AusBonsai

All ,
This cedar i picked up early last February, it was about 10 feet tall and not in the most healthy condition .Not sure if it's Atlantica or Deodara .

I took a while to decide what to do to it, decided to chop it down, jin the very top, and undercut all the branches to set them into a downwards direction from the trunk. Wired and trimmed ,left alone in it's old plastic bag to recover .

The cedar is now 800mm high and the trunk is about 45mm thick, it's growing well , i have kept alot of branches for now but may lose some of them in time . The front is not decided until i can see the nebari , i have been pinching the shoots nearer the top more often than others. Hopefully it'll make a nice Bonsai oneday.
Cheers

Good job mate! I'll be interested to hear from you what experience you get with this tree with the healing of the undercuts.

Cheers,

Andrew

Nice series of images Craig How many times can I say It looks good from a Newbies eye

Hey Craig

Wow what a transformation allready the idea of Jinning the top makes the tree

Looking good. I think it would be very interesting to be in a group/forest of similar trees like this one.

Hey Craig,

You have certainly done a good job getting the health back into it & I like where its going, once the lower branches thicken up it will be a winner. I don't think you will have any issue with healing, from my experience as long as healthy & growth is solid, healing is really good.

When do you plan to repot?

Matt

Hi Craig, it will look good once it fills out.Pretty sure it is a Deodora.

Thanks everyone , the undercuts are healing well, no major swelling yet ,

MattA wrote:When do you plan to repot?

today , just finished .

bodhidharma wrote:Pretty sure it is a Deodora.

Thanks mate , that's what i think also, that might just alter the way i was going to style this tree
once again, thanks

G,day mate, that is one brave move with temps here at 42.

We also had a power cut for 6 hours, so I have been sitting twiddling my thumbs.

Cheers Pup

Hi Pup , brave,stupid or smart ,time will tell

Hi Craig , Bodhi is correct it is a "Deodora" for sure . The correct names used for these cedars are, Cedrus deodara , Deodar Cedar , Himalayan Cedar . Quite often it is called a Deodora Cedar which is incorrect , the same mistake is made with reference to a Cedrus Atlantica is not an Atlantic Cedar but an Atlas Cedar .

The naturally semi weeping habit is easily utilized without any major wiring required . They droop from a very young plant compared to the Atlantica which grows more upright branches and need wiring several times depending on the age of the tree. Bark damage enhaces over time and is difficult to hide . I hope those temps don't take a toll on it .

Cheers Alpineart

Hi Craig,

This is a plant that gives a very juvenile impression with its shiny straight trunk and undeveloped branching. In your place I'd put it in a growing box and give it a lot more time.... I mean giving yourself a lot more time before settling the matter of styling. I see you have shari'd the top, which isn't a bad thing, as it will encourage lower branches to grow better. Choose one that will make a new apex, changing the trunk and and making this tree a lot more interesting. I wish I had a photo of Grant Bowie's Deodara to show, but I can't find it. Instead, how about this for inspiration? http://www.visualphotos.com/image/1x204 ... ula_bonsai
Not for copying, of course, but just to indicate a direction in which one can go with a Deodara.

Best wishes,

Lisa

Hi again, I just noticed that under "Pines and Junipers" there is a whole sticky on Deodars, with plenty of examples, incl. Grant's tree. No doubt you know it, Craig. And considering the popularity of straight uprights, maybe I shouldn't have gone against your styling. Sorry, can't help it!! Unless it's really big, with interestingly developed branching, I don't think one has got the most out of this species as an upright. Anyway, good luck a n d t a k e y o u r t i m e ! ! !

Lisa (again)

Pup, come and visit with Mrs Pup. It's quite cool here.

thanks Alpine

Lisa, your input is always greatly valued, i have a pic of Grants Golden Deodara hanging on my wall, there is the one from the national collection aswell ( http://www.nationalbonsaicollection.org/gallery.htm ), The bark is immature still , i have a plan in mind for this tree, however you are always welcome to put your thoughts forward as it allows more insight for me.

LLK wrote:I don't think one has got the most out of this species as an upright.

Cedrus Deodara, grow naturally upright, i can see by having a more interesting trunk with curves and turns it could be visually more impacting, but i don't think it's for this tree I do like the link thanks. once again thankyou

Hi Craig,

The golden cedar is a Deodara and it is mine.

The one you have labeled as NBc is an English national collection tree and not NBPCA; however we do have an Atlantic cedar at the collection.

Grant

kvan64 wrote:Looking good. I think it would be very interesting to be in a group/forest of similar trees like this one.

John Naka's famous "Goshin" juniper forest has those jin elements as well. I don't wish to compare, but looking at high quality examples can only help us, (or make us hang our heads when we realise how far the road is that we are travelling...)

for our viewing benefit ....