AusBonsai

Hey CK,
The chop your planning is exactly what needs to be done, a very courageous move for someone with a bonsai age of 4yrs. A couple of questions, how long have you had the tree? When was it last repotted? How big a tree do you eventually want? How big a grow pot are you planning to put it in?

If it was me, I would slip pot into something a couple of centimetres bigger, the only rootwork is removing any coiling roots. When the pot is full of roots repeat the process putting it into something bigger again. This may mean slip potting several times in a growing season but prevents the risk of any heavy roots taking hold in a really big box. I cut plastic nursery pots in half and as you go from 8"-10"-12"etc you get a little extra depth as well as width.

Matt
1 more... What do you feed (its looking very healthy)?

The-Calli-Kid wrote:Thank You Anttal63.
I had no intention to offend anyone! Sorry if i did!

CK

Hi CK,
Please don't take anything the wrong way.

I am All about growing good trees, thats all i do , work and grow trees. I am not interested in controversy at all, I just want to grow trees, if anything I ever say appears differently, then i appologise for not wording it better.

When i say regret(maybe i chose the wrong word)all i mean is that you will wonder often ,Why did i do that, even if your tree is now looking better. tell me if I'm wrong in 6mths.
I never expect people to do as I say or show but to use what is said as a guide from someone who "has been there". What happens to someone else's tree doesn't even matter to me but if someone asks, then i will give them the advive as if it were my own tree. I would never give advice about things I know nothing about or do a Virtual of someones tree which i don't think would be achievable.

If someone posts a tree in a bonsai pot and says they are thinking of a major chop and plant out for a year or 2, well you need to ask yourself a few questions..

Why chop?

If the trunk is utilised in the best manner it can be , be that through a change of planting angle or drastic styling , then a nice believable tree could be achieved in a couple of years. A tree you would be happy with .

If a major trunk chop like this is to be done it is a whole different story.
Firstly , it will take a year or so for a tree to become established again, be that in the ground or a grow pot.thats if it all goes well in the transplant.
Then in the second year it will begin to be strong again and hopefully put on some good growth. So it will probably actually need 4 or 5 years in the ground to be of any true benefit, especially with a lepto.It is a much longer proposition to do it with a hard hard chop, this is all.

I am not comparing what i say to what others say, because as has been said there are too many ways to go about growing our trees.
It is all well and good saying chop this and chop that but it is not always necessary.

I wish you well with which ever path you take your tree down,

Jarrod wrote:Chopped yet? Do it already haha

OK, just a couple more points. The CK wrote:

PS. really enjoyed Lisa's Condescending Preconceived judgemental rant... thanks lisa,

You're welcome. It was just plain old common sense, but give it any name you like.

Also.. I seem to learn best through mistakes.. I may make a few more before I'm 'finished' learning

Good points on Leptospermum though!! I lost one after a repot in 2010!! They like gravel and rough soil. (not too much water!)..

So what did you learn from that? BTW, which Leptospermum was it?
And you still haven't told us which one the tree under discussion is. That can make a BIG difference!
Chris H and Craig have given you some damn good advice. I'd just like to add this: Leptospermums are very good back-budders. Why don't you remove the lowest branch on the right, drastically shorten the big branch on the left, clean out the apex and give that tree a couple more years to make new branching? The Patience you recommend could be put to good use.

You also wrote:

Thanks for your opinions guys! I'm really feeling a chop coming on!!

Lisa

MattA wrote:Hey CK,
The chop your planning is exactly what needs to be done, a very courageous move for someone with a bonsai age of 4yrs. A couple of questions, how long have you had the tree? When was it last repotted? How big a tree do you eventually want? How big a grow pot are you planning to put it in?

If it was me, I would slip pot into something a couple of centimetres bigger, the only rootwork is removing any coiling roots. When the pot is full of roots repeat the process putting it into something bigger again. This may mean slip potting several times in a growing season but prevents the risk of any heavy roots taking hold in a really big box. I cut plastic nursery pots in half and as you go from 8"-10"-12"etc you get a little extra depth as well as width.

Matt
1 more... What do you feed (its looking very healthy)?

Hey Matt,

Cheers for the kind words and feedback.. I have had the tree for 3 years now, it was purchased as Nursery stock for $28. It was a mess and still is but to a lesser extent.. It has been in that pot for around 24 months. I have contemplated many design options!! Major chop and Slip repot into grow box is what will happen.

the plan is an informal upright with a dancing trunk. Shohin, maybe bigger.. this is the grow box..
Rough rocky sandy soil mix. regular water. nutrient feed fortnightly starting a month ago.

CK

Now thats a man on a mission ! way to go CK

Craig wrote:

The-Calli-Kid wrote:Thank You Anttal63.
I had no intention to offend anyone! Sorry if i did!

CK

Hi CK,
Please don't take anything the wrong way.

I am All about growing good trees, thats all i do , work and grow trees. I am not interested in controversy at all, I just want to grow trees, if anything I ever say appears differently, then i appologise for not wording it better.

When i say regret(maybe i chose the wrong word)all i mean is that you will wonder often ,Why did i do that, even if your tree is now looking better. tell me if I'm wrong in 6mths.
I never expect people to do as I say or show but to use what is said as a guide from someone who "has been there". What happens to someone else's tree doesn't even matter to me but if someone asks, then i will give them the advive as if it were my own tree. I would never give advice about things I know nothing about or do a Virtual of someones tree which i don't think would be achievable.

If someone posts a tree in a bonsai pot and says they are thinking of a major chop and plant out for a year or 2, well you need to ask yourself a few questions..

Why chop?

If the trunk is utilised in the best manner it can be , be that through a change of planting angle or drastic styling , then a nice believable tree could be achieved in a couple of years. A tree you would be happy with .

If a major trunk chop like this is to be done it is a whole different story.
Firstly , it will take a year or so for a tree to become established again, be that in the ground or a grow pot.thats if it all goes well in the transplant.
Then in the second year it will begin to be strong again and hopefully put on some good growth. So it will probably actually need 4 or 5 years in the ground to be of any true benefit, especially with a lepto.It is a much longer proposition to do it with a hard hard chop, this is all.

I am not comparing what i say to what others say, because as has been said there are too many ways to go about growing our trees.
It is all well and good saying chop this and chop that but it is not always necessary.

I wish you well with which ever path you take your tree down,

I wish you well with which ever path you take your trees down too man. I remember seeing and commenting on your broom elm ages ago.. it is something else that one!! It inspired me to take the path less travelled in a few of my trees and if nothing else, I have learnt some good lessons. And founded some great beginnings.
PS do you see the size of the new leader on this Lepto?? that grew in winter!
Thanks

CK

anttal63 wrote:Now thats a man on a mission ! way to go CK

Cheers champ.

It sure is a great forum CK I like the info regarding Natives which are my long term goal but I still have a lot to learn

Is it in two parts yet?

Jarrod wrote:Is it in two parts yet?

It is now mate!
CK

The-Calli-Kid wrote:

Jarrod wrote:Is it in two parts yet?

It is now mate!
CK

Booga wrote:It sure is a great forum CK I like the info regarding Natives which are my long term goal but I still have a lot to learn

You're not wrong mate! It is most definitely a great forum!... Great info on Aussie Natives! I don't participate as much as maybe I should!!

CK

The-Calli-Kid wrote:

Booga wrote:It sure is a great forum CK I like the info regarding Natives which are my long term goal but I still have a lot to learn

I don't participate as much as maybe I should!!

CK

Me neither CK I find it hard as beginner and I really cant offer any thing regarding bonsai, Although I could ask a Million newbie questions

MARCH 2010 NOVEMBER 2011 OCTOBER 2012 Bring on 2014.

CK