Forsythia Project

Looking forward to seeing the flowers. What substrate did you use for this tree?

Thanks Tom,
The lower stump/base/core of the tree still has the garden soil around it but the roots were in a soil mix of; granite (chicken grit), shifted bark, black and red lava. After this weekend, now it's in approx. 80% pumice 20% potting mix. The top is just a dressing layer which is 100% pumice.
Cheers
Graham

Hi Folks,
Here is an update - ...I still need to grow the crown out more to be in a better relationship with the trunk....but this is a welcome sight after the long winter.
Cheers Graham

Very nice progress!

gman wrote:Hi Folks,
Here is an update - ...I still need to grow the crown out more to be in a better relationship with the trunk....but this is a welcome sight after the long winter.
Cheers Graham

Love this tree, very nice.

Personally I think this side is your better front. The shari still doesn't quite look natural to me yet.

Perhaps use a router, and make the tree hollow. Now that it has healed some you might be able to remove the central wood.

Thanks Leo, that's a great idea.
G

Our mild winter has things 4 weeks early this year..... So here is an update- still haven't done any more work on the shari.

beautiful progression but i agree w/ leo... also due to the man-made appearance of the deadwood (try some fire to age it )

i have wanted to play with one of these, but i heard that the branches of these are sort of hollow inside...
is that correct ? (you seem to have taken good care in bending them)
if so, do you think that will affect the longevity of the dead wood ?

besides fire, i think a preservative other than lime sulpher would be beneficial to the appearance as any deadwood that might occur naturally might not last long enough to turn bone-white...

Thanks Kevin,
Yes, the deadwood does need some work so I might even join the upper portion with the lower? I may try burning the deadwood or even lime sulfur with some Indian ink? The branches/main truck does get hollow as they age...... and you can see the hollowed out grove in the main trunk that was really soft.
Most of my friends-relatives (i.e. non bonsai enthusiasts) don’t comment on the trunk but are Amor ’d by the mass of yellow flowers and to me that’s my objective.
Cheers G.

I like the progress.

{removed silly question after I saw the thread continued on page 2}

gman wrote:T
Most of my friends-relatives (i.e. non bonsai enthusiasts) don’t comment on the trunk but are Amor ’d by the mass of yellow flowers and to me that’s my objective.
Cheers G.

i can dig it... i think we all make exceptions when flowering species are involved

i am ok with Leo Schordje, the second side is better, because your tree , for me , is to symetric, and the dead wood is on the front face


You have to give a direction at your tree with wires , like that?

abcd wrote:

imho -