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Old 23-Jul-2008   #39
october
bonsaiTALK Master Craftsman
 
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Join Date: Jul-2006
Location: massachusetts
Country: United states
Posts: 513
Hello Lilli........It is difficult to understand many bonsai concepts as far as reading them. You are not alone with being confused. Trust me, everyone has been very confused at many points when they begin bonsai and even years down the road.

There are no stupid questions,,the only stupid question could be a question that was not asked.....In bonsai you will need to ask as many questions as possible...If you don't understand it, you need to ask it again.

Quote:
So, if the apex is defined and wired, the tree will still grow higher..
Shall I always cut the apex back if I don't want it to get higher?
When the apex is cut every time and the trunk get thicker, will the tree have another apex or the "first" apex stays?

To answer this question...Yes, trees will keep growing for as long as they are alive during the growing season. If left unpruned..your tree will keep getting taller. When you have bonsai, you will need to maintanence pruning throughout the growing season. Some species, you can get away with letting them grow out and you can still prune back to their bonsai shape. Other species if you let them grow for a season or 2, you may lose the design and have to do some major pruning and start over again. This could set back the progress of the tree 1-3 years.

As far as apex's go... You would find the place where you want to shorten a tree. Then you would make the cut right above a side or back or front branch. After you cut the trunk off at that point, you would then wire that side/back etc..branch upwards to create a new apex. Here are 2 virts. When you wire up the new apex, you can start from a lower branch to anchor the wire or you can start from the base of the trunk, if the tree is short and will not need a lot of wire.

This is pretty much the apex that the tree will have through out its life. You will now have to develop branches within the apex..It will need to ramify..In other words, there should be several small branches coming off that new apex to form a nice well ramified apex. This can sometimes take many years.

I look forward to seeing some of your tree work

Rob
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