Golden Totara

[Fred]

Hi Folks

Another tree for some advice.

The Totara was originally a twin trunk many years ago.It was jumped on by a cat which broke the front off the main stem.

The bottom right branch is dead, as is the top left and the sub branch of the bottom left. It has failed to back branch.

Suggests please of what style to aim for, how much of the dead branches to retain as jins and where to cut too.

I have attached a few of pics.

Fred

IMG_2606.JPG

IMG_2607.JPG

IMG_2620.JPG

[craigw60]

Hi Fred, do Totara occur naturally in your area, I come from northland were they seed all over the place. With regards to your tree it looks to me like it needs a bit of growing on to get it vigorous again. Maybe you should pot it into a nice open potting mix and feed it up over the growing season before you worry about styling it. I would suspect this species likes to grow in full sun. Would be great if you could get it to bud back a bit so you have more branch options.
Good luck from Craig

[Fred]

Hi Craig

As far as I know there are Totara on Banks Peninsula near ChCh.

The tree is already in a very open mix. I will feed it well this coming season and hope that it developes. To keep it's golden colour I would assume it would need good levels of sunlight.

Fred

[Hutch11]

I would be tempted to do the big chop! leaving just the bottom left branch, and either try for a new leader from that or try and get a bit more bend for a windswept look??

Sorry dont know how to do the virtual/sketch thing

[craigw60]

Hi Fred, do they shoot back on bare wood ? If so Hutch's idea might be good. Before doing any thing get it growing strongly. My Mother had a big golden totara in her garden it had a beautiful golden hue and was in a full sun position.
Craig

[astroboy76]

if it were mine i would remove the middle and right branches. i woudl then repot it at an angle so the left branch woudl become the trunk with some movement. i woudl then plant it is a large pot of box and water and fert it and not touch it for a few months to let it heal and get back some vigour. justa suggestion. let us all knwo how you decide to go

[Fred]

Hi Hutch, Craig & Astroboy

Thanks for your replies.

Craig: Totaras don't appear to back bud easily. I have been tryting to get this one to do so for years. There are a number of large golden Totara in the district and they stand out, especially now with a lot of trees being without leaves.

Hutch: I hadn't thought of a windswept style but had contemplated a possible Literati either with the left truck you suggested or using the main trunk.

Astroboy: Your idea backs up Hutch's suggestion. I will have to give it some thought and do some picture manipulations to see how it would look. There would certainly be some movement with the curved left branch as a trunk.

Fred

[Fred]

Hi Folks

An update.

I have given the tree one more chance. If it doesn't respond this season after a repot in the Spring then it is for the chop.

I shortened back the growth, wired, removed most of the dead branches, created some gins, brought the lower branch forward and tidied up previous branch cuts.

Attached is a pic.

Let me know what you think?

Fred

IMG_2685.JPG

[craigw60]

Hi Fred, your tree looks like it has been through the mill I reckon you should get it growing strongly then do one more major chop and thats the main trunk line. If you remove the big straight trunk down to that first branch then you have a chance to make a good informal tree as it is now the trunk is too tall and too straight with no taper.
Craig

[anttal63]

Hi Fred, your tree looks like it has been through the mill I reckon you should get it growing strongly then do one more major chop and thats the main trunk line. If you remove the big straight trunk down to that first branch then you have a chance to make a good informal tree as it is now the trunk is too tall and too straight with no taper.
Craig

diddo!!!

[Fred]

Hi Antonio

I have added some bend to the straight trunk to give it some movement. I will increase this over time and bend the top half further to the right.

I have attached a pic.

Any improvement?

IMG_2728.JPG

[yadibrar]

how is this frnd.....????? i see this in this plant.......

[Fred]

Hi Yadibar

Looks very impressive. I assume you base this tilting the trunk and using the left branch as the trunk. The monly problem is getting it to bud back to form the new branches.

As a matter of interest, what package did you use to create the image?

Fred

[Graeme]

At the risk of sounding like a copy cat, may I suggest, also, that you get it out of the Bonsai pot and plant it up into a BIG plastic pot - 12/18 inch - or even a styro box. You really have to get a ton of vigour back into the tree before you could expect it to do much for you.
I like that last virt, but fear you may have removed a little to much living material to realise something like that. Will give you a good aiming point though. Stick the tree into a big pot for a year or two and see what you get out of it then
'Good luck with it all the same.

[yadibrar]

hello fred,
i think if give a chance after choping and planting it in little more big container (for giving more diet)....and allow it grow ,it shd shoot back vigrously in proper season.....
i have used GIMP 2 s/w which available free of cost online.....