I didn't just hear it in my case.
Oh I believe you. But I also think it’s not just issues that cause them to not be bonsai. I read and was told that Siberian elm is a horrible candidate for Bonsai. Because it tends to drop branches easily. I have yet to experience this. I suppose I will reevaluate when it does. In terms of this birch, I’m feeling awfully optimistic about its future. and considering that deciduous trees struggle generally for me, I’m happy to give something a try, even if it ends up failing in the long term. My high desert environment can be a bit of a doozy for deciduous.
I don’t have experience with River Birch, but everything I’ve read about that variety in particular is the sudden death of branches and the entire plant that seems to take place. A google search will yield multiple people’s results, on this forum in particular, asking very much the same questions you’ve asked on River birch.
Agreed! Some key back budding would be nice but we’ll see! Still haven’t applied any wire to this tree.
This’ll only be my second year of cutbacks. But I will def be cutting back to leaf pairs or basal buds. Last year it forced some trunk back budding and I hope the same happens this year.
I still really like this tree. I see something that I would carefully mention to a bonsai guy who is way smarter and more experienced than I...the apex on both trunks seem to be sweeping in the same direction and could I suggest that the taller of the trunks be chopped at the first big branch on the right to get movement on that apex going in the opposite direction?
I don’t mind you commenting August! I wouldn’t post if I didn’t want people to chime in. Currently I’m most worried about attaining branching in the correct location generally. Eventually I will wire things out to balance the apex more. Maybe this fall. With that said though, I am more of a harmony type of guy, rather than playing with the tension that opposing apex brings to a design.
