Hinoki False Cypress

Spatch

Righto, first time posting photos. This is my first bonsai, a little Hinoki False Cypress that was given to me by my wife just after we got married 3 years ago. At that stage it had no shape, couldn't see any trunk, just a little round "shrub" (unfortunately no pics of back then).

It soon became apparent what I was going to do with it (for a while anyway) by whipping off a few branches & thinning out the lower section but couldn't decide what to do up the top so it was left to go wild for a while.

The next year, not much had changed but I repotted it into its current pot (previously in a very small bonsi pot).

This year I have been able to open up the top a bit more (pics to come, not yet down sized). The pic attached is from last July(2005). Hope you like it and open to any suggestions.

Cheers, Spatch

Attached Images

Hinoki-Cypress-07-2005.jpg (63.3 KB, 188 views)

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zen

Here's a quick virt,...just reducing the top and sides a bit, and repotting into a smaller pot over the next few years.
What I was essentially trying to acheive was more of a "tree" image, while maintaining pretty much the same image that you have going.

I originally posted this in "test" sorry mods.

Attached Images

Hinoki-Cypress-07-2005.jpg (21.4 KB, 99 views)

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"Although profoundly "inconsequential," the Zen experience has consequences in the sense that it may be applied in any direction, to any conceivable human activity, and that wherever it is so applied it lends an unmistakable quality to the work."

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soonami

looks good zen, if only there was a pot shrinking machine

zen

Honey I shrunk the pot. LOL

__________________
"Although profoundly "inconsequential," the Zen experience has consequences in the sense that it may be applied in any direction, to any conceivable human activity, and that wherever it is so applied it lends an unmistakable quality to the work."

~ Alan Watts (1915-1973)

Spatch

Yeah I know the pots a tad big atm but I deliberately did that in an attempt to promote some growth (both height & thickness) as the tree is only 15cm (6") tall by 22cm (9" wide).
Do people think I should keep it short or allow it to get grow. In the 3 years I've had it, its maybe grown an inch. I like its current size.
BTW, the photo showing its current status is still on its way (the wife has snuck off with the camera).
Chhers,

Spatch

Here are the before and after photos from this year. Any other suggestions welcome.

The forst image was July 05, the second was today, June 06.
Cheers,

Attached Images

	Hinoki-Cypress July 2005.jpg (63.3 KB, 46 views)
	Hinoki-Cypress-June-2006.jpg (72.0 KB, 84 views)

Mcspeed

I think a little taller, the pot is definately big, but ok for grwing a few years. The before image had more foliage at the base of the fisrt right branch disguising the long internode of the trunk between the second and third branches, which happens a couple other times on the way up to the apex. The internodes should get about a third shorter on the way up.

A couple of options occur to me, grow back the foliage and put the diguise back in place, and keep it pinched for the small tree, or a med. small tree and ...................


From the front you show, I would jin the first branch, it's kind of on an inside curve, not a terrible thing for this tree, but it's a little low for a taller tree, with the branch spacing that you have. Make the second branch the first, the third would become the second branch, and develope what looks like a back branch behind the current third branch into a new leader, where your new third branch and apex will come from. This will allow you to get the right internode length, and more movement to the trunk.

rockm

Pot needs to go. It's vastly too big. This not only looks strange, but you could run into root problems, as the excess soil will retain too much water. This can actually slow growth.

wabashene

Why not go for something a bit more dramatic like below.

TimR

Attached Images

spatch chamae.jpg (15.7 KB, 92 views)

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