Chinese Quince

There's been a lot of Quince action on this forum just lately and as I didn't have one I was feeling a little left out

So, when I popped down the local garden centre and noticed that they had some Chaenomeles Speciosa for sale I decided I'd better join the in crown and get myself one!

They weren't great material, just regular nursery shrubs but I managed to find one with some interesting movement in the trunk some taper and at least a little flair at the base. The branches were pretty gawky though.

This is the tree as purchased.



I had nothing better to do this afternoon so I thought I'd see if I could turn this "stick in a pot" into something that looked a bit like a bonsai!

I decided I'd try for a deciduous literati style but I've ended up with more of a weeping cherry effect.

This is my basic styling effort.



As the flower buds are already starting to open I figured it was perhaps a little late to do a full bare root re-potting but I eased it out of its pot to take a look and found that the roots were all in the top third of the soil anyway so I tried it in a training pot. I raked out the old soil (but didn't wash it) and I managed to fit the roots in the new pot with virtually no pruning so hopefully it wont object to this treatment?

Any how this is what I've ended up with so far.





Obviously the branch position still needs tweeking a bit (I ran out of daylight). I'll doubtless have another play with this tomorrow but overall I'm quite pleased with it as it's really just a bit of "instant bonsai" fun. Looking forward to some flowers too!

Constructive criticism welcome as always.

Regards

Richard

Richard

Not bad I would say. If it was mine I would have kept less branches though.
Regarding the flower buds starting to open in relation to the repotting, perhaps you would like to read the answer I was given when I asked a relative question here https://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t16433-chaenomeles-flowering-quince-first-repot#167267

considering that is a one day tree, i would say you had a pretty fun day !

the more i look at it though, i might have angled it the opposite way so that the heavy branch near the top would hang downwards rather than jut upwards... at the current angle it almost looks "toppley" (for lack of a better term)

and ditto re: a couplafew less branches

Thanks

I had seen your thread but not since it was updated with photos! Really nice flowers, hope mine are half as good as that.

Regarding the branches, yes, I could easily lose a few in fact a lot less branches and more of a literati effect was what I started out intending for this tree but I got carried away. Still, it's far easier to remove stuff than to have to grow new so I'll keep on refining it through out the season and see what I end up with.

This was very much a first styling and of course more branches will hopefully mean more flowers.

Cheers

Richard

Thanks Kevin, yep it was fun and to be honest it turned out a bit better than I was expecting but for sure it will need continuous refinement (don't they all).

regards

Richard

whoops looks like we cross posted

Now quinces are terrific....
and quinces are fun
and it looks as if your were quinced before this day was done!

Welcome to the quince club.....


I bought 8 fuji's today, that are destined for a derek aspinal pot, once all danger of frost is gone.We're having a early and mild spring here and a fear consequences for repotting till we get past the danger of some late hard winter....

Cheers Dick

Your right, I've been well and truly quinced!

Nice job. I think I'd recommend total removal of the two thickest (and longest) branches up top. Then, let it be and enjoy it for a growing season.

JimLewis wrote:Nice job.  I think I'd recommend total removal of the two thickest (and longest) branches up top.  Then, let it be and enjoy it for a growing season.

thats probably... no... thats for sure a better suggestion than mine.

I'm hopeful at some stage you'll find a glazed pot that will compliment the color of your blooms. quince is an informal style of bonsai and unglazed pots pots don't seem
to display it's true character. I realize yours is in it's training stage but will be a good time to begin the hunt for the perfect size/colored pot.

Thanks for the comments/advice folks.

Jim, removing the top two branches is definitely something I'll consider. A much simpler "literati" style was my original intention and the top branch in particular does look a bit contrived. Perhaps I'll do a virtual to see how it looks. Thanks for the suggestion.

Dick, yes I was thinking about a glazed pot. I'm assuming the flowers will be pink/red. If so perhaps a turquoise, pale blue or cream?

Any how I've got at least a year if not two to look for one (but it never hurts to be on the look out).

Cheers

Richard