Chengal replica - asian giants

working on this at the moment.
haven't found a suitable pot yet.

I like it, please update when it's leafed out and when you find a pot.

GerhardGerber, nice of you to pass encouraging comments.
will definitely post more pictures.
  

a few years ago, it was in this pot.
then, had a change of plan.
.. may go back to using the same pot again.

rolex dragon wrote:a few years ago, it was in this pot.
then, had a change of plan.
.. may go back to using the same pot again.

I think a lot of people would find that tree boring, but if you find the right, shallow enough pot it should have a very powerful feeling.
Looking at the old photos it seems like the trunk has thickened over the years.

PRIZED POSSESSION :
Scientists dwarfed by the chengal tree, which has been acknowledged by the Malaysia Book of Records as the biggest in the country.

I love it. What does the nebari look like? Do you think making the canopy a bit larger might help? I know traditional wisdom says reducing the crown makes the tree appear larger, but I feel with this tree a larger crown might make it feel larger. A wider crown would allow you to use a wider pot. This tree looks like it needs a stable, shallow pot to shine, but the trunk is so thick and strong you couldn't go too shallow. Making the pot wider would allow you to keep it deep enough to balance the trunk while giving it the stability it needs visually. I think a larger crown would help all around. What do you think?

bottasegreta wrote:I love it.  What does the nebari look like?  Do you think making the canopy a bit larger might help?  I know traditional wisdom says reducing the crown makes the tree appear larger, but I feel with this tree a larger crown might make it feel larger.  A wider crown would allow you to use a wider pot.  This tree looks like it needs a stable, shallow pot to shine, but the trunk is so thick and strong you couldn't go too shallow.  Making the pot wider would allow you to keep it deep enough to balance the trunk while giving it the stability it needs visually.  I think a larger crown would help all around.  What do you think?

dear bottasegreta,

tq for your time and comment.  
I intend to work on the nebari
after moving it out of its training pot.
I have to place some stones on the surface
because squirrels are digging looking for fallen small edible fruits.
I have enlarged the picture for you to see
and comment further.

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I really don't know how the canopy of a Chengal tree looks like.
So, this is from my own imagination and what the plant can grow into.
What drew me to replicate the Chengal are pictures from the net;
such as the one below:
the sheer girth size and
the massive, vertical trunk.







Finally the pot, I agree and like a shallow, wide pot.
Hope to find one that will suit.
 

I looks like from the image of the tree in the last pot that you've actually potted it lower in the soil to hide the rather unattractive nebari? Have you considered air layering the tree right at the current soil level? That could give you a very nice radial nebari, and should cause some swelling at the base to give it a strong flair like what you see in the chengal tree photo.

Update 2018

I do not like the crossing roots. The current surface roots don't support the trunk. An airlayer may help as it promotes swelling at the base. On the other side the flare of the Chengal tree seems to be formed by the buttress roots. Not sure how long it can take to form that from tiny roots you will get from an airlayer.

Apart from that. A great tree.

That’s the best I could achieve .
Any comments on improving the nebari?

TonyRoch wrote:That’s the best I could achieve .
Any comments on improving the nebari?

There are several methods for improving the nebari.
Approach grafts
Thread grafts
Layering
I would go with the suggestion of Vladimir, layering the trunk.

Thank you Nellie and Vladimir

Based on your last pics I think that layering and root threadgrafting are the options to improve the quality of the nebari.

The side opposing the crossing root does look reasonably OK to me. The one with crossing root - there is a smaller root below this crossing one - there is an option to remove the upper crossing one in several steps. Doing it in steps should give the lower one a chance to take over so there is no threat to the branches on this side of the crown. Not sure if there are any other small roots on this side. If so - I would just try to promote their growth while reducing the strenght of the roots on the other side by pruning (roots and branches ). You may also get a sacrifice branch on the side where you want to have faster growth of roots. In case there are not small roots - then a thread graft of roots using a suitable seedlings should be an option.

An airlayer followed by a selection of main roots and their cultivation should make it better. But I do not know anything about this species and its reaction to the airlayer.

thanks Vlad.
appreciate it

Anyone with a better method to repair soil erosion?

google: Bonsai Muck

Perhaps it is time for better shape as pots go ?

Also a repot to shape the soil for the next stage?

I would suggest if this tree is new to you, 3 to 5 cuttings / seedlings
to test for best soil mix and how thirsty this tree is.
In case you can go more shallow as pots go.

Never experiment on the main effort.
Until,
Khaimraj