Hedera - defoliation, cleaning, remake...slowly coming in super fit form

This tree was started from a thin branch. It is 18 years in training. It also endured all of my beginners mistakes. And survived! Not only survived but flourished and became a beautiful and unique piece. Not many Hedera bonsai trees, don't you think so?

More photos and story here: http://sandevbonsai.blogspot.com/2013/07/my-famous-tree-full-review-cleaning.html

http://sandevbonsai.blogspot.com/2011/04/hedera-my-forest-friend-in-his-spring.html

VIDEO: http://sandevbonsai.blogspot.com/2011/05/video-sandevbonsai-technics-defoliation_29.html

BEFORE LEAF CUTTING...A BIT NEGLECTED FROM EARLY SPRING


WITHOUT LEAVES


MY WIFE IS CHECKING IF THE WORK WAS DONE PROPERLY


I SEE YOU!

That is probably the best Ivy I have ever seen. I don't know how much more ramification you can get from this species. Awesome work.

Well, can be done a bit better...especialy lower left branch. I'm glad you like it

Gives me hope for mine.

Superb! Can you post a photo when it leafs back out and isn't so shaggy as before trimming?

Zach

Of course. Photo with fresh new small leaves is coming soon

beautiful, sebastijan.

best wishes, sam

Great work Sebastian, this is a really nice tree. Must feel good that you have worked on it so long and to see it look so good.

Amazing Hedera!

I googled 'Hedera bonsai' after seeing this because I was quite sure I had never seen anything this impressive but had never really looked. I was right. What an impressive, old looking tree made from a vine.
In my search I did see the International Bonsai Academy video with Walter Palls ideas of pot selection for this tree. I'm curious to know why you chose this current pot?

Thanks, Mike

Thank you all for your nice words. This tree showes a very important fact in bonsai that just has to be stressed...one factor that you cannot fake or cheat is time. This little hedera seedling has been wired and cut many many times during almost 20 years period. It is not surprising that it came out like that. And also ...it is very veeery hardy. I am beginning to believe that it is undestructible. Why this pot??
I don't know. I just do things acording to my instinct. I wanted a plain and wide space beneath that cascading branch...that's it..o

Good enough reason for me. I like it, I was just curious. I'm still learning to style a cohesive design with the living material, let alone matching pots.

Thanks, Mike

MikeG wrote:still learning to style a cohesive design with the living material, let alone matching pots.

Thanks, Mike

If you allow me just a friendly advice...well not advice, more like a suggestion...
Learn and see a lot, read everything and listen to everybody...at the end do it your way and as you like it. Finally...you do bonsai for yourself...so, relax and indulge yourself..that is the best way to go

Hi Sebastijan,
This tree has a unique "Siren" quality to it; very alluring and seductive. I love it! Great job!
Todd

Wow, really good job! I gave up on mine ages ago - it's a garden plant now - should've persevered.

Good advise, btw, re bonsai for yourself. Thanks!

The branches and roots have a great similarity! Terrific bonsai, absolutely enchanting!

Oh well, thank you thank you...
I thought that only I can see beauty and power and charm in hedera bonsai....
Even more...I think that hedera is one fantastic species for bonsaj...cause it makes twists and turns in branches by itself and in most fantastic and natural way. Also it is extremely hardy...almost impossible to kill. Bark has beautiful texture and colour...you would see this if mine was cleaned before taking photos...
If you manage to create a trunk and to keep those twisty branches and bushy and wigorous growth under control ...than you can make beautiful and hardy tree full of character.
I remember one hedera tree from the cemetary...it is one meter high, very thick trunk...growes on the grave stone and the roots are grasping the stone tightly...it is pretty huge...looks ancient too.
Bottom line...fantactic species for bonsai. Shame it is so little in use.

Hi, is there any picture from the beggining? Thx

Beautiful!

JC

My Ivy in leaf after two weeks...

More here: http://sandevbonsai.blogspot.com/2013/07/hedera-in-leaf.html

and here: http://sandevbonsai.blogspot.com/2013/07/my-famous-tree-full-review-cleaning.html

Lovely tree. Quite amazing.
Jerry

Beautiful bonsai, a great job done in time. I think the most beautiful bonsai of this species of ivy.

Imiei compliments, Daniel