.
And for the repot.........there are many comments of incurve pot (which this is one) and how they're hard to get out. This tree has been in there for 6 years and the potting scythe got it out in just a few minutes. The media is Aoki akadama which is actually a blend with pumice. I added Growstone (no longer available) and charcoal. I would not have repotted if the pot was not broken. If it ain't broke don't fix it!! This media was draining as well as the first year. This tree does not go through freeze/thaw cycles which I'm sure helped.
Look at the mass of roots tangling the bottom, yet where I mounded Growstone (I now use big pumice) over the drain holes is free and clear. I do not make an entire drainage layer as it take up space where roots can grow. Two inches were sawz-alled off the bottom of the rootball. No tangled roots in that zone......only unbroken down media. It could be screened and used again.
Scrubbed off the moss creeping up the trunk and new pot here we come.
Crazy Diamond
Omono
Love that laurel tree (bay tree in spanish) amazing how good is healing over that scar they are slow growers I had one for years and barely growed at all
ABCarve
Masterpiece
Thanks. It’s commonly referred to as bay laurel here. However, this is a very vigorous grower. When it was in development it would grow 48-54” (122-140 cm) per year and they are not native to my climate. Now that it has good ramification and a small pot……not so vigorous. Root pruning really slows them down for the first season.
I didn’t think the scar would ever heal which is why I carved and painted the wood. I also coated it with marine epoxy because the wood rots quickly. The epoxy gave it something hard to heal over.
Quite a transformation! It's a shame about the other pot though.This years marks ten years of development for this tree as a bonsai. I've gone back through the thread and realized the trees journey as well as mine. You learn a lot in ten years.
View attachment 474578
Last spring this tree took a 40" tumble off my teeter-tot display stand (it has since been fixed
View attachment 474590
For those that don't want to do the whole thread. Then and now.
View attachment 474579View attachment 474580View attachment 474581View attachment 474582
And for the repot.........there are many comments of incurve pot (which this is one) and how they're hard to get out. This tree has been in there for 6 years and the potting scythe got it out in just a few minutes. The media is Aoki akadama which is actually a blend with pumice. I added Growstone (no longer available) and charcoal. I would not have repotted if the pot was not broken. If it ain't broke don't fix it!! This media was draining as well as the first year. This tree does not go through freeze/thaw cycles which I'm sure helped.
View attachment 474583
Look at the mass of roots tangling the bottom, yet where I mounded Growstone (I now use big pumice) over the drain holes is free and clear. I do not make an entire drainage layer as it take up space where roots can grow. Two inches were sawz-alled off the bottom of the rootball. No tangled roots in that zone......only unbroken down media. It could be screened and used again.
View attachment 474584View attachment 474585
Scrubbed off the moss creeping up the trunk and new pot here we come.
View attachment 474586View attachment 474587View attachment 474589
HorseloverFat
Squarepants with Conkers
If you use your own wormwood, it can definitely be psychedelic... You have to drink a lot... And FIGHT the "pull to sleep"... But it is there...
I HATE(d) the taste, though...
HorseloverFat
Squarepants with Conkers
Also, great thread! What a journey!
