Jacaranda CHOP........Need Help

tree bender

My plan is to chop this tree in the spring..... Not sure what part of the trunk would be the best place. It's my first Jac. Ideas or suggestions would be great.

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dbz12fan

I don't see a reason to chop this tree.

Can you give us an idea on what you are planning to do? You have wired to the top so it seems you want to keep all of the trunk.

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Charles Bevan
Vero Beach, Fl

BrianBay9

I'm curious about this species. Is this tree commonly used for bonsai? How do you deal with those big compound leaves?

Brian

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Bonsai-gecko

You can layer the tree if you want to also Bender. They air-layer pretty easily. I've got 2 jacarandas that way myself. 1 was an air layer from the other. Though I have yet to figure out where i'm going with my jacaranda's style too.

The few jacarada bonsai that I have seen have mostly been forest arangements. Their sparce branching and compound leaves tend to lend themselves towards that style.

The leaves can be reduced to only a few inches long if the tree is kept in full sun and watered just enought to keep the leaves from wilting. It takes some time to get a feel for it. I'm working on trying to induce branching on mine and find that they have to be cut back fairly hard, and that usually if 2 or more buds start to grow, the weaker shoots will stop growing or die off if they are not kept very close to each other in vigor by pinching back the stronger growing shoot.

tree bender

This is the look I'm going for... Just don't know how to get there..
Thanks for the responses....

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jacaranda_bonsai.jpg (29.5 KB, 304 views)

dbz12fan

I don't really consider what you would do a chop on this tree. It is more of a snip with scissors to snip that new growth off of the top.

I don't think you could reach your goal quickly unless you put it in a larger pot and let it grow freely.

__________________
"Success demands understanding"-Andy Rutledge

Charles Bevan
Vero Beach, Fl

DavidN

tree bender
In australia these trees are very common and I've had a go with them. They bud back very easily after chopping however with your tree you only need to do some reduction. I'd suggest you cut back some where along the green part of the trunk. You will get lots of budding below that point.

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tree bender

suggest you cut back some where along the green part of the trunk. You will get lots of budding below that point. [/B][/QUOTE]
When you say CUT BACK What exactly do you mean? Can you do a virtual? I'm an idiot....HEhe
thanks

DavidN

tree bender
I believe you have two options in where to cut it. See picture below. I personally would go for the lower cut as I know these grow back strongly and you can control more of the top growth.

David

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