Pyracantha semi cascade

Ive just repotted this Pyracantha and a small amount of trimming. I reckon its starting to take shape. Any advice would be gratefully recieved. This plant os from an air layering i did about 12 years ago.

Looks nice. If it was mine I would remove some branches to show the movement.

That's been 12 years since you layered it?

I'd start by doing a further repot and hopefully there are some better roots below the surface so that you can remove those ones that are protruding from the soil?   Also, what substrate are you growing it in?  It looks quite loamy and water retentive?  Perhaps try something more free draining - like Tesco Cat Litter?

I am not convinced that this is the right planting angle.  It looks like a tipped over tree rather than an upright centre with a semi cascade to the side.  

What does it look like from the other side?

I'd consider layering off the main trunk where your current scar sits, and using the small vertical branch below it as the new trunk in the centre. So set the layer approximately where the red line is, so that once it is off the new trunkline is where the black lines run:

2017-02-27_07-08-35 by BrendanR2012, on Flickr

Cheers Brendan.

Yes i layered it from a bush in my garden about 12 years ago.

I was planning on making a feature of those roots but, like you, ive never really been too sure about them.

are you serious about the cat litter !? Its in a pre-made bonsai soil with a bit of the old stuff mixed in. Its basically been in general purpose soil since i layered it so this should be better.

Ive considered reducing the height... (not been brave enough lol) Im going to let it do ts thing this season and see what emerges from the trunk. I quite lke your suggestion though of creating the new trunk form.

In the UK we use cat litter in bonsai quite a lot. It's molar clay. See this:

http://www.bonsai4me.co.uk/Basics/Basicscatlitter.htm


If it has been in potting soil for years I suspect the roots were neither busy nor fibrous nor plentiful? I assume you trimmed away long roots and reduced the size of the root mass a little when you repotted it? What did it look like before?

I'd expect to see it really improve the nature and quality of the roots now that it is in a more free draining substrate.

These are really slow to heal scars. They are also unlikely to back bud unless pressed - your trimming may have been enough to prompt some new buds. Fingers crossed.

Here are some pics from last summer

Ill check out the cat litter and maybe repot again.