To chop or not to chop.

Yandrosxx

I've had the same debate for the past five years with a serissa I've had for ten years. I just couldn't make up my mind and then . . . last night while trimming branches, I just cut it off!

And I'm so glad I did it. Man does it look better and what was pretty mundane is actually a pretty interesting tree now.

My wife even commented on it, which is highly unusual.

The thing is, your gut is often right and your mind just gets in the way.

As to your decision, I'd cut it off and add some dimension to the remaining pom pom through wiring. I don't think the cut off portion is worth saving.

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PatArizona

G'day Sho...

You said that "...there are a couple of nasty inverse tapers higher up the trunk..".

What about air-layering above the "...nasty inverse tapers...", leaving a branch for possible jinning?

It would cost you maybe 2 years...however, what is that in the life of TWO very nice bonsai?

Based purely on your pictures...that's what I would do...

I think you would be passing up a very good opportunity to have that second very nice bonsai.

Whatever you do, please show us your results...

Pat

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ShohinFan

Thanks for your thoughts Yandrosxx and Pat.

We've had a very late start to our Autumn here in South East Queensland and most of my trees are all still showing good strong growth, though the elms can't decide whether to drop their leaves or produce new buds, with both occuring at the same time on all of them. As such, I've been so tempted to go ahead and make the changes to this little baeckea but fear that temps will start to fall soon enough, so will exercise some restraint and wait until the spring.....sigh.
I will post pics after the surgery.

ShohinFan

Thought I'd post an after photo of my Baeckea (Babingtonia) and show how the tree looks after it's chop and pot change.
I'm pleased with the outcome and especially the movement in the new trunk and would be very grateful for any input about developing the branching in these trees. They have a profusion of very thin stems which shoot in every direction and I'm finding it difficult to not end up with a 'clipped poodle' look.

Mark

Attached Images

S6000008 (467 x 550).jpg (41.1 KB, 51 views)

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Victrinia_Ensor

Sahweeet bunjin! I love the movement and the transformation! Well done!

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Salvelinus

Wow . . . Awesome transformation. I did not predict the upward movement of the trunk you have created, but I think it works very well for this tree. I also agree about the pot choice--definite improvement--but I think that a shallower pot would add even more power to this trunk. OTOH, I have no idea about what this species needs as far as soil volume, so a smaller pot may be out of the question.

As I said above, I have absolutely no knowledge about the horticultural aspects of this tree; sorry I can't help you more. I agree with you, however, that the "poodle" look needs to be avoided if at all possible. Right now you have an awesome trunk ending in a pom-pom.

Here's a suggestion, but again I don't know if this will work with this species: What about going into that canopy and layering out the branches--opening them up a bit to create some definition? Create some space to "let the birds fly through" and move toward a roughly triangular outline. I'll mess around with a virtual and see if I can get my ideas across visually.

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Salvelinus

Here is a very rough virt. of my thoughts. I shortened the container to increase the visual size of the lower trunk and add power. I tried to develop the foliage a bit, extending the right lower branch down a bit to give some balance to the right-to-left movement of the trunk, and tried to give a roughly triangular shape to the crown while still keeping to the deciduous growth pattern. What I cannot show is my desire to create horizontal "pads" of foliage, or layers, to the crown.

Anyway, that is my two cents. Good luck with the tree, and again, nice work thus far! Oh, and PLEASE keep us posted!

Attached Images

S6000008 (467 x 550) virt.JPG (27.3 KB, 17 views)

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Namaste,

--Scott ><>

"There seems to be no survivors to interview, but I suspect [kamakazi pilots] did not shout 'traytree' the moment before their personal sacrifice." -Herb Gustafson