Radical Restoration

Mattbonsai · 03-23-2008, 09:51 AM

Hi all, This tree was given to me by my granddad a few years ago, and if I go by his word it is coming up for 40 years old now, I've always assumed its a Pinus, because to be honest until now I really haven't bothered with it because I had no idea what to do with it, but now I'm doubting it being a Pinus, any ideas?

I was messing around in the greenhouse today, where this was being stored along with the rest of my trees to protect them from the predicted 'winter storms' and I knocked it over and realised it had a really really bad root system, looks like most of them had died off, so I decided to do a repot.

When I had washed the roots off I had a sudden shot of inspiration, so I got it into a new pot, with a better soil (3:2:1 Cat litter, Kyodama, Orchid Bark), and started work.

And as per usual I got a wee bit carried away,

.

What do you think of its new shape.

Pic 1: Before
Pic 2: The bark
Pic 3-5: The tree (wasn't sure what pic worked best so used them all)

-Matt-

anttal63 · 03-23-2008, 02:34 PM

hey mat looks like a cedar maybe atlantic... now your off wtih it. some time later you need to introduce movement at the base either by changing planting angle or some hard bending if it has any flexability left down that low.

Ashley Barns · 03-23-2008, 04:29 PM

Matt apart from the sentimental attachment you have with this tree it now has no redeeming qualities. It probably would have been better left in its original state and styled from that perspective.

Ash

Mattbonsai · 03-23-2008, 05:03 PM

As far as I am aware it had no redeeming features other than the nice basal bark which has been kept, the tree was in a very poor state, with 99% of the foliage on 2 main branches, loads of die back, very little root, and a terrible slant that meant it could not be kept somewhere where the correct attention would be given to it, if left untouched the tree would of died, be it this year, next year, or the year after. Now the tree stands a chance or survival.

The main trunk going up the middle will be Jinned when the bent branches have set, as at the moment it is supporting them.

It's not strictly bonsai, more like one of those chinese ones that are meant to look like letters, or symbols. as long as it looks nice (which to my mind it does) I'm happy with it.

Phil · 03-23-2008, 06:44 PM

Well if you wanted a radical bend you certainly achieved one! Aside from the large branch that is supporting the wiring it looks as though that wired branch hit a guard rail at 120 mph! Not sure what Chinese character it will end up looking like but considering that there are well over a thousand I imagine it will be close enough to one of them!

~Phil

Ashley Barns · 03-23-2008, 06:53 PM

That's the spirit, as long as you are happy that's all that matters.

Ash

JTGJr25 · 03-23-2008, 07:10 PM

I agree. It may never be a bonsai but who says you cant keep it as more of a tree sculpture. As long as you like it then thats all that matters. Not everything has to be a bonsai.

Tom

Prowler · 03-23-2008, 09:23 PM

Matt
What happened after that first pic.?
To me me it looks as though it has been run over by a truck. !!
It was an old geezer, so why alter it.
A load of people would have been happy with it, strewth !! if you want an upright give me a shout, i will send you dozens of them to play about with. Cheers.

Pup · 03-23-2008, 10:05 PM

Matt!! it looks to me like a Pinus pinea (stone pine ) I have to they do shoot back well. After the footy I will look up a couple of pics Pup

Pup · 03-24-2008, 01:38 AM

Footy's over, The bombers won Yay. I have just taken some pics of my Pinus Pinea. Here are today's I will look for some early ones.

The reason I say Pinus is if you look at the foliage you have two types one is juvenile the other is mature the long typical pine like.
Ernie Kuo wrote an article on them in Bonsai today.
I looked but cannot remember I will look it up if you want it.He suggested a broom style as that is there natural growth. I'm not sure.

03-23-2008, 02:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
anttal63 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: melbourne victoria australia Posts: 155	hey mat looks like a cedar maybe atlantic... now your off wtih it. some time later you need to introduce movement at the base either by changing planting angle or some hard bending if it has any flexability left down that low. __________________ Antonio...... __________

03-23-2008, 05:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
Mattbonsai Tree Hugger In Training Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Cheshire, GB Posts: 810	As far as I am aware it had no redeeming features other than the nice basal bark which has been kept, the tree was in a very poor state, with 99% of the foliage on 2 main branches, loads of die back, very little root, and a terrible slant that meant it could not be kept somewhere where the correct attention would be given to it, if left untouched the tree would of died, be it this year, next year, or the year after. Now the tree stands a chance or survival. The main trunk going up the middle will be Jinned when the bent branches have set, as at the moment it is supporting them. It's not strictly bonsai, more like one of those chinese ones that are meant to look like letters, or symbols. as long as it looks nice (which to my mind it does) I'm happy with it. __________________ -Matt- http://www.cheshirebonsaisociety.org.uk/index.html R.I.P Our Great Friend - Prowler, 24th November 2008

03-23-2008, 06:44 PM	#5 (permalink)
Phil A bit "Windswept" Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Chicago, Ill. USDA Zone 5 Posts: 1,051	Well if you wanted a radical bend you certainly achieved one! Aside from the large branch that is supporting the wiring it looks as though that wired branch hit a guard rail at 120 mph! Not sure what Chinese character it will end up looking like but considering that there are well over a thousand I imagine it will be close enough to one of them! ~Phil __________________ Please, always keep in mind that the typewritten word does not always convey what you wish to say, and to always treat others as you would have them treat you. Think twice-submit once. I started out with nothing....and still have most of it. "Its hell out there, give them hell back." ~ Prowler/Victor Gray 12/31/1943 - 11/24/2008

03-23-2008, 09:23 PM	#8 (permalink)
Prowler Deceased: 11/24/2008 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Scotland Posts: 361	Matt What happened after that first pic.? To me me it looks as though it has been run over by a truck. !! It was an old geezer, so why alter it. A load of people would have been happy with it, strewth !! if you want an upright give me a shout, i will send you dozens of them to play about with. Cheers. __________________ Its hell out there, give them hell back.

03-23-2008, 10:05 PM	#9 (permalink)
Pup Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Perth suburbs Western Australia Posts: 406	Matt!! it looks to me like a Pinus pinea (stone pine ) I have to they do shoot back well. After the footy I will look up a couple of pics Pup __________________ G, day I live in western Australia I have been trying for the last 20+ years with some success to grow Bonsai. I am a perpetual learner and an advanced beginner

03-23-2008, 04:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
Ashley Barns Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Victoria. Australia Posts: 61	Matt apart from the sentimental attachment you have with this tree it now has no redeeming qualities. It probably would have been better left in its original state and styled from that perspective. Ash

03-23-2008, 06:53 PM	#6 (permalink)
Ashley Barns Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Victoria. Australia Posts: 61	That's the spirit, as long as you are happy that's all that matters. Ash

03-23-2008, 07:10 PM	#7 (permalink)
JTGJr25 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Jersey Posts: 230	I agree. It may never be a bonsai but who says you cant keep it as more of a tree sculpture. As long as you like it then thats all that matters. Not everything has to be a bonsai. Tom

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