Suggestion For Styling A Pistacia Lentiscus ("mastik Tree") Bonsai ???

erezbt

Hello all,
My name is Erez, I am from Israel and I am new to the forum.
I have been reading a lot of the discussions held here for the last few weeks and really learnd a lot...

I have a 5-7 years old Pistacia Lentiscus ("Mastik"/Lentisc) tree. I have the tree for about 3 monthes now.

I am a ware of some (out of probably many) faults of the tree: The lower bar-branches, the fact that there are'nt many branches. However I think the tree has a nice trunk and a fairly decent nebari.

The tree dimensions: hight ~40cm, width 40cm

I have attached 3 pictures of the tree and maybee you can give me some of your insights and suggestions as to possible styling of the tree (if something good can be made of it at all....)

Thanks

Erez

Advertisement

erezbt

Sorry....
Picture No. 1

Attached Images

pistacia1.jpg (64.1 KB, 193 views)

erezbt

Picture No. 2

Attached Images

pistacia2.jpg (57.6 KB, 189 views)

erezbt

Picture No. 3

Attached Images

pistacia3.jpg (64.5 KB, 176 views)

Treebeard

Hi Erez, welcome to bonsaiTALK.

Your pistacia looks like it will make a fine informal broom bonsai. The bar branches you mention do not bother me, they are of different thicknesses and come from the trunk at different angles. Some might dislike them but I think they are OK.

I am hesitant to make any further styling suggestions without knowing much about pistacia... perhaps someone with knowledge of these can offer an opinion/help/tips?

Regards,

TB

__________________
"Do not be hasty, that is my motto"
-JRR Tolkien, The Two Towers.
-----------------------------------
christopherguise.co.uk

treenut

Hi Erez, your tree does have some potential, if possible I would try and wire some curves into those lower branches, and try and compact your tree to a more appealing denser rounder shape.

ps. were you drunk when you took those photos, they're atrocious.

Attached Images

pistacia1.jpg (35.2 KB, 114 views)

erezbt

Thank a lot treebeard, treenut for you comments

P.S treenut:
I noted your remark: As soon as I'll manage to improve my bonsai skills (which are currently not existant) I will attend to improve my photographing skills.......

Erez

Carl_Bergstrom

Dear Erez,

Welcome to the forum. Don't mind treenut; he's friendlier than he looks. (After all, otherwise he wouldn't have bothered to put together a nice virtual for you.)

I don't know this species, so like Treebeard I want to be bit cautious in my suggestions. That said, I agree that it'll make a fine broom style tree. If it were my tree, I'd basically start trying to work the roots down, and move it to a shallower pot. A smooth round oval, probably glazed, would look very nice.

I don't know how this species responds to pinching/pruning, but the other thing to do would be to keep working on developing the ramification. I think that after a repot the tree will look very nice, and after a few years, you'll have a real gem on your hands.

With my best regards,
Carl

__________________
In love with trees

pdbbonsai

Hi Erez,

Welcome!! I think (as the rest have noted) that you have a fine start already on this tree. Everyone has already given the same advice that I would have suggested given what I know about the species...which is minimal.

I know you haven't had this tree very long, but has it flowered for you yet?

Paul

__________________
It is essential to experience all the times and moods of one good place. (Thomas Merton)

BonsaiTalk is one good place. (me)