AusBonsai

I found these growing in a paddock at a garden client's property. They've been shaped by lack of water, cattle, horses and goats for an unknown number of years. Most feral plums in my area have straight trunks with very little taper but I thought these had enough low bends and branching to have some possible potential.
This first one has few roots but I'm sure there's enough for it to survive. As usual, I reduce the roots to just the ones I want in future. It will need to be cut at some stage in order to fit into a bonsai pot and I find that immediately after collecting is the best time to do radical root reduction. Good low bends but some reverse taper up higher. The first branch is a good spot to prune to remove most of the thickened area. Potted into a 30cm orchid pot to recover The second one is a little larger I hope the birds find somewhere else to nest this spring....

After pruning the trunks. The smaller trunk has some potential but the thicker one has significant reverse taper and very little movement. I'll leave it for now hoping that it will help re-establish a good root system. Might be a candidate for carving to reduce and hollow that side just leaving the smaller trunk as the main one.
Quite a large tap root but plenty of good fine surface roots this time. After washing out as much soil and stones as possible the chainsaw makes short work of the excess roots. Potted up into another 30cm orchid pot Still some reverse taper on the smaller trunk but I think it is a bit better than the photo shows. I'll wait until it has re-established in the pot and I can see which parts grow well before pruning any more. May even need some carving on the smaller trunk to disguise the taper issues and probable pruning scars.

Neil

Nice find . I only have one that ive had for 8 years now and its Coming along . I dug it because it already had dark crackling bark and a decent root structure .

Nice pick up shibui, I really like the look of the first (smaller) one. Lots of potential there, nicely moulded by the local fauna. Hopefully the birds can find some new digs, since you dug there old ones!

Hi Neil
I'm interested if you bother to use rooting hormone on the large roots and base before potting up.

I read somewhere once that rooting hormone helps stimulate roots on stems but does not provide any additional stimulus on existing roots. I did use it a couple of times but could not see any noticeable difference so have not bothered for the last 20 odd years.
Also no seasol used. I know there are plenty of growers who think it is mandatory but again, I have very few failures without using seasol and the few times I have used it there was no perceivable difference in the results so I can't see the point in the extra work and resources for no gain.
These 2 trees were dug and slung into the back of the ute as you see in the pictures. After driving home about 15 minutes it was lunch time but I went out and did the pruning and potting straight after lunch Roots were out of the ground and uncovered for a bit over 1 hour.

Nice! Any of these for sale?

Nice Neil! That's the one i was talking about

Nice! Any of these for sale?

Everything is for sale kvan, if the price is right

Could you message me what you want for them? I’m not sure what to offer.
DK