Cupressus Goldcrest

[New to this]

Good morning,

I'm just starting out with this great hobby,

I recently purchased what I have been reliably informed is a Cupressus Goldcrest.

I was wondering about training it to be my first bonsai and I was after some advice in plain (not too technical please) English

I was thinking about trimming and wiring it but I'm not sure where to start

Thanks

Paul

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

'Goldcrest' Cypress. Nice, full name Cupressus macrocarpa 'Wilma Gold Crest' Monterrey Cypress.
They are not quite winter hardy in my area, so I have never tried one. Looks like a nice plant for bonsai. Their foliage is soft, makes them rather different than a juniper.

Some of the California members have experience with these. Hopefully they will give you some tips.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I think for a plan, I would just get it growing outdoors, they are not a good "indoor plant". If you have a really bright light garden, they can do well indoors if you are an experienced under lights grower, or so I have read, but they really are best as an outdoor, or patio or balcony tree. They like full sun, if it has been indoors for a while, more than a week or two, start it out in the shade, then 2 weeks later move it to half sun, then 2 weeks later move it to full sun, or the brightest spot you have if it is not full sun.

You should gather up either a ready made bonsai potting mix, or the ingredients to blend your own. And find yourself a bonsai pot to move this tree into. Take your time, repotting season is usually early spring.

If it were mine I would
1. just grow it and observe how it grows for you the first year, no pruning or wiring until late summer or early autumn
2. Draw out plans, using the trunk and actual branches you have on the tree, for the tree you would like it to become. If you can not come up with a vision, just let it grow, as you get to know the tree, eventually an idea will come to you
3, I would do my first wiring and pruning late summer or early autumn. If you are not sure of what to do, just wait. It is better to wait and let it grow than randomly cut off branches.

4. in spring of 2021 I would repot to a wider, shallower bonsai pot , or a shallow training pot. I would not repot before then.

 

[sorce]

Welcome to Crazy!

Makes me wanna sing Jingle Bells!

Sorce

 

[New to this]

I think for a plan, I would just get it growing outdoors, they are not a good "indoor plant". If you have a really bright light garden, they can do well indoors if you are an experienced under lights grower, or so I have read, but they really are best as an outdoor, or patio or balcony tree. They like full sun, if it has been indoors for a while, more than a week or two, start it out in the shade, then 2 weeks later move it to half sun, then 2 weeks later move it to full sun, or the brightest spot you have if it is not full sun.

You should gather up either a ready made bonsai potting mix, or the ingredients to blend your own. And find yourself a bonsai pot to move this tree into. Take your time, repotting season is usually early spring.

If it were mine I would
1. just grow it and observe how it grows for you the first year, no pruning or wiring until late summer or early autumn
2. Draw out plans, using the trunk and actual branches you have on the tree, for the tree you would like it to become. If you can not come up with a vision, just let it grow, as you get to know the tree, eventually an idea will come to you
3, I would do my first wiring and pruning late summer or early autumn. If you are not sure of what to do, just wait. It is better to wait and let it grow than randomly cut off branches.

4. in spring of 2021 I would repot to a wider, shallower bonsai pot , or a shallow training pot. I would not repot before then.

Hi Leo,
I live in Saudi Arabia so the winters aren't too bad
Thanks so much for the advice, I will leave it for a while then.
I will wait until either later this year or maybe next year.
That will give me time to do my research into shapes and wiring techniques
Thanks again

Paul

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Hi Leo,
I live in Saudi Arabia so the winters aren't too bad
Thanks so much for the advice, I will leave it for a while then.
I will wait until either later this year or maybe next year.
That will give me time to do my research into shapes and wiring techniques
Thanks again

Paul

In Saudi Arabia, the sun, particularly the afternoon sun may be too hot for this tree. Locate the tree to get afternoon shade. Do not leave it in blazing desert sun. Unless you see them growing in full sun in landscape plantings in the area. If you have a courtyard, they are good with morning sun, afternoon shade.

 

[ABCarve]

I started a thread on one these a few years ago that I got from a grocery store. https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/info-on-lemon-cypress.34865/ A common name for them here is "Lemon Cypress" because of its fragrance. I'm not having much luck on finding info on this species for bonsai culture. Maybe we can compare note if you find some.

 

[New to this]

I have been looking all over for advice, not had a great deal, I'm being told it has to be outdoors, but other sites say it can be inside, so I'm still not sure, I thought about planting a forest of them after trimming bottom branches off, I may buy a load of differing sizes this weekend, I'm new to bonsai so it'll be a challenge, I may try my hand at wiring too

 

[New to this]

I have

In Saudi Arabia, the sun, particularly the afternoon sun may be too hot for this tree. Locate the tree to get afternoon shade. Do not leave it in blazing desert sun. Unless you see them growing in full sun in landscape plantings in the area. If you have a courtyard, they are good with morning sun, afternoon shade.

I have it is a an area that is protected from the worst of the sun now
Thanks

 

[ABCarve]

I have been looking all over for advice, not had a great deal, I'm being told it has to be outdoors, but other sites say it can be inside, so I'm still not sure, I thought about planting a forest of them after trimming bottom branches off, I may buy a load of differing sizes this weekend, I'm new to bonsai so it'll be a challenge, I may try my hand at wiring too

It is best to keep it outside as much as possible. They live in a pretty harsh environment here but it's more humid. A forest could be interesting. Good luck with your wiring. The small branches are very fragile. Just remember....experience starts when you begin. You'll get better the more you do it.

 

[New to this]

It is best to keep it outside as much as possible. They live in a pretty harsh environment here but it's more humid. A forest could be interesting. Good luck with your wiring. The small branches are very fragile. Just remember....experience starts when you begin. You'll get better the more you do it.

Thanks so much for your advice, I will let you know how I get on

 

[Oceanman113]

I bought 3 of these and turned them into a forest scene. It was winter so I had to keep them inside till spring. They also don’t like heavy pruning, so I had to gradually shape them over a few months. Now they are outside and doing good. One of them had specs of gray (just 2 spots), but the others are fine. I looked up cypress tree photos to get an idea for shaping and had the best luck when I cut back the front to reveal that beautiful dark thin trunk. They may not last a long time, but it was fun making them!