I’ve pared down the group to 10 trees: B, C, D, E, F, G, J, K, N, and P. This year I inadvertently allowed some to grow escape roots into the pumice beds on which they were placed. That was a great boon to their strength and health — a lesson for the future. I also focused quite a lot on lowering their pH to counter the city tap water changes; I think the foliage and buds show I was successful.
I’m seeing my little microclimate here in the city is sub-par for semi-tropical trees. We often have foggy mornings where the sun doesn’t come out until 1 pm. There was a lot of good heat in the growing season, but this year’s spring was just glacially slow and wet.
I’ve completed some late fall wiring, but the winter storms are here so I think I’m backing off on work for at least two weeks.
B:
I can still do a hard chop on this tree down to the first few inches. It has potential, but is out of the contest for timing reasons — it won’t be “presentable” by the deadline.
C:
This one will be tall. Maybe a literati. I don’t think it will be presentable by the deadline.
D:
This one has potential to be something by the deadline. I need to do a full wiring and styling, especially pruning back to interior growths. It’s destined to be an informal upright.
E
This one won’t be presentable by the deadline. I’m at about step 1-2 of 4-5 in compacting it down to as tiny of a tree as practical. It doesn’t look like much; it’s a project.
F
This kinda accidentally ended up as something. It’ll be ready by the deadline, but I’m skeptical it’ll have much for branching and taper. It deserves some successive periods of growing out and chopping back.
G
I’m trying for a tiny formal upright with this one. It has bar branches, but so far they’re doing well to keep it healthy and to thicken the trunk. I suppose it’ll be presentable by the deadline, but it will also not have much branching.
J
This is another that won’t be ready by the deadline. It is also at step 2 of 4-5 of successive reduction in size and scale. Its movement and branch placement are promising enough, though not amazing.
K
This one has been neglected. It needs a full wiring and styling. I think it still has good potential to be a scaffold of a tree by the deadline. Not an award winner but a respectable display of acceptable technique.
N
This one I’m excited about. The branch positions are good; it’s tiny; there’s good movement; the branching shows vigor. I “just” need to stay the course.
P
Here’s my ugliest tree. I think the entire right side is coming off. The first branch on the left can take over and there’s a replacement branch for the node where I would be making the big chop. It could turn into something good, despite having a horrendous start — the ugly branching ended up as a strong sacrifice.