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Prunning a Lugustrum Privet Bonsai (Chinese Privet)

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moyogijohn
alexb21
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Prunning a Lugustrum Privet Bonsai (Chinese Privet) Empty Prunning a Lugustrum Privet Bonsai (Chinese Privet)

Post  alexb21 Sat Jul 24, 2010 4:47 pm

Hey guys. You've been really helpful identifying my bonsai and giving me advices on how to keep it healthy. bonsaisr advised me to prune my bonsai. I don't know how to do that so I'm gonna turn to you, forum, to help me out on this one. Below you have 4 pictures of my bonsai, each rotated 90 degrees clockwise. I hope I'm not much of a bother. Thanks again!
Please excuse the messy background. I was in a hurry when I took this pictures.
Prunning a Lugustrum Privet Bonsai (Chinese Privet) Dsc03412

Prunning a Lugustrum Privet Bonsai (Chinese Privet) Dsc03413

Prunning a Lugustrum Privet Bonsai (Chinese Privet) Dsc03414

Prunning a Lugustrum Privet Bonsai (Chinese Privet) Dsc03415


Last edited by alexb21 on Sat Jul 24, 2010 9:21 pm; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : more accurate information)
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Post  moyogijohn Sun Jul 25, 2010 1:35 am

There are too many leaves to see the branch placement.. i would go to the inside of the limbs and take off a pair of leaves,look where your branches are. the bottom smalllimbs can be taken off.if you use the first picture as a front the curled limb should come off.do this then post another picture so we can see the limb structure ok??? hope this helps john

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Post  JimLewis Sun Jul 25, 2010 2:51 pm

I suspect picture 3 will be your best front.

For now, I'd simply go in and cut all branches down to 2 or 3 pairs of leaves. That won't hurt your tree and you will be able to see its branches and trunk line a bit better. I suspect most of the branches are arrow straight (that's what these plants do) so when they start re-sprouting, you will want to choose buds going off in a different direction and rub off the others so you can get a zig-zag pattern to your branches.

Wiring these can be a problem as they have an amazing memory and tend to spring back to their original shape even after wires have been on too long and are cutting into the bark. So clip-and-grow is probably the best way to go.

After you have done the first trimming (down to 2-3 pairs of leaves) you can take more pictures. We'll be able to see the shape of the trunk and branches then and can possibly suggest more.

(And taking more time with the pictures -- plain background, etc. -- will let those who can do decent virtuals have a try at it.)
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Post  alexb21 Sun Jul 25, 2010 7:45 pm

Thanks for your answer! I'll try to cut it although I'm a little afraid I'll hurt the tree. I've never cut a plant before and have no idea how to do it without damaging it.
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Post  craigw Sun Jul 25, 2010 10:33 pm

Hi Alex, bonsai is all about cutting thats how we develop them. Cut and grow is the name of the game.
Craig

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Post  alexb21 Sun Jul 25, 2010 10:46 pm

craigw wrote:Hi Alex, bonsai is all about cutting thats how we develop them. Cut and grow is the name of the game.
Craig

Hehe. Thanks. So it's not a problem if I mess some cuts. Thanks.
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Post  JimLewis Sun Jul 25, 2010 11:45 pm

Cut and grow is the name of the game.

Well, it's one of the names of the game. We do use wire. Prunning a Lugustrum Privet Bonsai (Chinese Privet) Icon_biggrin
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Post  craigw Mon Jul 26, 2010 1:43 am

Hi Alex, You have been given a great plant for beginners. Privet is very forgiving and very strong growing so any mistakes you make will soon be rectified.
Jim is correct there are a host of training tools/techniques, but it seems to me the biggest hurdle for people just starting out is pruning and you need to get over that very quickly.
Craig

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Post  alexb21 Mon Jul 26, 2010 8:01 am

Thanks for your help Very Happy
I think growing bonsai it's going to become my favorite hobby. I won't be able to grow more though because I don't have enough space in my apartment. I'll take good care of this one though Very Happy
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Post  craigw Mon Jul 26, 2010 8:20 am

watch out Alex its highly addictive.
Craig

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Post  alexb21 Mon Jul 26, 2010 2:35 pm

Hey. I cut some lower branches on my bonsai and trimmed some of the upper ones. Here are some updated pictures of it.
Prunning a Lugustrum Privet Bonsai (Chinese Privet) Dsc03416

Prunning a Lugustrum Privet Bonsai (Chinese Privet) Dsc03417

Prunning a Lugustrum Privet Bonsai (Chinese Privet) Dsc03418

Prunning a Lugustrum Privet Bonsai (Chinese Privet) Dsc03419

Is it ok to leave it like that until spring? Should I prune it more to give it a better shape? Thanks again for your advice.

@craigw: Smile) I'll keep that in mind.
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Prunning a Lugustrum Privet Bonsai (Chinese Privet) Empty Pruning a Ligustrum Bonsai

Post  bonsaisr Thu Jul 29, 2010 12:20 am

I am not an expert, but I am fairly sure that is not a Ligustrum. The bark is the wrong color.
Does it have sticky white sap?
Iris


Last edited by bonsaisr on Thu Jul 29, 2010 12:24 am; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : To add a question.)
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Post  Billy M. Rhodes Thu Jul 29, 2010 11:29 am

I have the same species that was imported from China and sold to us as a Privet. The tree we have came from Miami Tropical Bonsai and purchased by my wife at the suggestion of Jim Smith. It does NOT have Ficus like sap.
I am not sure how it will take to apartment living in Romania

You have a start on pruning but you need to remove all but one branch at each location. When removing the branched remember that the largest branch should be the lowest, so as you go up the tree don't always keep the largest branch.

This tree is very strong and I leave it out in the Florida winter, but we don't get as cold as I suspect Romania does.

Also I think I would go with a larger pot, at least for training.
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Post  moyogijohn Fri Jul 30, 2010 12:32 am

I STILL can,t see the branch placement..maybe my eyes are getting worse.. i have not heard of a privet kept inside before..the trunk looks good to me and it looks healthy..I agree the pot is too small for now too much roots above the top of it.. i think JIM picked the right front fo it.wish i could see the branches..good luck john

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Post  bonsaisr Fri Jul 30, 2010 2:42 am

OK, I looked some more. This is apparently Japanese privet, Ligustrum japonicum. It is used for hedges in the South. Alex is not growing it indoors. It is on his balcony.
Alex, this species is not as hardy as Chinese privet. You will probably have to keep it indoors in the winter, but keep it very cool. It is not a tropical.
Iris
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Post  alexb21 Fri Jul 30, 2010 7:45 am

Hey!
First of all thanks for your help. I was worried too that the pot is too small. Should I prune the roots when I change the pot? Also, is it the right time to repot it? In Romania there's 1 month left until autumn.
I'll cut some more branches although I'm still afraid I'll kill it.
Happy gardening until next time!
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Post  JimLewis Fri Jul 30, 2010 3:33 pm

Alexb . . . You mentioned you "don't have enough room in your apartment" for more bonsai . . .

You aren't keeping this indoors, are you? This is NOT a good indoor plant. While it may survive for a while, Privet MUST live outside to thrive.
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Post  alexb21 Fri Jul 30, 2010 3:42 pm

I keep it in my balcony. Although it's a closed balcony, during the day the windows are always open so I think it gets enough air and light.
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