AusBonsai

so i picked up this carved olive about 2 years ago. The grower had lost interest in the tree and said i could have it for pot vale. It was in a plastic traing pot, so i said, $5? He said done... Since then, i have worked only on branch development, and repotted it in early march... Yesterday , i decided to defoliate it, since we have had several hot days already and more to come. I want to develop and refine the branching and structure, then maybe i'll have a look at doing something with the carved area...

Now that is . Will look fantastic with some ramification!

I love the trunk, and for 5 clams what a bargain!

Have you considered growing it as a sort of cascade down around the rear of the trunk then back around the front? It would leave the top of the carved trunk pretending through the top.

Just another direction you could go, it would still show the power of the trunk while keeping the foliage low and somewhat semetrical.

Just some food for thought if you wanted something different.

Would you happen to have a photo of it in leaf before you defoliated?

Pearcy001 wrote:I love the trunk, and for 5 clams what a bargain!

Have you considered growing it as a sort of cascade down around the rear of the trunk then back around the front? It would leave the top of the carved trunk pretending through the top.

Just another direction you could go, it would still show the power of the trunk while keeping the foliage low and somewhat semetrical.

Just some food for thought if you wanted something different.

Would you happen to have a photo of it in leaf before you defoliated?

Ill try and find a pic for you. I have left a couple of long tips (whips) growing. I did consider a cascading branch... So many options, so little knowledge...

Seems you got a bargain at $5!
Since the trunk is very straight and formal don't forget to reflect this in the primary branches. I reckon lower the first branch down and let it grow unhindered for a while to thicken it up since the higher branches are currently the same thickness. While this branch is growing you can work on the ramification of the apex and top couple of branches as you don't want them to thicken any more in relation to the lower ones. Prune all those shoots down to the first pair and you could have a decent apex by the end of summer. Since you've gone to the trouble of defoliating you could wire them into place too.
Keep the left branches short so that the tree flows from left to right.

Something like this...
(Man I suck at virtuals!)
Olives are fun! Since you got it so cheaply don't be afraid to work it hard.

Matt.

Matt S wrote:Seems you got a bargain at $5!
Since the trunk is very straight and formal don't forget to reflect this in the primary branches. I reckon lower the first branch down and let it grow unhindered for a while to thicken it up since the higher branches are currently the same thickness. While this branch is growing you can work on the ramification of the apex and top couple of branches as you don't want them to thicken any more in relation to the lower ones. Prune all those shoots down to the first pair and you could have a decent apex by the end of summer. Since you've gone to the trouble of defoliating you could wire them into place too.
Keep the left branches short so that the tree flows from left to right.

Something like this...
(Man I suck at virtuals!)

Olive vert.jpg

Olives are fun! Since you got it so cheaply don't be afraid to work it hard.

Matt.

Cheers Matt. Your virts are better than mine. That looks wicked

Looks like the start of an interesting Bonsai

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