Shohin BC development

[Colorado]

Not to be a curmudgeon, but I just don’t really see the point in trying to make a shohin tree with bald cypress. The leaves/fronds are quite long, and it grows so quickly. Just doesn’t seem like a good shohin candidate to me. It reminds me of Ponderosa Pine in that sense.

Anyway, seems to me that BC is better suited for larger trees. But if you want to make a BC shohin then more power to ya

 

[crab apple]

I got a few last year that I planted in a little creek next to my house, I'm not sure what I'm going to do with them but I plan on replanting them every year or so so I can mess with the roots. Might wire them to a cinder block next year or some kind of big flat rock in the water.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Not to be a curmudgeon, but I just don’t really see the point in trying to make a shohin tree with bald cypress. The leaves/fronds are quite long, and it grows so quickly. Just doesn’t seem like a good shohin candidate to me. It reminds me of Ponderosa Pine in that sense.

Anyway, seems to me that BC is better suited for larger trees. But if you want to make a BC shohin then more power to ya

Gosh...right!?! one should never attempt it.

 

[Colorado]

Gosh...right!?! one should never attempt it.
View attachment 495076

Like I said, more power to ya! Nothing wrong with shohin BC, obviously. I am just offering an observation, not a suggestion to attempt or not attempt.

I just feel like trying to do BC shohin is setting one up for frustration. I guess as bonsai practitioners we are all accustomed to that anyway

 

[Cadillactaste]

Like I said, more power to ya! Nothing wrong with shohin BC, obviously. I am just offering an observation, not a suggestion to attempt or not attempt.

I just feel like trying to do BC shohin is setting one up for frustration. I guess as bonsai practitioners we are all accustomed to that anyway

I prefer the challenge. honestly it's a rush for me.

 

[Shogun610]

Why don’t you like grow it from a seedling , cutting or air layer , prob faster than chopping low.

 

[Baku1875]

Why don’t you like grow it from a seedling , cutting or air layer , prob faster than chopping low.

I agreee, something like a beefy branch with some secondary branching and movement that can be wired before the air layer gets slapped on to get some movement, get the roots going then into the pot....

 

[Baku1875]

I prefer the challenge. honestly it's a rush for me.

That is a really awesome tree...given the nature of BCs, the design is probably going to shift and evolve quite a bit over a few seasons right?

I dig the style choice, like a weeping broomstick/literati...

 

[Cadillactaste]

That is a really awesome tree...given the nature of BCs, the design is probably going to shift and evolve quite a bit over a few seasons right?

I dig the style choice, like a weeping broomstick/literati...

Thanks, yes I'm already on a second apex. Cut the last one out. always moving forward...like many trees that need tweaked.

Weeping is the easiest for small trees.

 

[Cajunrider]

Not to be a curmudgeon, but I just don’t really see the point in trying to make a shohin tree with bald cypress. The leaves/fronds are quite long, and it grows so quickly. Just doesn’t seem like a good shohin candidate to me. It reminds me of Ponderosa Pine in that sense.

Anyway, seems to me that BC is better suited for larger trees. But if you want to make a BC shohin then more power to ya

Given the nature of making a bonsai is forcing a big tree to be small while still looking big, trying to make a shohin BC is simply a step up in the challenge level. Failing it simply result in a katade mochi bonsai, which won’t be too bad. I don’t see a down side other than me having to respond to the growth more often.

 

[Maiden69]

I just feel like trying to do BC shohin is setting one up for frustration.

This is the only thing that should be consider... if your skills are not up there, it will definitely test your sanity.

I think a shohin BC will be the only BC that I will keep away from water and use a media that drains well, but also holds a lot of water.

 

[Cajunrider]

This is the only thing that should be consider... if your skills are not up there, it will definitely test your sanity.

I think a shohin BC will be the only BC that I will keep away from water and use a media that drains well, but also holds a lot of water.

Few things in this world can truly test my sanity. I can't get better without pushing boundaries. While I still have access to BCs, the time is now.
PS: I can't wait to try JM in PA. JM down here is a challenge given my work and travel schedule. For me now, I am staying with species that thrive easily down here.

 

[Cadillactaste]

This is the only thing that should be consider... if your skills are not up there, it will definitely test your sanity.

I think a shohin BC will be the only BC that I will keep away from water and use a media that drains well, but also holds a lot of water.

Mine sits in a tray of water. Because...the only dead BC I've come across are ones who think they can water and fail miserably and they die in the heat of summer. Just food for thought. Mine is planted in Clay King medium.

 

[Colorado]

Given the nature of making a bonsai is forcing a big tree to be small while still looking big, trying to make a shohin BC is simply a step up in the challenge level. Failing it simply result in a katade mochi bonsai, which won’t be too bad. I don’t see a down side other than me having to respond to the growth more often.

I admire your “can-do” approach! I will be following the thread and I hope that you are able to create some great BC shohin!

 

[Cajunrider]

I admire your “can-do” approach! I will be following the thread and I hope that you are able to create some great BC shohin!

Thanks for the well wishes. I will soon post the candidates for the hard chop on the road to shohin.

 

[Maiden69]

Mine sits in a tray of water. Because...the only dead BC I've come across are ones who think they can water and fail miserably and they die in the heat of summer. Just food for thought. Mine is planted in Clay King medium.

Definitely a dish during summer! My BC's are IN WATER 11 months out of the year.



Maybe there's a future shohin BC down there...

 

[Cadillactaste]

Definitely a dish during summer! My BC's are IN WATER 11 months out of the year.

View attachment 495139

Maybe there's a future shohin BC down there...

View attachment 495140

Even my Ryusen maple gets a tray when we see Temps over 80F. The tray came out earlier this year.

 

[Maiden69]

Even my Ryusen maple gets a tray when we see Temps over 80F. The tray came out earlier this year.

I have done so as well with my luma apiculata and liquidambar orientalis, but they were in pond baskets and were drying out too fast. I think I'm going to build a pumice shallow bed to "plant" the trees in pots during the summer to allow them to stay cool and have access to extra humidity. Like what some people use for mame and some shohin trees.

 

[Cajunrider]

How about this one?
Originally I was thinking 24” flat top but
It has a curvy base from the tap root that came from the left side. Countering that is a smaller that is still developing root. Flat chop will be at 1/2 of that Coke can.

 

[namnhi]

Pointless exercise Uncle? If you want a small BC then chop it down. If at the end it measured at 10 in or 12 in and great looking... who cares if it is not a shohin.