Cotoneaster Progression

[cheap_walmart_art]

Being early in this hobby, I don't have many trees that I can say are mine as far as styling goes. Most of my stuff is pre-bonsai I've picked up here and there. The most dramatic progression thread I can show would be this Cotoneaster "Coral Beauty" I picked up for 9 bucks Fall of 2017 - one of my first purchases.

As purchased:


Shortly after purchase, I butchered it. Had no real vision in mind, just wanted to work a tree. Turns out Cotoneaster is tough and had no issues with this treatment.


So as you can all see, I tried to start a Cascade. I was just trying to get the foliage into a triangle shape at this point. I hoped it would fill in. Turns out it did.


Summer of last year and I'm still trying to find a front.


Once it started waking up for spring I decided eh, fuck it, I'm going to put it in a pot. I picked something not much smaller than the nursery pot. It's too big but I do like it better and this thing may fill in this year and look relatively ok. I also put a bit of wire on it, probably wouldn't wire and repot at the same time but this thing has proven tough.


Here it is today. Even has some flowers!



I'm going to continue building the canopy up on top while defining pads and bring the Cascade around.

 

[Hartinez]

I think you’ve done good so far and have more of a vision then your giving yourself credit for! Some of the senior members will say also, that having a plan is never a bad idea and will only help make good decisions for a long term plan.

Also, maybe a cascade is not the best idea? Just a thought really. Your 4th image has a great compositional start as a semi cascade. I pulled this pic of a semi cascade cotoneaster from the net that may be inspirational to you. Either way, I think you’ve done well.

 

[cheap_walmart_art]

I think you’ve done good so far and have more of a vision then your giving yourself credit for! Some of the senior members will say also, that having a plan is never a bad idea and will only help make good decisions for a long term plan.

Also, maybe a cascade is not the best idea? Just a thought really. Your 4th image has a great compositional start as a semi cascade. I pulled this pic of a semi cascade cotoneaster from the net that may be inspirational to you. Either way, I think you’ve done well. View attachment 239960

Thanks for the kind words and the inspirado! I may end up hacking that Cascade off - I'm not fond of the line BUT I love it has more space for flowers and berries.

 

[Nicholas Box]

Thanks for the kind words and the inspirado! I may end up hacking that Cascade off - I'm not fond of the line BUT I love it has more space for flowers and berries.

I really like the tree, and would second what @Hartinez said. I think cotoneasters lend themselves to that style(semi) and yours seems quite well done. I wonder what fun you can have with the roots long term.

 

[DirkvanDreven]

Lovely tree! Cotoneaster like to be well fed and reward good fertilisation with abundant growth! Weekly pruning during the growing season will shape your tree very fast!

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I like what you have done, but agree with stopping at a semi-cascade. My reason is the abrupt direction change to bring the long cascade down breaks with the general lean of the tree as a semi-cascade. In other words, the semi-cascade makes visual sense, the descending branch for the full cascade is not unified with the patter set. All the branches would need to descend in a similar angle to make a unified full cascade. The trunk would need a steeper angle too .

Full cascades are difficult, both to get visually ''correct'' and to keep growth balanced. But you have done a nice job with the semi-cascade.

 

[Flounder61]

Very nice looking tree! I have 2 Coral Beauty trees. Same reason, cheap and if I kill them, no big whoop. Cut both mine way back and hard. Going to see what happens. And I'm getting a few more. Keep posting pictures of your trees!

 

[Nanuk]

Good looking tree. You did it well.

?

 

[Jehb]

Absolutely love the progress! I spent ages deciding between a bunch of cotoneasters today. Finally chose one and took it to the till thinking it was £8.99 like the rest, and tapped my card.

Turns out the Coral beauties were £11.99 and in hindsight I don’t think I chose the best one. This has given me some inspiration though so hopefully it won’t be a wasted venture

 

[Hartinez]

Hey dude. How’s this one coming along?

 

[cheap_walmart_art]

Hey dude. How’s this one coming along?

Thanks for asking! Its been growing great all summer. I did a major pruning back in June and its already wild again. Hopefully I can give it one more pruning into shape this weekend then leave it alone for the year. That is, if I can convince the wife to stop planning things for the entire labor day weekend.

Here it is as of this morning.

 

[Hartinez]

Looking very healthy. You saw it, but I bought that Cotoneaster from the other thread because I was impressed by how quickly yours filled in. And this one had such a nice base. I still think you’ve got to make a decision on an overall silhouette at some point, but it’s right there and looks great.

 

[cheap_walmart_art]

Looking very healthy. You saw it, but I bought that Cotoneaster from the other thread because I was impressed by how quickly yours filled in. And this one had such a nice base. I still think you’ve got to make a decision on an overall silhouette at some point, but it’s right there and looks great.

Thanks man. Ill post a pic if i get a chance to do some work to it this weekend. May go ahead and cut it down to semi cascade since we are going into the season for vascular growth and the cut should get a good jumpstart on healing.

 

[Flounder61]

Look's cool! Good job.

 

[Paulpash]

A good time to select your branch placement, thin stuff out & decide if you want an apex. They drink a lot when they're setting berries. Yours look very similar to mine in terms of leaf shape and size.

 

[cheap_walmart_art]

So I decided to do some work on this tree and after looking at the natural trunk line I decided to go for a full on re style. I've changed the direction of the tree completely and I think once it backbuds and fills in a bit, it will make a nice little shohin. I aim to get it I to a small round or lotus pot next year.

Here it was this morning. Tons of growth and buds all over.



And here we are after restyling. I'm looking for the Apex to fill in some for a nicer silhouette but I am digging the sweeping trunk movement tapering into the two branches at the Apex.



I'll also plant it a bit lower when I Repot. Bring the soil up and above that area on the left where the big root branches into three.

 

[just.wing.it]

Nice! I like the new direction!

 

[cheap_walmart_art]

...and after a couple weeks filling in.

 

[Eckhoffw]

...and after a couple weeks filling in.

View attachment 309144

Love the design you went with this!
Very nice. Look forward to seeing it build up.

 

[doctorater]

...and after a couple weeks filling in.

View attachment 309144

Love this choice. I think you released the soul of the tree.