Hinoki Cypress, six years in training

31-Mar-2008

october

bonsaiTALK Master

Join Date: Jul-2006

Location: massachusetts

Country: United states

Posts: 350

Hinoki Cypress, six years in training

This is a Hinoki cypress that I have been training for about 6 years. It was one of my first styling attemps. I consider myself lucky that it is turning out pretty well because 6-7 years ago, I had very little bonsai experience. Also, these trees are very unforgiving. Anybody who has worked with these trees knows that they will not bud back on old wood. It only grows from where it is green.

When I first purchased this tree from a local garden center ( paid maybe $32 ) it was essentially just a bush. I noticed, even back then, a beautiful slight curve to the lower trunk. I took it home and used my practically non existent, at the time, knowledge of styling and clipped away a few branches...lol really didn't know about wiring at that point either. Anyway, I left quite a bit of foliage on it becasue of my lack of knowledge. Which actually worked out well considering me learning down the road that it would never back bud.

After this first styling, it was taken from the 3 or 5 gallon nursery container and put in a grow pot. Not a very good one though. It stayed in this grow pot for about 3 years. It survived, but didn't do well. I would lightly prune here and there. About 2 or so years ago, it was put in its first bonsai pot. A slightly over sized bonsai pot. This is when it started to flourish. Within one year, it bushed out with fresh new foilage and filled the whole pot with feeder roots. A year or so later, it was replanted in the same pot a little deeper to cover up the slight reverse taper.

Recently, I actually went through the whole tree and broke down all the pads and fine wired. Basically, the whole tree is currently wired, except the trunk. Here is the progression pic series. Unfortunately, I do not have much from the middle years of the development, nor the tree in its original container. However, you can still get some idea of the progression.

All comments welcome. I love hinoki cypress' and would love to see other artists work with Hinoki's. Also, if you are wondering what the rock is doing there. I relaize it doesn't belong. However, I put it there when I first began work on it 6 years ago. Everytime I go to remove it, I think, well, its been there since the beginning, why seperate them now lol.........

Attached Images

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31-Mar-2008	#2
Hawthorn bonsaiTALK Craftsman Join Date: Mar-2008 Location: Olympia, Washington Country: USA Posts: 91	Good show! It's a good thing you were able to hide the reverse taper, that was quite distracting. I would maybe be tempted to plant it out and ground layer it to get rid of the reverse taper and build some nebari, but that would be a hard decision after 6 years of hard work.. And truthfully I dunno how this species responds to layering anyhow, just an idea. But I really like what you've done so far!

31-Mar-2008	#3
october bonsaiTALK Master Join Date: Jul-2006 Location: massachusetts Country: United states Posts: 350	Thanks Hawthorn.....Its funny you said that about the air layerering. My teacher suggested that air layering could be an option, providing if we couldn't adequetely hide the reverse taper. However, after the last repot. We both looked at it and said. Not too bad....... I will probably never do an air layer on it though. I mean, the reverse taper is almost non existent now. If I ever want to go to a shallower pot, which would look better. I could always plant it so it mounds above the pot and if its ever shown, some moss at the base. Wouldn't mind getting some nebari, but hey, sometimes, you can't have it all lol. Anyway, knowing how it will not bud back on old wood, I am apprehensive to air layer it. I, as well, am not sure how they air layer. However, I will just be patient and let the tree do its thing. I am in no hurry and so far, my no hurry attitude has really benefitted this tree. Thanks again for the comment. Rob

31-Mar-2008	#4
Victrinia_Ensor Bonsai mai-farli-bene Join Date: Nov-2005 Location: Bremerton, WA Country: USA USDA Zone: 8b AHS Heat Zone: 3 Posts: 1,389	Well done! I love this tree more and more with each year that it gains. It's such a nice tree. I love the soft rounded crown on it... I too think that the repot settled a lot of the issues with the reverse taper. Frankly I'd rather have no visible nebari, than a visible reverse. The nicest thing about this tree is... it's only going to get better. Your friend in all things, Victrinia __________________ Ms. Vic Le belle cose prendono tempo... www.elandangardens.com

31-Mar-2008

Hawthorn

bonsaiTALK Craftsman

Join Date: Mar-2008

Location: Olympia, Washington

Country: USA

Posts: 91

Quote:

Originally Posted by october

Thanks Hawthorn.....Its funny you said that about the air layerering.

No problem, but just to clarify I was thinking more along the lines of a "ground layer", as described here: http://bonsai4me.com/AdvTech/ATNebari.html If you placed the tourniquet right on top of the existing roots you wouldn't risk losing much height and it could indeed fatten up the badly tapered part of the trunk.. Once again, love what you've done with it as it is..

I do agree, no nebari is much better than reverse taper

Last edited by Hawthorn : 31-Mar-2008 at 08:50 PM.

1-Apr-2008	#6
anttal63 bend me twist me Join Date: Jul-2006 Location: melbourne Country: australia Posts: 1,597	very nice oct good work. __________________ Antonio . . . ------------------------------------

1-Apr-2008	#7
Dav4 bonsaiTALK Master Craftsman Join Date: Jan-2005 Location: SE Massachusetts Country: USA USDA Zone: 6 AHS Heat Zone: 4-5 Posts: 512	Nice tree, Rob. I've found Hinokis to be nice trees to work with, despite their lack of back budding. As mentioned before, planting it deeper was a great idea. With luck, it may throw some roots closer to the surface. Dave

1-Apr-2008	#8
mistermoyogi mistermoyogi Join Date: Feb-2005 Location: Northern West Virginia Country: USA USDA Zone: Zone 5B AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 592	Very nice work....thanks for sharing the photo. essay... It is not the easiest of species to work with. Regards, Tom

1-Apr-2008