How tall is to tall...

[fredman]

...and can this still be considered as bonsai? I'm aware that the max height for big bonsai is 1.2m, but I'm not that serious.

I do bonsai for myself because I absolutely love trees...If i see a gorgeous girl standing next to good looking deciduous tree...that girl has no chance of me checking out her nebari, tapers or ramifications man... On the other hand if that tree is a pine or conifer I might approach politely to enquire about what fertilisers she uses... Gees what was I talking about again....??? Oh yes...


I bought this JM katsura from a nursery a few years ago. Planted it in the ground at the front of the house. It didn't work as the winds at this time of year is terrible. Every year it rips the leaves to shreds and it suffers and looks bad for the rest of the year. I dug it up, trimmed its roots and put it in a big plastic container. Figured i'll layer it over the next few years. Now I'm not so sure I want to do that. Now I want to grow it out and maybe form pads over the length of it.
I don't know how to do virts but I think you will get the idea. By the way any virts will be more than welcomed...Thanks in advance for that
It stands 1.4m high to the bottom of the layer pot at the top. It doesn't have much taper but maybe in the long run if its properly filled, it can look like something.. even though it might be something different.
Anyway I would really like to have if you good people's opinions on this please...

 

[fourteener]

The real problem is a total lack of taper. You could air layer this 3-4 times and get several trees out of it.

 

[carp]

Never understood why you New Zealanders were turn on by species beyond humans.

There is a "rule" of 6:1. 1 inch across = 6 inches high. It's not a rule that must be followed, but, it is an artistic guideline and the generally accepted aesthetic of modern bonsai. To be honest, just cut where the tree is boring. With a 3ft tall, 1in thick tree, you should really chop it very low.

 

[fredman]

The real problem is a total lack of taper. You could air layer this 3-4 times and get several trees out of it.

Yeah like I said that was my initial intention. I do have some that I layered off the top. With this tree I want to do something different. Something that's out of the normal bonsai "box".

Never understood why you New Zealanders were turn on by species beyond humans.

Yeah what can I say mate. We live at the bottom of the other side of the world...
As for general rules...I have some trees that I try and do according to them rules, but I have a itch in the ass about this one. I want to try something different but not really to sure if it will work out....if you know what I mean? (Something along the lines of the quote you have next to your avatar...)

 

[carp]

draw an image of what you have in mind.
if you can't do that, it's probably best you avoid it.

 

[sorce]

I have a itch in the ass about this one. I want to try something different

If you got an itch there. .......

I would...

See where you get branches.
If they come out in good spots....

I would start creating taper.
Letting the lowest get fat.
And defoiliating and trimming more up the top.

See if you can build bald cypress taper.

Then grow new branches.

Hadassah! Or Badass!

Sorce

 

[fredman]

If you got an itch there. .......

I would...

See where you get branches.
If they come out in good spots....

I would start creating taper.
Letting the lowest get fat.
And defoiliating and trimming more up the top.

See if you can build bald cypress taper.

Then grow new branches.

Hadassah! Or Badass!

Sorce

Sounds like a plan Source. Its always going to be a very long term challenge. The problem is taper will be VEEERY slow in this container. Might have to put it in the ground....
For some reason I knew you would understand. Having weird friends helps....they sometimes understand your weirdness...

 

[GGB]

I like my women just like I like my bonsai. Old as I can get em with a wide base and good curves.

 

[zelk]

I think it looks nice as a tall tree. Just work on branch structure of the canopy.

 

[M. Frary]

I would

Scratch it?

 

[drew33998]

Maybe with really short branches sparsely spaced through the upper 2/3rds you could make it seem like a really tall straight tree with a narrow crown of foliage

 

[fredman]

Maybe with really short branches sparsely spaced through the upper 2/3rds you could make it seem like a really tall straight tree with a narrow crown of foliage

That is my idea Drew. Good ramification spiralling around the tree. The problem is all the growth is on one side of the trunk now. I'll grow and bend shoots now to graft in future. Some practice for what lies ahead. Never done a graft before.

 

[sorce]

problem is all the growth is on one side of the trunk now.

Lay it down and make a raft!
F my last idea!

Sorce

 

[fredman]

Gees that'll make an almighty raft Sorce. We can maybe take on the mighty Mississippi with that...

 

[sorce]

Gees that'll make an almighty raft Sorce. We can maybe take on the mighty Mississippi with that...

I just saw a raft on you tube, a long branch laid on a rockish slab . I believe it was the 2015 San Show?

Anyway, the bottom was just saw cut, and exposed, really odd. A branch not a tree fallen.

I imagine a good raft, to have the uprooted base flown wildly into the air, with burrows for the raccoons and/or wombats, amidst the old root mass!

Violently blown over, now resting gently in the forest, a home, a refuge. Peaceful.

I think you can pull this off with this tree.
Maybe by beginning to design it now standing, getting a few more years of growth and Maybe some bark, before laying it on its side.

Or using the tree slanted, as a visual cliff, that trees grow upon. I like this look!

I'm with you feller! Lets itch that ass!

Sorce

 

[carp]

 

[sorce]

Ass itch tool!

It has to go the other way!

Hey guys,

How are we gonna show roots in spring, when Fredman's clock is broke?
Ain't it spring there now?

Sorce

 

[fredman]

Gees Carp that is a stunning ass wipe style....good taper though
*freddie to self... maybe this post is a well intended stupid idea that's backfiring on ya*

Sorce the more I talk to you, the more confockulated I get. Cant figure out if I'm slow, or reading your posts to fast man....

 

[johng]

Rules are only for the unimaginative... Very, very, very few natural trees have a 6 to 1 ratio...think about it...30' tall tree with 5' diameter trunk...I see those everyday day don't you??

I'm have lots of tall trees... I like them.... How about 20 to 1 or even 40 to 1. Perhaps the tree that garners as much attention as any in my garden is a Cypress clump with 5 trunks. The largest trunk is maybe 1.5" and all the trunks are in the neighborhood of 60" tall.

One the other hand, my largest(not tallest) trees are more like 3 or 4 to 1...

Ratios are really meaningless....make trees you like!

 

[sorce]

Amen JohnG..

Freddie.. it is not you!

Here what I mean with a raft. Wth roots.
And wombat burrow.
I see these all the time. But none bonsai!

I don't want to leave you hanging Fredman.
If you feel the need, quote something, and I will try to explain!

Most of it is just dumb funny though!

Your seasons are different though yes?

Sorce