New to Bonsai Bald Cypress Chop

[Salvarez]

Hello Everyone,

New to forum and to intermediate Bonsai. Acquired a 10ft BC and time of year to trunk chop advice is all over the place from the local nursery’s.

So, best time to trunk chop a Bald Cypress in South Central Louisiana? I have enjoyed reading the BC threads but can’t seem to find a confident answer either for my zone.

Thanks!

Sebastian

 

[19Mateo83]

@Cajunrider and @BillsBayou should be able to help you out with a location specific answer, but I would think spring just as buds start pushing would be best no matter where you are.

 

[Cajunrider]

Hello Everyone,

New to forum and to intermediate Bonsai. Acquired a 10ft BC and time of year to trunk chop advice is all over the place from the local nursery’s.

So, best time to trunk chop a Bald Cypress in South Central Louisiana? I have enjoyed reading the BC threads but can’t seem to find a confident answer either for my zone.

Thanks!

Sebastian

South central Louisiana, I would wait til late February early March.

 

[Salvarez]

South central Louisiana, I would wait til late February early March.

Thank you! The nursery ppl tell me November-January. But I keep suspecting us Bonsai folk like to push out closer to spring. @Cajunrider what am I looking for in “buds start pushing?”

Thanks for all the help everyone!

Sebastian

 

[19Mateo83]

buds pushing means when you start seeing the new buds swell. They will look like tiny green bumps starting to swell on the branches and trunk.

 

[Shibui]

Storms don't only happen at one time of year. Deer don't only eat trees at one time of year. Trees have adapted to all sorts of natural pruning by being able to grow whenever something causes damage so they can grow back at any time of year. That probably explains why the advice from nurseries is all over the place - There isn't really any 'best' time, pretty much any timing will give a good result.

 

[Cajunrider]

Storms don't only happen at one time of year. Deer don't only eat trees at one time of year. Trees have adapted to all sorts of natural pruning by being able to grow whenever something causes damage so they can grow back at any time of year. That probably explains why the advice from nurseries is all over the place - There isn't really any 'best' time, pretty much any timing will give a good result.

It is true that healthy trees can come back when chopped at any time of year but weak ones may take longer to recover. In some cases, they might not come back at all. For BCs, I know that when chopped in late winter/early spring, they don’t miss a beat.

 

[rockm]

Landscape nurseries mostly don't understand bonsai. Asking them for such specialized advice can lead mostly nowhere. I've had some local nurseries that understood the practice of trunk chopping. Others told me I would void the health warranty on a BC I bought from them. Late winter/early spring is the optimal time to do this.

 

[Maiden69]

Post a picture of your tree... most trees from nurseries don't need a trunk chop immediately and will benefit from a season of strong growth before chopping. Also, depending on what your goals are, size wise, and the thickness of your tree, will dictate when to do the chop. Cutting at late winter/early spring will give you a strong push of growth that if not managed will equal the thickness that you have already on the tree, while cutting after post flush harden will give you a more tapered appearance.

Look at Bill's and @Mellow Mullet threads, plenty of info there.

 

[johng]

If you are wanting to heal the chop in the quickest and most effective manner, chop during the first half of the growing season and earlier in the season is preferable. If your intention is to create a feature wound from the chop...like it was snapped off in a hurricane the timing of the chop is a little less important. With the second choice, I still prefer the edges of the wound to roll over so I will do those chops also during the growing season. With either choice, be sure to carefully seal the edges of the initial chop. This will help to insure that there will be minimal dieback along the edges. For best results after a chop, shade the tree until new buds form and then gradually reintroduce to full sun.

 

[BillsBayou]

... Acquired a 10ft BC and time of year to trunk chop advice is all over the place from the local nursery’s.
So, best time to trunk chop a Bald Cypress in South Central Louisiana? ...

TTIWWOP

A) Post pictures of your tree.
B) Contact the Louisiana Bonsai Society.
C) Come to the Mid-Winter Workshop in January (see step B, above)

Without a photo, I'll have to give you some generic advice. Just so you know, generic nurseries do not have the advice you need to develop bonsai. They're there thinking their customers want the entire tree. When I bought a tree at a nursery, chopped it in the parking lot to 2-feet, and asked them where their dumpster was, they looked at me like I was a lunatic.


Trees on the left in photo: I've put trees into 5-gallon buckets to fatten the base of the tree. It works. I even got knees from them.
Trees in the middle of photo: I found these in Catahoula Lake in October. Because it was so late, they may wait until Spring 2024 before I cut them.
Tree on the right: I was never there. This was not me. I have no idea what you're talking about. Do you have a warrant?

 

[BillsBayou]

Relating to the third photo in my last post:
A bonsai friend in New Orleans was the first to reveal this method to me. We were at a club meeting. Five or six of us were just chatting when our friend comes up and says "Has anyone seen all the bald cypress that was just planted on [REDACTED] Parkway? We can pull them right out of the ground. Then cut off the bases we want and stick the rest of the tree back in the hole. It'll be weeks before anyone goes out to see why the trees are shorter and dead." While I would NEVER do such an act, it remains in my heart as the true spirit behind the Midnight Bonsai Society.

 

[Salvarez]

TTIWWOP

A) Post pictures of your tree.
B) Contact the Louisiana Bonsai Society.
C) Come to the Mid-Winter Workshop in January (see step B, above)

Without a photo, I'll have to give you some generic advice. Just so you know, generic nurseries do not have the advice you need to develop bonsai. They're there thinking their customers want the entire tree. When I bought a tree at a nursery, chopped it in the parking lot to 2-feet, and asked them where their dumpster was, they looked at me like I was a lunatic.

View attachment 464339
Trees on the left in photo: I've put trees into 5-gallon buckets to fatten the base of the tree. It works. I even got knees from them.
Trees in the middle of photo: I found these in Catahoula Lake in October. Because it was so late, they may wait until Spring 2024 before I cut them.
Tree on the right: I was never there. This was not me. I have no idea what you're talking about. Do you have a warrant?

@BillsBayou Awesome!
A) Will do this evening!
B) Spoke to Lowell Tilly Yesterday with the Baton Rouge Bonsai Society
C) Mid Winter Workshop in my calendar already!

BTW my scenario with my BC is your first picture.

THANK YOU

 

[Salvarez]

Relating to the third photo in my last post:
A bonsai friend in New Orleans was the first to reveal this method to me. We were at a club meeting. Five or six of us were just chatting when our friend comes up and says "Has anyone seen all the bald cypress that was just planted on [REDACTED] Parkway? We can pull them right out of the ground. Then cut off the bases we want and stick the rest of the tree back in the hole. It'll be weeks before anyone goes out to see why the trees are shorter and dead." While I would NEVER do such an act, it remains in my heart as the true spirit behind the Midnight Bonsai Society.

HALAIROUS. There is a house that was turndown next to where I live.... midnight might be the time to trip over a juniper... LOL

 

[BillsBayou]

@BillsBayou Awesome!
A) Will do this evening!
B) Spoke to Lowell Tilly Yesterday with the Baton Rouge Bonsai Society
C) Mid Winter Workshop in my calendar already!

BTW my scenario with my BC is your first picture.

THANK YOU

I'll be a vendor there; mostly soils and soil components. Be sure to introduce yourself.

 

[Salvarez]

Here is some pics. After seeing your pictures maybe I should transplant this into a 5 gallon bucket before a chop? I may need to consult with you regarding a plan lol. Newbie alert…

 

[Salvarez]

Post a picture of your tree... most trees from nurseries don't need a trunk chop immediately and will benefit from a season of strong growth before chopping. Also, depending on what your goals are, size wise, and the thickness of your tree, will dictate when to do the chop. Cutting at late winter/early spring will give you a strong push of growth that if not managed will equal the thickness that you have already on the tree, while cutting after post flush harden will give you a more tapered appearance.

Look at Bill's and @Mellow Mullet threads, plenty of info there.

I see your point about longer growth. Maybe repot in 5 gallon this spring and let it grow some more?

 

[19Mateo83]

Man you have an awesome start of a killer fluted trunk going on there. Be patient, listen to bill and you will eventually have a killer trunk! Sweet score btw!

 

[Salvarez]

You really think so!? Thank you so much. This is my first big project. Thank you so much for the encouragement. Hopefully I can get your input as well into the final plan before I do anything. You guys have been so encouraging and are full of knowledge.

 

[19Mateo83]

I wouldn’t chop next spring, I would up pot it in a large, poorly draining container with a very nutritious rich substrate and let her ride for another year. Let that trunk swell and the fluting will get better and better.