In the mid 1990’s I had the opportunity to dig three Cedrus Deodara from a forest in Canberra. As a bonsai artist this was my first ever real dig for possible bonsai masterpieces and I was very excited. Not that this tree is a masterpiece, but it did survive the dig and I have managed to keep it alive since then.
This particular tree was quite tall and thin and naturally leaned to one side, and thus I determined it should be in the slanting style. For many years I struggled to find a “look” that I enjoyed and so this tree had a number of different pots, different wiring jobs and a few differing cuts but still I couldn’t see the tree within.
The look in 2007
In 2010 I took this tree to a bonsai event titled “Bonsai by the Harbour” to seek advice from fellow enthusiasts. Now this event is one of my favorite in the bonsai calendar, and I received a number of suggestions and design ideas that I took away to think about. In June 2010 I finally decided on a new design and made a sketch to keep me on track with the new design. I know I cannot draw but this is the sketch and it has kept me focused.
The June 2010 sketch
By the time I got around to working on this tree it was March 2011 and the foliage mass was so heavy it was pulling the roots out of the pot.
In urgent need of work
The above photo was taken on 7 March 2011 and over the next week I put it into an emergency re-pot and gave it a good trim, in line with the proposed new look.
After the re-pot and first trim.
The re-pot was needed to stand it up to a more upright position, and also to save any damage being done the roots. This above photo was taken on 15 March and if you look really closely you can see a little frog peering out from under the pot.
OK, a closer look at the frog!
About two weeks later it got a further trim and some wire to set the branches into place. The tree was then put away to recover for about 16 months when it was placed into a more suitable bonsai pot.
Photo 27 March 2011
By January 2013 this tree had really grown on well and was ready for the next stage in its progression.
Photo 20 January 2013
The tree is finally starting to look a bit like that rough sketch I did some years ago, although I am still not sure which is the best front, and that’s probably why its in a round pot!
Photo 28 January 2013
I will continue to refine this bonsai over the coming years and I will look for a suitable pot to house it, probably a hand made pot by an Australian potter.
Hi Greg,
Just trying to find some info on trimming Deodara on web and came upon this blog from many moons ago – love it – I bought a Deodara from Carmel Maher(CBS) some 7 years ago and have only ever trimmed the tips as it grew out of shape – Carmel sourced it in 2009 fromYattayatah Nursery and it has progessed well despite my neglect.
Are you aware of any youtube video’s that can help me progress it further – I would put a picture on Ausbonsai but that exercise still confuses me
John Paton(CBS)
Hi John,
Unfortunately I have not found any youtube videos on this species. There are a couple on Atlantic cedar that I saw quite some time ago but Deodara does not appear to be used much around the world, maybe with the exception of Australia.
Sorry I couldn’t be of any assistance.
Cheers
Greg