Brand Newbie - First attempt to Create Cascade Bonsai with 10 year old Portulacaria Afra

[Bchnit1]

Woohoo. First post.

So I’ve been reading beginner books and have been all over YouTube trying to get up the nerve to just begin this project. Have all my entry tools, wiring, bonsai soil, and a pot, although it only has one drain hole. The plant has already done all the work by deciding on its own style as a cascade. Most of what I’m finding is starting a cascade from much younger plants. It has been in this pot about 5 years, never repotted and mostly neglected letting FL weather take care of it. Any help regarding challenges I may encounter given age and years it has been potted? Shaping suggestions? Am I starting too big of a project for my skill set? Or just good ol’ wisdom is appreciated. Most everything I’ve read seems to suggest defoliation and severe pruning but I believe these were already bonsai.
Appreciate any and all suggestions and looking forward to being part of Bonsainut.

 

[MrWunderful]

If it were me I would put it in much more well draining soil.

Once its established, it should be cut back to a main trunk line and develop new branches from there after it re-buds out.

A great start because porties are very hardy and almost impossible to kill.

Keep and root cuttings for me free material to practice on.

 

[Bchnit1]

If it were me I would put it in much more well draining soil.

Once its established, it should be cut back to a main trunk line and develop new branches from there after it re-buds out.

A great start because porties are very hardy and almost impossible to kill.

Keep and root cuttings for me free material to practice on.

Thanks. They sure do well from cuttings. Heck, even from a single leaf.
Are you thinking I should repot in bonsai soil in the original pot? Plan is to repot in the white pot with red spots in photo.

 

[Carol 83]

Welcome to the site! Not sure what you're planning to do, put the whole plant in that pot? It does look to be in regular potting soil, maybe that's ok in FL? Lots of opportunities for tons of cuttings. Have fun with it.

 

[Bchnit1]

Welcome to the site! Not sure what you're planning to do, put the whole plant in that pot? It does look to be in regular potting soil, maybe that's ok in FL? Lots of opportunities for tons of cuttings. Have fun with it.

Thanks. Yes repot as bonsai in the white pot with bonsai soil. Single trunk on top with a full cascade Is the vision

 

[Graft]

As you are in a HOT zone, maybe think about chopping up a couple of handfuls of Sphagnum moss and adding it to your new soil mix. This will help retain moisture.

 

[RJG2]

If you're going to remove a bunch from the top, I'd think about a different pot with a wider base. The white one looks very unstable for a cascade of that size. At least at first glance.

 

[Richardse]

If you're going to remove a bunch from the top, I'd think about a different pot with a wider base. The white one looks very unstable for a cascade of that size. At least at first glance.

I was thinking the same thing

 

[sorce]

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

 

[Bchnit1]

If you're going to remove a bunch from the top, I'd think about a different pot with a wider base. The white one looks very unstable for a cascade of that size. At least at first glance.

Was thinking I’d keep the top and train it in opposite direction to counter balance cascade..

 

[Bchnit1]

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

Thanks

 

[Bchnit1]

So it’s done. Need to get a better photo. Leaving the 2 trunks off the main trunk for now thicken trunk and decide what to do with them. Let it grow through summer.. Any thoughts?

 

[Theo Smith]

So it’s done. Need to get a better photo. Leaving the 2 trunks off the main trunk for now thicken trunk and decide what to do with them. Let it grow through summer.. Any thoughts?View attachment 367477

Nice start! I really like it, I don’t know that you need to defoliate P. Afra in general. I’ve found that I can get what I’m looking to create (back budding, smaller leaves, more ramification etc.) without defoliation. Hard pruning back to the fist pair of leaves and give synthetic fert high in N, leave in full sun with lots of heat and they respond very well. Whatever you do with the top, I’d cut back to just above the first node and grow out from there to get movement. Really nice trunk movement elsewhere and the nebari to match. Sweet tree! Please keep updating us and thank you for sharing.

 

[Bchnit1]

Nice start! I really like it, I don’t know that you need to defoliate P. Afra in general. I’ve found that I can get what I’m looking to create (back budding, smaller leaves, more ramification etc.) without defoliation. Hard pruning back to the fist pair of leaves and give synthetic fert high in N, leave in full sun with lots of heat and they respond very well. Whatever you do with the top, I’d cut back to just above the first node and grow out from there to get movement. Really nice trunk movement elsewhere and the nebari to match. Sweet tree! Please keep updating us and thank you for sharing.

Thank you for the encouragement and advice, Theo.

 

[Michael P]

Great beginning! As the design develops you can choose a front and a pot that emphasize the movement in the trunk.