Training upright Bald Cypress

[Necrosis]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking to train an upright Bald Cypress (more or less). I just bought this tree. Its about 6 feet tall. I'd like to bring it down significantly, however, the last tree I trunk chopped didn't do well. Just looking for guidance where you would perform your trunk chop and would it be reasonable to wire a branch vertically to continue growth? I'd also like to thicken the trunk a reasonable amount as well. Anyway. My plans for this tree are flexible just wanted some opinions on how ya'll would approach this particular tree.

 

[AZbonsai]

If you have the opportunity put it in the ground and let it grow. Trunk chopping reduces the trees ability to collect the energy it needs to grow and your tree has a long way to go.

 

[Necrosis]

Thanks for the response. So, ideally, am I letting it grow until the trunk reaches a certain diameter and then repotting/chopping? I'm not sure planting it in the ground is feasible, though. I just don't have the space.

 

[AZbonsai]

Ground plant is the fastest way to do it (still going to take years) you can put it in the largest pot you can find but it is going to take more time. You pay a premium for time whenever you are buying bonsai material. You pay the premium in $$ or you pay in time.

 

[Zach Smith]

Forget thickening the trunk "considerably" in this container, especially if you also plan to chop the trunk. Both of those things can't happen at the same time. But you can make a decent flat-top from this specimen. Chop it about 24-26" from the soil, then start the development. Go to my site and search for Bald cypress or BC and you'll see an example or two of how I've done this with smaller specimens.