Can this Hinoki be saved?

Roosy

Found this at a work site the other day. Couldn't believe it! It's been there for god knows how long but I never noticed it until I was into Bonsai. I know it's looks pretty bad, but I thought it was worth keeping to see if anyone thinks it can be saved. I wouldn't know where to start but if anybody has any ideas i'd like to hear them. It still has a little bit of green foliage from the bottom to the top, so it must have some life left in it. Anyway, what do you think people? Can it be Saved?

Roosy.

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bmor

Hi Roosy. My experience with Hinoki's are that they are slow to grow and somewhat difficult to get "backbudding" on. My experience with them is from some that I've had in my yard and a couple that I have in training pots. Maybe others have differing thoughts or can offer more expansive information. I'm never one to discard a tree though, so maybe just put it in the ground for a few years and see what happens.

regards
B

TreeBay

Can it be saved - yes. Does it have redeeming qualities that make it worth using for bonsai? Probably not. The taper is very slow and it has few interior branches, which are characteristically difficult to promote in hinoki.

In my opinion, if you want it for a garden tree, that would an option, and some would argue that you're better off choosing a healthy plant for even that purpose. I have a couple that were in boxed landscape size (35 gallon+) containers way too long. They grew okay for almost ten years and then one died off and another strangled itself with its own roots. Meanwhile the one I bought in a five gallon container and planted 2 years later is fast surpassing its cousins, and I've cut it back twice.

P.S. If you want hinoki for bonsai - get the "nana" variety.

Regards,

Matt

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rockm

Definitely skip this sick, dying tree. It is of no bonsai value and is not long for this world. Nursing it back to health would take years. It probably has a rootball like a block of cement.

Additionally, hinokis do not back bud well, if at all. The branches you have are what you get. There will probably be no more. Especially if the tree starts dropping the ones it has. Chasing back old growth to get backbudding closer to the trunk will be a time consuming tedious process with this tree and can't begin until it's healthy. You'r e looking at a 5-10 year process of recovery and initial training for this poor tree. Your time, effort and money would be more wisely spent elsewhere.

Carl_Bergstrom

I concur with the previous posters - this one is a waste of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen.

But don't feel badly, Roosy. No one wanted to keep this Hinoki around either.

-Crow

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groan

The first hinoki looks like it may make a nice literati style, but only just.
The second Hinoki is now a member at my forum and is a great asset to the community.
it's unfortunate it got out of hand, but i suggest you keeo the hinoki's seperate. i am sure he still lurks and there is no use in sticking a dagger into an already open wound.

/over

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steez

I have the same kind of plant. maybe better foliage. I'm thinking windswept in a year. I've already done a bit of thinning and a couple Jins. I will post a pic soon

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hinoki.JPG (70.0 KB, 23 views)

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