1st post, 1st acacia.

Hi everyone.

This is my 1st post here. I'm a lowly 2 years into bonsai. I have about 10 trees all in various stages of training. Some Pencil thin Ficus in nursery pots, Maple and Celtis in the ground to thicken up, i big fat Ficus for "oppan banyan style" etc. none of them near the finished products i have in mind. but i digress

I have aqquired my 1st acacia. (I'm getting as much trees as my wife will allow me. lol)
And i would appreciate your input before i go ape on this tree and regret it.

Pretext:
- 2 years of flying solo... i have no shame in saying that what i know is potentially dangerous. (at least one tree has died )
- I will be going to the next local club meeting, take a tree and to try and learn more (thinking this would be a good candidate)
- I live in Cape Town South Africa, Summer is gone but Autumn is still pretty warm and growth is still happening on my other trees it seems, albeit at slower pace.  

Questions:
1. i have no idea if its safe to do root-work and pot it or if i should leave it in the bag till it goes dormant.  
2. the fact that i'm not sure on acacia growth habit trying to decide on a style and a front has got me scared. I've added some pics.

What I'm thinking for now:
for starters... in all choices that the 1st low branch could be cut short (4 or 5 inches maybe?) , wired upward a bit and made into a deadwood...

Your thoughts and advice are truly appreciated.

https://imgur.com/gallery/eqjC4/new

Glad to hear from you! Enjoy!

bump

Precarious wrote:bump

Thanks, maybe another one will help

volksieboi wrote:

Precarious wrote:bump

Thanks, maybe another one will help

tough crowd... was it something i said?

Post photo here....like to help, but...my climate conditions contain colossal snowbanks. Have you same? hehehehe...I wish you luck, good sir.

We've never been much for polls, I'm afraid. And I know from nothing about Acacia -- tho I think it might be a difficult subject.

I personally no little about acacia, I've lost most seedlings I've tried died before they were 2 years old.

But Andre Beaurain from western Cape of SA posted these threads:
maybe he will weigh in.

https://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t16345-andre-s-pierneef-style-acacia-galpinii

https://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t12465-acacia-burkei-pierneef-style

Leo Schordje wrote:I personally no little about acacia, I've lost most seedlings I've tried died before they were 2 years old.

But Andre Beaurain from western Cape of SA posted these threads:
maybe he will weigh in.

https://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t16345-andre-s-pierneef-style-acacia-galpinii

https://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t12465-acacia-burkei-pierneef-style

Thanks guys, reckon i'll PM him.

Volskieboi  welcome!

Your Black Monkey thorn, Senegalia burkei  (Acacia burkei ) is really good material.

Its too late to transplant out of the bag, leave it for august.  But you can prune.  Get rid of the bottom branch, and your tree will be on its way to a nice Pierneef.

The main branches is now already too straight and even, you also need ramification closer to the crown.  Dont worry about cutting them back hard, they respond very very quickly, and will still respond this season albeit autumn. If not it will bush out much quicker in spring. Just to be on the safe side bring the tree indoors at night so that the soil temperature in the bag doesn't drop too low, this way you will extend the season a little longer. But do take it outside again every morning till the leaves drop in about one months time.

This is what I will do know.  



Love and Light

Andre Beaurain wrote:Volskieboi  welcome!

Your Black Monkey thorn, Senegalia burkei  (Acacia burkei ) is really good material.

Its too late to transplant out of the bag, leave it for august.  But you can prune.  Get rid of the bottom branch, and your tree will be on its way to a nice Pierneef.

The main branches is now already too straight and even, you also need ramification closer to the crown.  Dont worry about cutting them back hard, they respond very very quickly, and will still respond this season albeit autumn.  If not it will bush out much quicker in spring.  Just to be on the safe side bring the tree indoors at night so that the soil temperature in the bag doesn't drop too low, this way you will extend the season a little longer.  But do take it outside again every morning till the leaves drop in about one months time.

This is what I will do know.  

Love and Light

Thanks Andre, much appreciated

I was thinking of doing some pruning for shape, but didnt really know where to start, you have given me much needed direction.

What is your experience with deadwood on this species, wild idea:

Looking from front #1, the though crossed my mind of the 1st low branch, chopping it somewhere and turning it into a deadwood branch as part of the design somehow

Your thoughts?

Its not a good idea.

The wood is too soft and will brittle away in time.. Acacias in nature almost never have dead wood, although I have seen one.... but it fell over already... when you see deadwood on a Acacia, it means its dead already.. hihihihihih

Love and Light

Andre Beaurain wrote:Its not a good idea.

The wood is too soft and will brittle away in time..  Acacias in nature almost never have dead wood, although I have seen one.... but it fell over already... when you see deadwood on a  Acacia, it means its dead already.. hihihihihih

Love and Light

Thanks for the tip. I've gone ahead and pruned where you suggested. Will post some pics soon and keep y'all updated on this one

Volksieboi, welcome.

I think you might enjoy the upcoming exhibition at Kirstenbosch:
I'm pretty sure you could take your tree in and ask one of the experienced growers doing demo's to show you the way.