Non Traditional Species-Nandina Project

EarthgirlOK

Here's one that I bought from my local greenhouse. I loved it the first time I saw it, because I think it has potential. I didn't get it at the time, however, because having just bought the house, I couldn't justify the price to my hubby.

I went back this winter just to see if it was still there. They sold it to me for less than half price because it was "ugly." Plus, she knew what I was going to do with it.

Problems;

1. It's a nandina; therefore, not alot of wiring options.
2. Currently, the rootball is huge. Might not want to reduce it too fast.
3. It actually has two trunks that come up from the base. Either I will have to lose one or make it a twin trunk.
4. Possible danger of reverse taper where the two trunks separate.
5. Further limiting my options is the reclining trunk. It measures four inches across if left in its current position. If it is planted at a new angle, major work might have to be done.

Strengths;

1. Unusually substantial base for this species.
2. Beautifully fissured bark, which is again, rarely seen with these in zone 6.
3. Colorful and delicate foliage in all seasons-if I can pull it off, I might be able to mimic the lacy canopies of Japanese Maples.
4. A striking sweep in the base-just what do I do with it though?

Now, as you can see, the cons out number the pros. BUT, I just like this particular plant. So, in this case, I went with my "gut" and we'll see how it looks by the end of March after it gets its first styling.

:::EDIT:::...And a virt for maybe the first few stages of styling.

Attached Images

	Nandina Full View 2.jpg (38.4 KB, 147 views)
	Nandina Base 1.jpg (53.0 KB, 120 views)
	Nandina Full View Side 2.jpg (41.5 KB, 115 views)
	Nandina Full View Side 2 Virt 1.jpg (24.4 KB, 216 views)

__________________
Sonlight NurseryGreen Country Bonsai Society

Advertisement

Aaron_K

Hi Michelle,

I did a quick web search for Heavenly/Sacred Bamboo and found a link with some information on the species.

Apparently some varieties respond well to bonsai techniques and some hard pruning might be needed here to restore the line of the tree and get the taper under control.

The colours are lovely and the bark is awesome. It will be very interesting to see how this one develops.

All the best,

Aaron

__________________
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Muriel Strode

Vulpes pilum mutat, non mores!

"A fox may change its skin but never its character"

Aaron_K

Just focusing on the trunk for the moment, but I thought I saw this in there somewhere.

Depending on how flexible those branches/leaders are, you might be able to bend them outwards to develop the primary branches of a domed canopy. If not - concave cutters at the ready

Attached Images

trunk-virt.jpg (40.9 KB, 102 views)

__________________
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Muriel Strode

Vulpes pilum mutat, non mores!

"A fox may change its skin but never its character"

ChrisM

or maybe using the apex you used and the lower part of the trunk that aaron and i seem to have focused on, something like this? it would require trunk chopping around the area in the second picture.

chris

Attached Images

	Picture1.JPG (20.3 KB, 120 views)
	Picture.JPG (16.4 KB, 62 views)

__________________
A bonsai is like a good marriage.You commit, for better or for worse, till death do you part. I DO!!!

plant_dr27

I concidered bonsai-ing one of these one time...it was a very old gnarly looking specimen that I had removed from a re-landscaping job I did once. It was beautiful, but it had about 10-15 trunks instead of just two to worry about. I wish you luck on yours!

Maybe something like this... a few years down the road?

Attached Images

nandina virt.JPG (31.9 KB, 142 views)

__________________
"I calculated the odds of this succeeding versus the odds I was doing something incredibly stupid, and... I went ahead anyway" Crow T. Robot, MST3K

zenwarrior

In order to that that puppy in scale I think you should go with plant_dr27's
suggestion. Should be fairly easy to achieve I imagine.

__________________



Failure is the key to success; each mistake teaches us something.

-Morihei Ueshiba

EarthgirlOK

Thanks everyone! I do like the idea of shortening it. I will be careful this spring, because you can always cut more but you can't fix a bad chop. So, I will try and post a step by step pruning to show the process my thinking takes when I have the concaves in hand.

Right now I'm liking Chris's take on it, but it's going to take a longer period of time to acheive that version.

It's great to get some fresh eyes looking at it though.

__________________
Sonlight NurseryGreen Country Bonsai Society

ChrisM

earthgirl, i am glad you like what i saw, but i think the plantdr. has a better view of it, thinner foliage on that truck would look very nice. keep us updated on this one, should be interesting to watch as it progresses.

chris

__________________
A bonsai is like a good marriage.You commit, for better or for worse, till death do you part. I DO!!!

zen

I have one of these it's tiny, this one is much nicer. I read that you can cut these right down to the ground if you want, and some say it's the only way to go about maintaining them. Good find and good luck.

__________________
"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)

http://www.bonsaiswap.com/