AusBonsai

Okay so this is another nuersery stock i bought, a Japanese Box.

After initial clearing I am left with the following which i will grow out until next spring before working on further. I really like the trunk however something is just not right with the two right main trubk lines as they runn parallel. Even if i chop the middle to bring it up it still does not look right.

What i am thinking is to air layer the right trunk branch and then create two trees out of it which i think will give me a much nicer styling. The main trun caliper is about 30-35mm.

Any other opinions or ideas that i am failing to see??

As I look at it the left branch has some movement and some taper, the middle branch has some movement and some taper, and the right branch is straight and taperless. I would say that the right branch has to go. Just cut it off and what you have left will make a very nice small bonsai in a year or two. Suitable pot, and a bit of fertilizer and it will be a goer.
That's one opinion but I am sure there are others.
Cheers

Hi Kurraway,

Watto is right, cutting off the right branch will fix the problem. Don’t worry about air layering, just hack choppity chop!

i agree 1st right branch too strait. heres a vert. chris

Chris - nice vert, and I agree that is a good look for this tree.
Akamatsu - do you have a patent on the saying "just hack choppity chop" ? If you don't I might use it at the next local bonsai meeting/workshop! Its a ripper.

Two things:

a) I love the styling pic, thanks very much. I really need to practise to do drawings like that
b) i also love that saying "just hack choppity chop"

By chopping you mean just get rid of the branch (ie in the bin) or are you suggesting i may be able to try and propogate it to root without air-layering first? It would be a shame to get rid of that branch already the size it is without trying to make a new tree out of it???

Andrew

Andrew, if you cut that branch off in Spring it should strike for you easy enough no need to do air layering. Get ahold of some root powder/gel to give it the best start.

chris.

Awesome! Already got root powder so will give it a go. Is this just because of the species itself or you think anything this size is possible to do without the need for air-layering?

I may even cut it higher than the main trunk area so later in its life i can jin it like you have in the vert, once i get confident on how to do it and make it look good - lol

Being a japanese box it strikes easily plus it isn't the size/species I would normally air layer.

chris

Hi Kurraway,

By saying ‘hack choppity chop’ I did mean cut it off and bin it! I know that sounds harsh but I really don’t see that you should go to all the trouble to air layer it. This takes time and prevents you from getting in and designing your tree now. However making a cutting of it is a good idea, I just wouldn’t bother myself as I feel it easier to just go and buy another box as they are usually not too expensive.

Watto, no patent on the saying "just hack choppity chop” . Go for it!