Japanese Beech Forest

[PiñonJ]

…or slab

 

[MACH5]

You like to experiment. I say clear acrylic pot, no substrate, bare root with only hydroponic solution!

NOICE!!!!

 

[n8]

I like blue with beech leaves.

Blue slab?

 

[ajm55555]

The slab here has the unfair advantage of the moss...

 

[Shogun610]

Update , did you submit this to the PBS?

 

[cmeg1]

The slab is so beautiful though……..would have to seee a nicer pot though,as you mentioned.

 

[MACH5]

Update , did you submit this to the PBS?

Funny you asked. Just yesterday Sal (@Tidal Bonsai) and I were taking off all the dead leaves. A labor intensive job since there are so many and the buds are so small! Easy to slip and cut the buds along with the leaves, so focused attention is needed with every single cut made. Later in the day I pruned and tweaked a couple of small branches with wire. I plan on posting pics of it soon.

I did not submit it to the PBS. It's just too far and the logistics of getting there and back are not easy. The only way I see myself exhibiting there is if I could find someone reputable to transport the trees and I would just fly there and back.

The slab is so beautiful though……..would have to seee a nicer pot though,as you mentioned.

I agree Curtis. I have plans next spring to place it back on the slab. I have a product called Domo-10 that Rodney Clemons recommended to fix it.

 

[luvinthemountains]

Funny you asked. Just yesterday Sal (@Tidal Bonsai) and I were taking off all the dead leaves. A labor intensive job since there are so many and the buds are so small! Easy to slip and cut the buds along with the leaves, so focused attention is needed with every single cut made.

Do you cut the leaves because it is easier, or is there another reason? I have just finished pulling all the leaves off a hornbeam and a beech. Both of them still had quite a few leaves with green still on them. I found they released from the branches easiest when pulled backward. I have cut petioles when defoliating a tree during the growing season, but never in fall. So I am curious if it is something I should start.

 

[MACH5]

Do you cut the leaves because it is easier, or is there another reason? I have just finished pulling all the leaves off a hornbeam and a beech. Both of them still had quite a few leaves with green still on them. I found they released from the branches easiest when pulled backward. I have cut petioles when defoliating a tree during the growing season, but never in fall. So I am curious if it is something I should start.

I cut the leaves off to better study the structure and make any necessary adjustments etc. Yes, leaves are taken off more easily when pulled back and never towards you. But, sometimes leaves are stubborn and do not come off easily so they must be cut. Usually as spring gets closer leaves do come off more easily but I don't usually wait that long. If one prefers to keep the leaves on the tree that is fine too although I also wonder if that could lead to fungus or other problems in an enclosed protected environment?

 

[KikurageOtomo]

Very tempting to say the slab since it does evoke more out of the composition currently. On the other hand, based on your abilities I don't think you'll have any difficulty selecting a pot that's far more than appropriate. The production pot option feels very much like putting Venus in a burlap sack, honestly.

 

[Gabler]

Glad to hear you’re fixing the slab. The way the trees have grown together, they look like they’re supposed to be growing on a rounded hilltop. The mound of soil on the slab enhances that effect (and, I’m guessing, created the effect to begin with), whereas the pot seems to fight against it. Maybe that’s just this specific blue pot, but it makes the trees feel out of place.

 

[JudyB]

Just saw the recent photos of this tree in the blue pot. It so how diminishes (if that’s even possible) the power of the tree for me in the pot vs slab, so I’m glad to hear it will be back to the slab. So lovely

 

[Clicio]

Slab.

 

[MACH5]

Early winter update.

 

[Wood]

The bark on these trees is exquisite. Such a great feeling of age to the planting

Maybe I'm the only one, but I think I like the pot better than the slab. On the slab, the outer edges of the twigs line up almost exactly with the edges of the slab. What are your thoughts on a different sized slab?

 

[Colorado]

The bark on these trees is exquisite. Such a great feeling of age to the planting

Maybe I'm the only one, but I think I like the pot better than the slab. On the slab, the outer edges of the twigs line up almost exactly with the edges of the slab. What are your thoughts on a different sized slab?

You’re not the only one. I think the pot posted by @Canada Bonsai would make for a striking composition! Now, of course this tree would be exceptional in any container, but if we’re all sharing our preferences then I too would prefer a pot.

I just can’t get there with the slab contextually. The tree is so incredibly graceful and delicate. Elegant. The slab is the total opposite: rugged.

But hey, just my amateur 2 cents. Perhaps I’d see it differently with more experience/sophistication. I think whatever Sergio ultimately decides will be the best choice.

 

[MACH5]

The bark on these trees is exquisite. Such a great feeling of age to the planting

Maybe I'm the only one, but I think I like the pot better than the slab. On the slab, the outer edges of the twigs line up almost exactly with the edges of the slab. What are your thoughts on a different sized slab?

Pot is definitely a good choice as well. Especially with a good quality pot it can look really nice! I could also see it in a bit larger slab.

 

[MACH5]

You’re not the only one. I think the pot posted by @Canada Bonsai would make for a striking composition! Now, of course this tree would be exceptional in any container, but if we’re all sharing our preferences then I too would prefer a pot.

I just can’t get there with the slab contextually. The tree is so incredibly graceful and delicate. Elegant. The slab is the total opposite: rugged.

But hey, just my amateur 2 cents. Perhaps I’d see it differently with more experience/sophistication. I think whatever Sergio ultimately decides will be the best choice.

The slab worked well because it is not very rugged at all and the color went well with the white bark. Had it been darker with very rough edges then I don't think it would be a good fit.

With that being said, I myself have been going back and forth on the two directions. I think each have their own merits. With the right pot I think it gives the composition a certain classic formality that I also appreciate. Good points you made!

 

[Ugo]

Hi Sergio!

Got time to read in between the lines about the "emergency" repot of this composition.

I took a couples minutes to compare both slab and pot.
This tree composition is feminine, formal/semi-formal.
So going with this "logic" a nice rounded oval pot is a very good choice.
The color could be light blue, cream and so on.

Not saying the slate doesnt look good but it an eye catch.
Something we see right away, that is obivious.
But I think that tree has so many nice details that you dont want that "wow" effect on the slate, you want focus on bark and branching.
The slate is too disturbing and informal for the tree.
This is just a personal opinion and I dont think I have much to teach you on styling!!

Continue your good work!
Ugo

 

[MACH5]

Repotted this forest (now technically a clump) back into its original slab which I repaired recently. I am convinced this composition sits better on a slab than a pot. For me it evokes a more expansive landscape as opposed to the more visually constricting walls of a pot.

In case you're wondering, I used plastic mesh to help keep soil erosion in check until roots take hold.