Collected Buttonwood initial styling.

[carp]

Back in 2013, I collected this Buttonwood and haven't done anything to the tree except let it grow.
It was essentially collected as just a large cutting; it was taken from a branch, not the Earth.
I think the first time I touched it was in February 2015, and i just cut a few limbs near the top back and defoliated it.
The past year and half it hasn't done much of anything at all as far as growing goes, but since I defoliated it, it seems to have kicked off.
So, I felt it was ready for its first styling.
All of the deadwood is natural, all I've done is define live veins and remove dry bark, no carving yet.

 

[A Random User]

I think it looks pretty good! Design wise, these literati or bunjin trees are sometimes hard to do with B-woods. Mainly due to their foliage and size.
I have quite a few, and it really is a grow an replace type of thing with them in order to try and keep them healthy and compact.
The only critique I would offer might be the following... I think that the long jin on the top left is cool, however might be better shortened or even removed.
Obviously, I am looking at your design and structure without leaves, so my reasoning would be based on the following... as it stands this jin currently has a very
heavy feel, and is giving a top heavy appearance. Making the current composition feel unstable. This might change with the foliage.

I am usually one of the last folks to say remove deadwood, but I feel that without it, it might have a more airy, wispy feel. The trunk really has some nice movement to it. I like the deadwood coming up from lower on the trunk. This tree would also be a nice candidate for a windswept.
Keep up the awesome work!

 

[carp]

Stacy, unlike most people on here (oops did I just say that), I actually respect your opinions and your work. Maybe that's because I've seen you demo and know what you're able to do...or maybe because I dont think I'm a great artist like most bonsainut's think they are (double oops). I really just posted this here because the tropical tree forum here is dead and generally filled with questions about Ficus dropping their leaves while they're indoors (oops I think that's another insult).

At any rate, I agree with the majority of your critique, and understand where you're coming from. The jin; it deffinetly is top heavy. Studying the tree while it was vertical in the original pot, that jin just made it hard for me to see what I could do with the tree. I've considered reducing it and eliminating it, but at this point, it's grown on me. Its natural and in person, pretty striking. I'm an anime fan and one of my favorite series is Gundam, they're big ass robots, and the jin reminds me of the boosters on the mobile suit Strike Gundam.

One thing I think in the future will make this jin feel less disagreeable and add a sense of stability is that under the soil, I have two nice big roots on the same side. I think once I'm able to expose those roots and get those roots to look like they are holding the tree from falling, we'll be looking okay. Or, it won't help at all, either way it'll be a few more years till I'll find out.

I also agree with what you said about keeping this nice and compact when in leaf. This green stemmed variety has large leaves, and somewhat long internodes, but it does back bud well. You're totally right about growing and replacing. I think once the structure is set I'll be able to keep it tight through bud tipping and defoliating. This tree was done on a whim after seeing all of Mary's buttonwoods that I wanted to buy over the weekend at BSF.

 

[M. Frary]

Oops. I looked at a tropical thread.

 

[A Random User]

Stacy, unlike most people on here (oops did I just say that), I actually respect your opinions and your work. Maybe that's because I've seen you demo and know what you're able to do...or maybe because I dont think I'm a great artist like most bonsainut's think they are (double oops). I really just posted this here because the tropical tree forum here is dead and generally filled with questions about Ficus dropping their leaves while they're indoors (oops I think that's another insult).

At any rate, I agree with the majority of your critique, and understand where you're coming from. The jin; it deffinetly is top heavy. Studying the tree while it was vertical in the original pot, that jin just made it hard for me to see what I could do with the tree. I've considered reducing it and eliminating it, but at this point, it's grown on me. Its natural and in person, pretty striking. I'm an anime fan and one of my favorite series is Gundam, they're big ass robots, and the jin reminds me of the boosters on the mobile suit Strike Gundam.

One thing I think in the future will make this jin feel less disagreeable and add a sense of stability is that under the soil, I have two nice big roots on the same side. I think once I'm able to expose those roots and get those roots to look like they are holding the tree from falling, we'll be looking okay. Or, it won't help at all, either way it'll be a few more years till I'll find out.

I also agree with what you said about keeping this nice and compact when in leaf. This green stemmed variety has large leaves, and somewhat long internodes, but it does back bud well. You're totally right about growing and replacing. I think once the structure is set I'll be able to keep it tight through bud tipping and defoliating. This tree was done on a whim after seeing all of Mary's buttonwoods that I wanted to buy over the weekend at BSF.

Tell me about it! If it ain't a freaking maple or mugo pine you are just pissing in the wind around here!
I had to put my 11 tree to 1 "S" curve ficus composition in the "Advanced Category" in hopes that some one would see it!
I am not quite sure how advanced it is to just put a whole bunch of trees together? Kinda more like the learning game kids often
have where one tries to put a round peg in a round hole and not the square one!
Post some pics when the foliage returns, so we can get a better idea of the composition.

 

[M. Frary]

Damn it! I looked again!
Can I interest you guys in a Tamarack or elm?

 

[KennedyMarx]

Pretty cool. I like the new angle. Maybe instead of removing the big Jin you could thin it out a little bit and reduce the visual weight of it.

 

[carp]

this was a few months ago, like August 2015.

 

[Anthony]

Seth,

I really don't like or think much of Buttonwood as a Bonsai especially if you look at the tree form, which is very beautiful.
So I don't respond on Buttonwoods in the Tropical section.
BUT then I use the New Post feature, and I read the titles.

When buttonwood was first in our face, it came from World Tropical Bonsai, and looked like Juniper wannabes.

However we soon found the Oxy, in the swamps and left the Buttonwood alone.

The other guys pulled up monster samples, most died and one had the skeletons on display for years.
Now we have found a Buttonwood type that has smaller leaves, so in a few years, let us see.

Strangely enough, more time has been spent on even bigger leaves - the seagrape.
We also have a weird Oxalis f. , that comes from the rocky coastlines, strange sub-shrub.

Wishing you well with your effort, you have much talent and ability.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[carp]

has taken some damage from thrips (discoloration of the leaves).
won't be working it again until March.

@Anthony this was collected as a branch cutting, no roots. i put it into a pot with soil, and put that pot into a tub of water.
the leaves will reduce easily with work, most people haven't put in the time with the species required to create fine examples.
there is a variety called Conocarpus erectus 'Key Hope Sound' that has narrow, elongated leaves.
i saw the narrow leaf buttonwood as bonsai in puerto rico, it is not as appealing to me.
i'm experimenting with it.

you'll have to post an image of what you call Oxalis because the only Oxalis species I'm familiar with are flowering plants which look like clover.

seagrape is another underused tropical species.
the leaves can be reduced to about 2cm with ease.
creating nice ramifications with the species is the hard part.

 

[carp]

Waited until April.

Done with defoliation for tonight.
I leave terminal buds intact because I did not prune.
I will prune after wiring so I do not remove useable growth.

It has leaned because it had very little roots (being that it was a branch cutting).
A rock is currently holding it up to prevent further leaning.

When this tree goes into a container it will be raised to match the planting angle from the initial styling.
Branching angles will have to be adjusted at that point.

 

[KennedyMarx]

Why not wire while it's defoliated, Crap?