AusBonsai

Hey Guys,

Here's a swampy that I've been working for about 18 months now. It was originally purchased from bonsai south sometime in 2012. It had been in the nursery for a while and had been shaded out on one side. I let this side get some sun and placed the pot in a tub of water for about 9 months. During this time, I cut of the top 3rd of the tree to encourage back budding lower down the trunk and the tree responded very well.

The photos start at the first styling of the tree and show it after it second styling 13 months later. Photos aren't great but neither is the tree. There are a few shoots that were too young to wire and there are a couple of sacrifice/thickening branches but otherwise, I'm happy with progress so far.

Let me know what you think guys. Pointers and suggestions welcome.
Cheers guys,

Ces.

Greetings,
Re-pot.
Happy bonsai,
Bruce.

bonsaibruce wrote:Greetings,
Re-pot.
Happy bonsai,
Bruce.

Gday Bruce,

Do you not like the pot it's in or does it look pot bound to you? Just trying to clarify why you would repot.

If its the pot, I agree. Its in a development pot at the moment while i'm still thickening main branches. It was potted into this pot in July or August of 2013.

Thanks for the response, mate.

Ces.

How does the swampie look now, interested to see it as I just got my hands on a
swampie from a local nursery and looking for inspiration haha.

Cheers Mat.

Hi mat,

Its filling in nicely. They take a lot of pampering as they shoot from the trunk and anywhere they been damaged when you cut them back hard. I'm also finding ramification slow but possible and have cut the sacrifice branches back to start their secondary branching.

They're pretty tough and a great subject for bonsai. I'm on the look out for a large stump for a long term formal upright project. Good luck with yours.

Hi mat,

Its filling in nicely. They take a lot of pampering as they shoot from the trunk and anywhere they have been damaged when you cut them back hard. I'm also finding ramification slow but possible and have cut the sacrifice branches back to start their secondary branching.

They're pretty tough and a great subject for bonsai. I'm on the look out for a large stump for a long term formal upright project. Good luck with yours.

mcraig89 wrote:How does the swampie look now, interested to see it as I just got my hands on a
swampie from a local nursery and looking for inspiration haha.

Cheers Mat.

Yeah I love swampie's too and would love to see an update.

I really like the "Flat Top' style swampie's that are popular with the American's...Like this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYEda2b4xMM

Rustdust wrote:I really like the "Flat Top' style swampie's that are popular with the American's...

I've seen something like this on a much shorter and fatter tree base. Can't recall what tree it was but i'm leaning towards a Bougainvillea - very fat trunk only about 15-25cm tall - similar carving and flat-top.

The image is still in my mind and I believe it started my Bonsai journey ...

Ces wrote:Hi mat,

Its filling in nicely. They take a lot of pampering as they shoot from the trunk and anywhere they have been damaged when you cut them back hard. I'm also finding ramification slow but possible and have cut the sacrifice branches back to start their secondary branching.

They're pretty tough and a great subject for bonsai. I'm on the look out for a large stump for a long term formal upright project. Good luck with yours.

oh nice is there any chance of seeing some photos of it as it is now, for now the plan with mine is to leave the pot half submerged in a water tray and keep up with slow release fertalizer, im starting to think swampies are my favourite bonsai tree I love there character when mature.

Rustdust wrote:

mcraig89 wrote:How does the swampie look now, interested to see it as I just got my hands on a
swampie from a local nursery and looking for inspiration haha.

Cheers Mat.

Yeah I love swampie's too and would love to see an update.

I really like the "Flat Top' style swampie's that are popular with the American's...Like this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYEda2b4xMM

very nice bonsai and cool carving