AusBonsai

I have not posted for a while - so here is a progression series on my Eugenia:

1. This is the tree in April 2009. It was grown as a Lollipop container plant by a friend. When I received the tree I cut away a lot of growth. Now it's back budding like crazy:
2. This is the tree November 2009:
3. The defoliated tree June 2010:
4. The tree October 2010 in a bonsai pot:
I am going to defoliate the tree again in the following week and then work seriously on leaf reduction. To get the leaves small on this species you have to pinch after each set of leaves because the second set of leaves are already too big.

The red arrow in the pic indicate a possible sacrifice branch to help building the nebari.

Any comments or advice welcome.

Lennard

Lennard, great progression on this tree mate.I like the 3rd pic, which seems to give a better view of the movement in the trunk, however i also like the new planting angle- which IMO gives this tree a very feminine look about it,...and I hope you don't mind me saying but i feel the planting position isn't right, something just not right.... Lennard does it get cherries/flowers good work Lennard -- Craig

this tree is coming along nicely, but I have to agree that the planting angle dosnt look just right at the moment, It just might be the photo though.
By the looks of it you've ground layered it have you?

Hugh

Craig wrote: Lennard, great progression on this tree mate....and I hope you don't mind me saying but i feel the planting position isn't right, something just not right.... Lennard does it get cherries/flowers good work Lennard -- Craig

Thanks for the reply , Graig.

This species is very easy to work with and it can take a lot of abuse. I am also very happy with it's progression as it is one of my first trees.

I think the planting position problem is caused by the top being very heavy for now because the two lower branches are not developed fully - it gives the impression that the tree is unbalanced. Here is a picture taken today with the tree in full foliage before the intended defoliation next week. It does look better with the right hand lowest branch more developed?
I am also planning to let the new lowest shoot grow freely to help build the base.

The tree can not flower because I pinch it too much .

Lennard

hugh grant wrote:this tree is coming along nicely, but I have to agree that the planting angle dosnt look just right at the moment, It just might be the photo though.
By the looks of it you've ground layered it have you?

Hugh

Thanks for the reply, Hugh.

The tree was not ground layered in the true sense of the word. I used the technique as seen in the second photo of my first post to promote root growth near the surface close to the trunk because I had to cut of a lot of "trunk" just below the soil to get the tree into the shallow bonsai pot. At the next transplant in spring I will lower the tree a little bit more.

What do you think of the tree's planting angle/position in the last picture posted today?

Lennard

Ah i see then what you did, good idea
well in the last photo you posted the planting angle looks better with the branch placement improved.

Hugh

I have defoliated the tree yesterday:
I slightly different possible front:
Virt:
The yellow arrows indicate the branches that were not defoliated because they are still being build. The top yellow arrow indicate a new branch that will come right to the viewer.

The red arrow indicate a top branch that is too thick already. I will probably have to chop it and regrow that branch.

The pink/purple arrow indicate that the branch have to be moved downward to match the angle of the opposite branches.

Before I do anything I would appreciate your input on this observations. Any other comments and advice also welcome.

Lennard

Lennard,
Looking very good. You have made wonderful progress.
Jerry

Hi Lennard

Nice progression and some good development.

I like the new front you suggested as it shows the trunk and branches nicely and gives more power to the right side improving the direction.

Good stuff mate

Tony

g'day lennard,

Fom the april 09 shot, to what you show us today, its an amazing change. I like your pot too.

Thanks for sharing your work.
woody

Thanks for the kind words everyone.

I really love doing bonsai!

Lennard

Hi Lennard,
This is Looking really good I really like it!
Keep us update with your coming changes!
PS - do you use ficus natalensis often, being a South African native??

NathanM wrote:Hi Lennard,
This is Looking really good I really like it!
Keep us update with your coming changes!
PS - do you use ficus natalensis often, being a South African native??

Thanks.

I have quite a few Ficus natalensis that I am working on- I really need to do some work on them before the cooler weather sets in. Will post some pics then.

I also have most of the other RSA species and some from Africa, and some from the rest of the world. Besides using them as bonsai I am also trying to collect the Ficus species of the world.
This is my Ficus growing area:
(Here are some in pots on the benches)
Here are some growing through the containers into a gravel bed:
Lennard

Nice one mate Love the setup there!
I've got a couple of natalensis and I really enjoy them. They are great trees! Thanks for sharing mate.
I didn't even say my favourite ficus? Well that I've worked with yet

lennard wrote:I have defoliated the tree yesterday:

a.jpg

Lennard

From the time I have partially defoliated the tree in February I tried my best to get the leaves as small as possible and I think I am winning:
After the defoliation I pinched after the next two "true" leaves and cut the leaves back close to the stalk. After this I am starting to get the very small leaves which normally shows as bumps/eyes/buds before the "true" leaves. I pinch again just after the small leafs. When I get too big leaves I cut them back to the stalks. I believe by keeping this up I will get the needed leaf reduction to make the tree look believable.

Here is a closeup of the process:
Note the true size of the tree's leaves.

Any comments on my observations and technique welcome.

Lennard