A couple of little Progressions and Hi IBC

Hello IBC.

Being my first post I should start off with (the obvious, an introdruction) my name is David and I am from Sydney, Australia, Hi ! (I feel like I should say G'day). Anyways, I have been a long time admirer of Bonsai, but I'm a mere baby as an enthusiast. To me there is something about Bonsai that I find unique, fascinating and many other things (but I find it is better to digress these other things in person, so it doesn't get lost in the explanation as it hard to describe in words alone, without emotion).

I have recently put together a couple of progression videos from photo's on a couple of trees in my collection. One of them is a Japanese Black Pine and the other a Port Jackson Fig (a native to me region). The reason what prompted me to do so is that its very hard to get the depth of a tree from a two dimensional photo and with that in mind I used a movie option on the phone to capture the whole tree. I then added some previous photos of each tree to a timeline and the rest is history. The video's are nothing special, my first attempts to be honest into this foray, but I think they convey the tree as best it can with my novice knowledge.

This one is the Pine vid. It has never been in the ground since I had it and has lived its life in a pot (to be honest, I'm surprised I hadn't killed it):


*Please not that if you have sensitive ears, either have the sound down low or even on mute as the music wont be everyones 'cup of tea'.

This vid is on the Fig. Its only a baby but thought it would be fun it compling its progression so far:



Both trees are by no means ready for display, they have a few years of growth at least to fill out and mature at least but I would like to think they're on a good path.

Any feedback or comments would be appreciated and I look forward to reading them.

Cheers

David

David,

welcome to the IBC, you may wish to take some time and dive throw the archives.

As to the trees, I like both of them. Doing well. The videos, as I looked at them on the IBC page, could have been a bit more crisp. I would if you have the time, like to see the black pine especially, as still,

Anyhow, hopefully the others will chime in.
Later.
Khaimraj

Hi David, normaly only the surface roots are shown, with these 2 trees half the rootball seems to be above groundlevel. Why did you pot them up so high?
You defoliated the Ficus twice this year, aren't you weakening the tree this way? I know you have 2/3 grow seasons, but still....

cheers, Wessel

Khaimraj Seepersad wrote:David,

welcome to the IBC, you may wish to take some time and dive throw the archives.

As to the trees, I like both of them. Doing well. The videos, as I looked at them on the IBC page, could have been a bit more crisp. I would if you have the time, like to see the black pine especially, as still,

Anyhow, hopefully the others will chime in.
Later.
Khaimraj

Hi Khaimraj,

Thank you for your kind words. I had some spare time today and have made another pine video (I think it has a much better song with it) and there are extra photo's in it. The 360' view still is the same, until I upgrade my equipment that part wont improve. Also I have uploaded some photos of the pine you requested.




*front


*left side


*back


*Right side


*Overhead

In the photos the crown does need to come down, which I intend on doing, but I think its magnifyed by the camera looking up towards it.

Weeijk wrote:Hi David, normaly only the surface roots are shown, with these 2 trees half the rootball seems to be above groundlevel. Why did you pot them up so high?
You defoliated the Ficus twice this year, aren't you weakening the tree this way? I know you have 2/3 grow seasons, but still....

cheers, Wessel

Hi Wessel,

I do agree with you that both trees are potted too high at the moment, with the pine I will have to confess, from when I bought it in the early 90's up until 2009, it had only been repotted once, it was never fed, plus I hadn't a clue on what I was doing, which I think is obvious lol. The fact its alive is a miracle in itself. I personally don't mind how the roots are currently, for this tree. I do intend on bring it down more gradually overtime, but I will try to keep a little bump.

With the Fig, I have pushed it so far this season yet it hasn't looked back. A few of my Figs that I defoliated early (perhaps a little too early this year) in August have not skipped a beat, but they will be left alone for the remainder of the growing season, kept in check but nothing drastic.


*Current pic of the Fig


*Virt showing my intended direction. The nebari being dealt with, planting angle 5' to the left and the pot not as wide with it maybe being glazed.

Any comments or feedback are greatly appreciated.

Cheers

David

I do agree with you that both trees are potted too high at the moment, with the pine I will have to confess, from when I bought it in the early 90's up until 2009, it had only been repotted once, it was never fed, plus I hadn't a clue on what I was doing, which I think is obvious lol. The fact its alive is a miracle in itself. I personally don't mind how the roots are currently, for this tree. I do intend on bring it down more gradually overtime, but I will try to keep a little bump.

Did you ever tried pondbaskets for your trees, they are wunderfull in getting a small throughly rooted rootball. In that way its easy to plant the tree lower and in a smaller pot. check my thread about my larch forest, the rootball on the biggest tree was only 8 cm in diameter and about 2,5 cm high when it was planted in the forest.
https://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t12186-larix-forest#127513

keep us posted, Wessel