AusBonsai

Today i got a little bored and decided to tackle a pine that i had been putting off doing anything to for a while because basically, it was difficult material. I had been looking at it every time i watered and could not decide what to do with it. Well today i thought i would remove some needles in the upper canopy to balance the tree a little more and saw something new in it. I got the wire out and adjusted some bits and pieces. I think its much improved.
The tree as per last styling

The tree's full history up until now can be seen HERE

Pics below show how the tree had grown into its last styling.
I ended up rotating the front by a number of degrees and pulling up the lower branch into more of a branch shape rather than a cascade.
After the work....
And after a hack job photoshop effort showing it a little more filled out.

The next problem is finding a pot to suit it. Any one have any ideas or suggestions? I have a few ideas but am not entirely sure so any suggestions/virtuals would be most welcome.

Joe

Looks good Jow bring it along Monday.
JohnM

Nice change Jow. The bulge at the change of direction is noticeable but should probably grow out I am not great with pot selection and the style you have chosen is a hard ask. Maybe a pot that suggests the tree hanging off a cliff edge. Maybe something like what Pat .K has posted but in a darker grey or charcoal

bodhidharma wrote:Nice change Jow. The bulge at the change of direction is noticeable but should probably grow out I am not great with pot selection and the style you have chosen is a hard ask. Maybe a pot that suggests the tree hanging off a cliff edge. Maybe something like what Pat .K has posted but in a darker grey or charcoal

Thanks for the reply, The buldge is a bit of an oddity, Radiatas do this often at sharp bends. Most of the new wood they put on is on the inside of the curve (shortest path for the sap) and hence the bend thickens a lot. If you look at some of the pics of the tree in the round you can see a shari that was a result of some heavy bending that i am guessing will extend down the front of the trunk at some stage which will hopefully discuise/ integrate the swollen curve a little more.

Not sure if i like cresent pots or not at the moment. I use to love them but i must say i am slowly leaning towards more simple shaped pots of late.

i had a quick scribble.... maybe a slightly smaller simple round pot might work? Its a difficult tree to match a pot to.

Hi Jow

I like it very much

Regard's

THe Hacker

I like the round pot, but can anything be done about the straight section before the first bend?

Even just a small amount of movement, would help.

Hi Scott,

You are right about the straight section... it would be much improved with some more movement. There is some subtle bends that are not really read in a picture but they would be much better if they were more dramatic. It would be a major operation to bend it there but it is possible..... Its always hard bending a trunk of this thickness and getting a natural looking bend. Ill have to think on it some more.

Joe

I have a very large bender you could borrow.

With your pine crancking ability that straight piece should be a piece of cake to move. Come on mate finish the job !!! Then maybe that pot you have virted will work better. As is i would lie it down a little more to the right and use an oval pot no lip. ps i love the way you have styled the foliage Cu 2moro night

bodhidharma wrote:I have a very large bender you could borrow.

Thanks bodhi, I have a range of bending jacks and levers already. After seeing Hirotoshi saito use one, many years ago now, I just had to have one, and then after I had one I needed some more. The small size is actually very handy.

Tony, I might give a bend a go but it will definitely have to wait until winter to be safe. I'll try to remeber to bring it Monday night and you can have a look at it in the leaf (or needle) so to speak.

Joe.

Its a great tree Jow, I wouldn't be the least bit worried about bulges and bumps quirky trees like that almost always have some problem. Once the bark starts to crack it will be a very interesting bonsai. I would put it in a very plain round unglazed pot, its quite a complex tree so doesn't need embellishing with a fancy pot.
Craigw

craigw60 wrote:Its a great tree Jow, I wouldn't be the least bit worried about bulges and bumps quirky trees like that almost always have some problem. Once the bark starts to crack it will be a very interesting bonsai. I would put it in a very plain round unglazed pot, its quite a complex tree so doesn't need embellishing with a fancy pot.
Craigw

Hi Craig,

I am also leaning torawds a silmple round pot, possibly with a lip and flared sides. The bark has began to crack although it has a long way to ge before it covers the trunk with nice aged bark.

I had a good look at the trunk last night and i think i can introduce a little more movement into the lower trunk. I will wait until winter before i attempt anyting though so that gives me plenty of thinking time.

Joe.

Reckon that knob is going to always be a problem----what techniques could be used to deal with reverse taper of that kind------carving,grafting ,air or ground layering ---would the trunk tend to rot if planted much deeper i.e. ground layered at the knob