Twisted trunk shimpaku

[markyscott]

Hey Scott, what are the short sections of PVC for?

Hi C. I use the to hold granular fertilizer.

 

[clevetromba]

I use tea bags to hold cottonseed meal, but I have to pin them down with toothpicks or some small animal makes off with them. Don't the pvc pieces ever tip over?

 

[markyscott]

I use tea bags to hold cottonseed meal, but I have to pin them down with toothpicks or some small animal makes off with them. Don't the pvc pieces ever tip over?

Occasionally, but the fertilizer quickly solidifies so it's not a big deal. Give it a try! Maybe you'll like it better than filling teabags.

S

 

[chicago1980]

I would tilt it left pretty majorly. It would make the base appear wider and take the eye away feom some of the bulkyness of the top. It may not look so bulky in person

Interesting I would tilt it right. Same though.

 

[markyscott]

So I decided to reduce the height of this tree by ground layering. Here’s the technique.

 

[markyscott]

The wire is for reference. That’s the planned soil line. I cut a series of windows along the soil line into the live vein with a chisel.

 

[markyscott]

Then pack sphagnum held into place by raffia around the windows. The raffia will rot away eventually.

 

[markyscott]

Then into a deep pot.

 

[markyscott]

I’ll wire it up next week.

 

[vp999]

A tree without an apex is like sex with your socks still on.....

I keep my socks on all the time so I can get out in a hurry afterward.

 

[Maiden69]

Are you using windows to feed the foliage with the remaining strips while the roots form?

 

[Lazylightningny]

I think this is the first time I've seen Scott get a lot of criticism over his work. He obviously had a longer term plan that was not forseen by others. The man knows what he's doing. I like where this one is headed.

 

[markyscott]

Are you using windows to feed the foliage with the remaining strips while the roots form?

The strips between the windows will keep the foliage alive and connected to the roots. The windows will callous over and the callous tissue will throw roots. At least that’s the plan.

- S

 

[markyscott]

I think this is the first time I've seen Scott get a lot of criticism over his work. He obviously had a longer term plan that was not forseen by others. The man knows what he's doing. I like where this one is headed.

We’re all here to learn and hearing criticism is part of the learning process. In this case I was simply in no rush to bend some foliage around to create an apex because 1) there were lots of shoots that would eventually be better candidates to use for making an apex and 2) I knew that I really wanted to strengthen the tree in order to shorten the trunk. That’s where we are today.

- S

 

[misfit11]

I think you're making the right decision here. That first straight section didn't tell the same story as the rest of the tree. It's going to be better for it. Nice work!

 

[Daniel son STL]

Thanks Scott for your explanation, now I understand and can look at your Twisted Trunk Shimpaku with a totally different
outlook, I applaud your efforts re this tree...
I am not a big fan of dead, dried out, bleached white trunks and branches although I am aware that they grow, survive and exist as such in Mountainous extreme conditions...
I'm confident that if there is a Bonsai hidden in your example that you will bring it out with and at your Bonsai skill level...
Thanks again for explaining your work...

Sorry this is old but too funny. Maybe three years later marky finally found that hidden bonsai somewhere inside that ancient littlte twisted tree in a pot. Lmao.

love the (non bonsai) tree btw....

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Good plan, eager to see how it goes. I have one needing similar work...probably from the same nursery.

 

[Bonsai Outeiro]

Very nice juniper, great work so far

 

[Njyamadori]

Omg I love this tree . How much originally did you pay ?

 

[markyscott]

Omg I love this tree . How much originally did you pay ?

I can’t recall exactly, but I remember thinking it was a really good price. I bought it at Suthin’s sale. Not from Suthin - one of his students had a table set up and this one was on it. It was not in good health, but it’s recovered to the point where I could attempt to layer it.

S