Radiata (1)

[daiviet_nguyen]

My father has kept this radiata for nearly 20 years, from a young seedling.
Not much training has been carried out over the years. And so it just grew.

He gave it to me last year. It was 87 cm tall. And this is it as on
05/April/2008:


View 1 - 1


View 1 - 2


View 1 - 3


View 1 - 4


View 1 - first branch


View 1 - details of top side one


View 1 - details of top side two

*
* *

My first attempt to wire it on 13/April/2008. All branches were wired, and
a lot has been taken off as well.


View 2 - 1


View 2 - 2


View 2 - 3


View 2 - 4


View 2 - first branch

I really liked to develop a good foliage pad for this branch. But at the time,
I was feeling a bit despaired. It really looked hopeless... But it was really
a nice suprise...

*
* *

I must have repotted it sometimes during August and September, 2008. I cannot
remember the exact date. What I found was it has very little roots despise
looking healthy. It virtually has no surface roots.

It has taken repotting very well. During the Spring of 2008, I kept on cutting
off the branches that I did not want. I was aggressive, and later on it showed
signs of weakening down. My other radiatas were growing and it was not. So I
stopped trimming altogether. But a few branches that I wanted to keep have died
off; most of them were on top, but not in large number, so the overall shape
did not suffer greatly.

And this year it shows sign of great strength. The following photos was taken
on 12/September/2009:


View 3 - 1


View 3 - 2


View 3 - 3


View 3 - 4


View 3 - first branch

It is filled in a year! I really did not expect this. This is the surprise that
I mentioned above. Now I can concentrate on expanding it.


View 3 - top view or fifth dimension

Measurements

1. Trunk diameter: 4.5 cm
2. Height from pot surface: 71 cm
3. Distant from surface to first branch: 30 cm
4. Pot diameter: 44 cm
5. Pot height: 15 cm

This is just a cheap Chinese pot. I have it outside for less than 2 years, and
part of the rim has been washed away!

*
* *

It still has a long way to go. It is not, and will never be an outstanding
bonsai, but I think it has a certain dignity overall. It would be nice if
the trunk is a bit larger. But I cannot see how this can be achieved. The
pot is way to big -- but it is still in development stage.

[Jamie]

good to see the progression of this daviet.
i think it holds its own as bonsai. i am amazed at the amount it has filled in such a short time. i like it.
i think veiw 3-3 or3-4 would be the optimum veiwing angle. have you chosen anything as the prefered "front" yet?
you have done well!

[ozzy]

I like it, it will make a fine Bonsai.

[daiviet_nguyen]

Hi,

Thank you for the comments

Hi jamie111,

I agree with you that 3-3 and 3-4 are the better views of the four.
But I am hoping to be able to buy a right round pot for it in the
future; so we spin it around. I believe in the 360 degrees thing .

And I will try to shape it within that constraint.

Best regards.

[Jamie]

Hi,

Thank you for the comments

Hi jamie111,

I agree with you that 3-3 and 3-4 are the better views of the four.
But I am hoping to be able to buy a right round pot for it in the
future; so we spin it around. I believe in the 360 degrees thing .

And I will try to shape it within that constraint.

Best regards.

i agree in the 360 degree of veiwing too, i know it is a touchy subject with some people. i like to see a prefered veiwing position too
does that make sense? lol
all good mate, still think you have great potential