Bilbo's Bald Cypress

[Beanwagon]

I bought this Bald Cypress in 2015.
These photo's are from 2016.



Shortly after these photo's were take i performed some surgery on this cypress similar to the method below



Doing so greatly increased the trunk width. I had planned to let this tree grow another season but couldnt help myself. Today i gave it a little repot, root prune & hair cut.





I plan to create deadwood ontop and creat a new leader below.

I also made a shitload of cuttings from the top...finger crossed some strike

 

[Handsome John]

Oh wow, I've only ever seen this done with Ficus! that's a nice base you got from it

 

[BillsBayou]

Wire scars.

I don't know if these will ever heal. There is a tree (see photo below) in town with a weird scar on it. I assume it is a wire scar of some sort. Over the past 25 years, it hasn't changed. It's just gotten thicker.

I've thought about how I would fix this on a containerized tree, but nothing seems to make sense. The best guess I have would be to try grafting the tree's own branches across the scars. This would lead to more scaring, sure, but the tissue going across the scar would be bark-bearing. The scar tissue doesn't want to create a healed look.

Here's the bald cypress with the everlasting scar:

 

[Beanwagon]

Wire scars.

I don't know if these will ever heal. There is a tree (see photo below) in town with a weird scar on it. I assume it is a wire scar of some sort. Over the past 25 years, it hasn't changed. It's just gotten thicker.

I've thought about how I would fix this on a containerized tree, but nothing seems to make sense. The best guess I have would be to try grafting the tree's own branches across the scars. This would lead to more scaring, sure, but the tissue going across the scar would be bark-bearing. The scar tissue doesn't want to create a healed look.

Here's the bald cypress with the everlasting scar:
View attachment 211053

I left wire scars intentionally.

 

[Beanwagon]

I wanted them to swell and add character etc. I will combine this with carving...yhats the idea anyway.

 

[BillsBayou]

I'll wait and see. Drag me into any thread you start on this tree.

 

[Vinnie Charity]

Bald Cypress is one of my favorite trees (Junipers are my favorite) so I too would love to follow the progress of this tree...

 

[Wilson]

I bought this Bald Cypress in 2015.
These photo's are from 2016.
View attachment 210755View attachment 210756


Shortly after these photo's were take i performed some surgery on this cypress similar to the method below

View attachment 210757View attachment 210758

Doing so greatly increased the trunk width. I had planned to let this tree grow another season but couldnt help myself. Today i gave it a little repot, root prune & hair cut.

View attachment 210759
View attachment 210760View attachment 210761


I plan to create deadwood ontop and creat a new leader below.

I also made a shitload of cuttings from the top...finger crossed some strikeView attachment 210762

Awesome effort! I will try this splitting technique on a few types of pre bonsai.

 

[rockm]

It's kind of mystifying WHY you did this--unless this is the only BC you have access to.

Good taper in collected or even older containerized trees is pretty common. This kind of extreme treatment is basically unnecessary...

 

[Beanwagon]

Awesome effort! I will try this splitting technique on a few types of pre bonsai.

Just keep in mind that i do not know what i am doing and just experimenting.

 

[Wilson]

Just keep in mind that i do not know what i am doing and just experimenting.

It's all part of the journey! All of our trial and error that we share here is a goldmine of learning!

 

[Beanwagon]

Update. I have just let this grow until now. I cut off the leader and trimmed the roots its hard to tell from the photo but the base is super thick.

I have a few idea's on where i want to take this.

1. Leave at current hight and form a flat top.

2. Cut about half of its hight off and aim for more taper.

I still plan to do a fair bit of deadwood on this to blend in/hide the wire marks.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Nice, fat trunk, taper is actually developing. Those wire scars are horrible. At least to my taste. I doubt they will ever disappear.

 

[Beanwagon]

Nice, fat trunk, taper is actually developing. Those wire scars are horrible. At least to my taste. I doubt they will ever disappear.

I do not disagree they did not turn out exactly how i i had envisioned however i am not concerned. My current plan is to hopefully develop a leader down low, create a lot of jin/shari/carving above and down the trunk line to disguise the wire marks.
Something like this



I am super happy with the results of splitting the trunk a few years about amd would consider it a success and the taper below is crazy. Its hard to get in a photo.

 

[Beanwagon]

Also i have seen the wire technique used and look awesome. My execution was just shit imo.

 

[Beanwagon]

Step one, attempt murder.

Im fascinated to see how this recovers.. if it survives.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

@Beanwagon - if you would finish filling out your profile, to give an approximate location, maybe nearest city and state that people would recognize, I would not have to scroll back to figure out what your local climate is like.

If you are anywhere in North America, this is a poor choice of timing to do this drastic a "chop". You could do the exact same, but in early spring, and expect great results. If you are in the Southern Hemisphere, like New Zealand, this is a perfect time for this sort of treatment.

Good luck, let us know how it works out.

 

[Beanwagon]

@Beanwagon - if you would finish filling out your profile, to give an approximate location, maybe nearest city and state that people would recognize, I would not have to scroll back to figure out what your local climate is like.

If you are anywhere in North America, this is a poor choice of timing to do this drastic a "chop". You could do the exact same, but in early spring, and expect great results. If you are in the Southern Hemisphere, like New Zealand, this is a perfect time for this sort of treatment.

Good luck, let us know how it works out.

I am in Australia. Sydney. Spring just starting. My favorite time of years for bonsai.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Excellent. Perfect timing then.

 

[Beanwagon]

Excellent. Perfect timing then.

I will let the exposed wood dry out and carve it next year probably. This tree is not much to look at now bit hope in 5 years time i have something to show.

This tree has been fun to experiment on so i do npt really care what happens to it. I may even try and split the base again to get even more taper.