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Bought a lovely Japanese Pagoda tree
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Author:  bluesky [ 06 Jul 2017, 20:57 ]
Post subject:  Bought a lovely Japanese Pagoda tree
I've been looking for an acacia pre-bonsai to develop partly because it should suit the climate here and also because I love the form of the african umbrella acacia.

But I haven't been able to find any. So I found this false acacia in the local garden centre - here they call it Acacia of Japan. It's really a Sophora Japonica, but see below*.
Image

Although it's very straight, I don't want a formal upright - I want to start with a broom style. After a couple of years when it has filled out I will consider either a weeping willow style, or an umbrella acacia.
First I must decide where to cut the trunk. Please, experts could you help me decide the best cut? Here I have pictured three possible cuts - with my scissors showing the cut line.

cut 1
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cut 2
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cut 3
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Thanks in advance for advice and opinions!


*and I just read that recently was DNA sequenced in Kew Gardens and is in fact not Sophora after all, but "Styphnolobium japonicum"
Author:  Gary Jones [ 06 Jul 2017, 22:27 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bought a lovely Japanese Pagoda tree
Once you've chopped it the trunk won't thicken much so you need to get the proportions right. A broom will basically have a set of branches coming from the top of the trunk so wherever you chop it will be the top of the main visible trunk. I would go with your lowest option or possibly lower still and then you'll spend some time growing the branches.
Author:  Brendan [ 07 Jul 2017, 10:56 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bought a lovely Japanese Pagoda tree
Agree with Gary - I'd cut at the lowest point where there are branches close together in height and circling the trunk as far as possible.

But before I did that I'd try and get an airlayer from the tree, as you could get 3 - 4 trees from that one if it layers well.
Author:  Brendan [ 07 Jul 2017, 10:57 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bought a lovely Japanese Pagoda tree
PS - super quick and easy flat-top acacia style can be developed from lonicera pileata.
Author:  bluesky [ 08 Jul 2017, 11:42 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bought a lovely Japanese Pagoda tree
Thanks guys for the advice. I will cut low and will be patient for the branches to thicken out!

I am also going to try the polistyrene trick for keeping the cuttings in water to see if they will root like that.
Author:  bluesky [ 01 Aug 2017, 22:59 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bought a lovely Japanese Pagoda tree - progress
So I chickened out and didn't cut it to the absolute lowest branches. Didn't know how easily or quickly it would give me new buds and leaves.
Image

Re. air layering - as I wanted to chop the main trunk already, I decided to put four cuttings in water held by a sheet of polystyrene, and three have continued to create new buds and leaves. The first signs of roots have already started in the water. Not sure if I should leave them in the water until strong roots have grown, or if I should already pot them. Could someone please give me some advice on when to move the cuttings from water to soil? Thanks! :200unsure:
Author:  bluesky [ 01 Aug 2017, 23:34 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bought a lovely Japanese Pagoda tree
ps- lonicera pileata, nice idea, I will look for it here. I seem to remember seeing one in the bonsai part of our local garden centre but at such a high price I would rather buy a decent young one and train it.
Author:  Brendan [ 02 Aug 2017, 12:07 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bought a lovely Japanese Pagoda tree
Not now, but once you get good growth then try this chop.

Before then I'd start by experimenting on the top section to see how you can promote budding at the long nodes, as that is necessary for the flt top design.

I'd also gently wire some movement into the lower branches that are going to be a part of the final design.

But you will not achieve the look you want unless you do more reduction:

Image2017-08-02_11-13-33 by BrendanR2012, on Flickr



BTW I stopped the cut there only because I can't see anything growing on the other side and figured you needed the one top branch. If there's something on the back then I might be tempted to go even shorter.

Have a look at these posts on IBC:

http://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t1634 ... a-galpinii

http://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t1246 ... neef-style
Author:  bluesky [ 03 Aug 2017, 10:14 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bought a lovely Japanese Pagoda tree
Thanks Brendan, that looks great. Will give it a go when the first branches have thickened out.

The IBC threads are inspirational - thanks!
Author:  bluesky [ 01 Sep 2017, 10:46 ]
Post subject:  Re: Bought a lovely Japanese Pagoda tree
Update.. leaves now growing back nicely. Trimmed the longer leaves to encourage more back budding.

Image

One low branch is already a gonner, another going the same way - at least no new buds yet but the branch is still green.
Image

Image

So I could still chop low-ish and leave three active branches. Or really low a but it will be sparse.
Perhaps I should wait til early spring now. We have about one more month of warmish weather here.
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