Ginkgo… big gingko

[Cadillactaste]

I feel like it’s great as is. My main goal personally would be to get it into a shallower, wider pot, and otherwise just build out the flame. I’m thinking like a sky-blue-to-teal wide shallow-ish rectangle in the future. Think candle in a tray.

I was advised to never put my ginkgo in a shallow pot. By Scott Lee...he said nothing under 3 inches.

You let them dry out...they drop branches.

 

[FreshAirSunshine]

I was advised to never put my ginkgo in a shallow pot. By Scott Lee...he said nothing under 3 inches.

You let them dry out...they drop branches.

Good to know. In that case I'd stay deeper, but would still go for a shades of blue rectangle and not a tapered-sides round. The tree is tall and formally-straight (flame), so I'd use at least somewhat sharp vertical lines in the pot.

Honestly, not that unlike what you have for yours, although I know you have the yellows in there for highlights and stuff. I think this Ginko would benefit even more from the lines of a rectangle given its verticality.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Good to know. In that case I'd stay deeper, but would still go for a shades of blue rectangle and not a tapered-sides round. The tree is tall and formally-straight (flame), so I'd use at least somewhat sharp vertical lines in the pot.

Cringe...at blue pots. It's about as common as the day is long. When my commissioned pot was done. My only stipulation was no blue. It's so freakishly over done. I prefer...stepping outside that overdone circus. That's just me. I prefer. Off the beaten path...so it wows.

I would rather a ginkgo in an unglazed...or deep burgundy red... or a splash of yellow on the pot.

 

[FreshAirSunshine]

That's fair - it is certainly common although I think that's for a reason. Whether unglazed or burgundy I'd consider the rectangle still, but that's of course just my personal taste.

 

[Adamski77]

If it was mine, I’d work with this front. I don’t mind the uro at the base, but don’t love the long scar at the top.
View attachment 574967
Here is a ginkgo that was owned by the Alabama Bonsai Society, pretty big and has a flame shape.
View attachment 574968
This is the link to mine, grown from seed for 25+ years. It’s a little squat compared to yours. With a few growing seasons, yours can develop some decent branching and without any wire, it should develop that flame look on its own.

Thread 'Ginkgo from seed'

Nov 2, 2013

In 1996 I collected 11 ginkgo fruits (incredibly foul-smelling), and seven of them grew; 4 are still living. This one has been in the ground in Iowa, chopped back annually for the last 14 years, and was dug this spring. My buddy brought it down this weekend, thought I'd share. It's about 18" tall, and developing some chi-chis that may become problematic for taper, or if they continue extending, can make for a powerful trunk.

Haven't decided what I'll do with it yet, but will enjoy turning it around for a while.

• Brian Van Fleet
• bvf ginkgo progression
• Replies: 251
• Forum: Other Deciduous

• 
• 

Thank Brian…I see where you’re going… this is a great looking “haircut”. I need some time to go through your thread but checked current status and considering you grew it from seed simply hats off. I found much easier way.
Appreciate posting pictures… have to say even though the one in Oklahoma is great looking doesn’t seem like it’s super ramified… tells me I need to absolutely protect every new shoot/junction inside the canopy. Mine already have some good starting point but obviously will know more when it grows in my garden for year or two.

 

[Adamski77]

With all the branches at the top, it looks like it grew in a forest. Would it be outrageous to suggest a group planting?

It actually has some new shoots off the roots… I might let it grow for season or two and see where does it get… not necessarily group planting but clearly an idea. That’s why I like posting things like this… everybody has a great idea…

 

[Adamski77]

I agree with Brian, it has some nice features to work with as it is.

Perhaps you could graft some branches down lower on the trunk?

Sweet ginkgo!

Grafting should be doable… though will need to run extra branches fast and probably quite a long time… not sure that’ll be ever able to catch up with first one which is quite thick already but having 2-3 grafts lower the trunks would create better balance between trunk and canopy. You would think thread graft? Cause there is nothing right now that would reach trunk…

 

[SeanS]

Grafting should be doable… though will need to run extra branches fast and probably quite a long time… not sure that’ll be ever able to catch up with first one which is quite thick already but having 2-3 grafts lower the trunks would create better balance between trunk and canopy. You would think thread graft? Cause there is nothing right now that would reach trunk…

Landscape/nursery Ginkgos are often scion grafted to create trees of a certain cultivar, so the same could be done for branches on a bonsai

 

[Adamski77]

Landscape/nursery Ginkgos are often scion grafted to create trees of a certain cultivar, so the same could be done for branches on a bonsai

Considering the size of the tree and easiness how it backbud I even thought to do version of scion grafting and drill hole in the trunk… and get scion stuck inside. With proper contact in cambium this could catch. Not sure this has been done before.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Food for thought... you will never gain the age or thickness of grafting branches to those above that are there. Gingko don't heal over scars. I honestly doubt I would take the chance of screwing up a bad ass aged trunk. For branches that look young.

I would let it evolve and develop what's above to be more. I happen to love the scar on the trunk. I just feel the tree needs turned a tad.

 

[Adamski77]

It's in a round pot. I would like to see it ..so that right side is pointing more say...over your right shoulder. So turning the pot clockwise some.
View attachment 574974

Here is couple photos I snapped today… turned it some savers and than some. Also showed the pot which obviously will need to change. Normally you buy trees in China this is what they come in.

 

[Adamski77]

I feel like it’s great as is. My main goal personally would be to get it into a shallower, wider pot, and otherwise just build out the flame. I’m thinking like a sky-blue-to-teal wide shallow-ish rectangle in the future. Think candle in a tray.

Yes… candle on the cake… I kind of see it… it’s either blue or red but color needs to be quite rich. Even though it’s tall I kind of see pot having very small “legs”. I know this tree is super masculine but I see round pot here… maybe something like this picture from Oklahoma Brian posted… but I don’t want the pot to be narrower at the bottom… sides just straight vertical… maybe some striation but not painted… some pattern with possibly smidgen of yellow color. I’m not a great painter but hopefully description makes some sense. Tree is thick so even matching pot depth to diameter of the trunk would make the pot 5-6 inches deep… should be enough to give it comfortable and healthy place to live in.

 

[Cadillactaste]

That would be my chosen front! Great nebari for a ginkgo. (Not common) and there is a wiggle in the upper canopy you now see. Also... I absolutely love the scar. It adds to the trees story.

Appreciate the new angle image. Made my morning. I would own this tree and be proud.

 

[Cadillactaste]

That said...the side Brian liked. Isn't bad. It has a powerful base which is a strong suit. I just am drawn to a scar. I wouldn't want it hidden when it doesn't look like a chop scar. But a story there. You've options. You build the canopy to be more...and it will balance itself out.

 

[FreshAirSunshine]

Regarding a front though - one takeaway from all this is certainly that this tree doesn’t have features that are forcing a back - it’s 360 profile has interest all around and to me that is a GREAT place to start from in building it. So many options and no real need to pick now. What you decide is back now may well be front in the future when the tree grows and develops. Not a bad situation to be in at all.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

I love the tree as is and I wouldnt change it at all butttt..

I keep thinking of @MACH5 's ebihara peg graft on the japanese maple and wonder if you could find a similarly aged tree with a few proper sized branches to cut-n-paste... Frankenginko!!!

 

[Adamski77]

I love the tree as is and I wouldnt change it at all butttt..

I keep thinking of @MACH5 's ebihara peg graft on the japanese maple and wonder if you could find a similarly aged tree with a few proper sized branches to cut-n-paste... Frankenginko!!!

That’s what I had in mind… could borrow some branches from other part of the tree… though this is super advanced. First will just let it go next season… after repotting in spring.

 

[Adamski77]

Yes… candle on the cake… I kind of see it… it’s either blue or red but color needs to be quite rich. Even though it’s tall I kind of see pot having very small “legs”. I know this tree is super masculine but I see round pot here… maybe something like this picture from Oklahoma Brian posted… but I don’t want the pot to be narrower at the bottom… sides just straight vertical… maybe some striation but not painted… some pattern with possibly smidgen of yellow color. I’m not a great painter but hopefully description makes some sense. Tree is thick so even matching pot depth to diameter of the trunk would make the pot 5-6 inches deep… should be enough to give it comfortable and healthy place to live in.

My wife took a look at it and said „old tree like this needs old looking pot”… very fair comment. Than she searched the shops and here is the choice… perfect combination of round and square… matching the color of the bark instead of creating the contrast. When this stone ages will be even better looking. I think I’m settled… and they will do tailor made size. Little bit pricey… pot will be double the price of the tree

 

[FreshAirSunshine]

I’m willing to bet that’s saying more about the deal you got on the tree than the price of the pot