Crepe Myrtle Yamadori - branching/grafting advice

[Giga]

It's not the eyes it's the FVG'S!

I like yours!

Amen!

Sorce

fvg's?

 

[sorce]

fvg's?

Future vision goggles!

It's crazy that yours are different but just as excellent as mine!

Sorce

 

[JustinSmith]

Thanks Grimmy! After 4 years of trunk and root reduction I had hoped to see

need to open your eyes a bit - not anywhere close to a 25 year project - These grow at an incredible rate and I can see something in this. Material like this make you push yourself to find the image and work with what you have. I say 6 ish years and it would be something worth looking at. Keep it in a wide training flat or the ground to develop though - bonsai pot 3 years down the road maybe.

15 minutes thinking about this tree - hollow the main trunk out and graft, or cut back the second trunk an build like so. Make sure it's healthy first before you start any of this work.
View attachment 157868

Your response was encouraging and helpful. Thank you!

 

[Zach Smith]

Thanks for the response. Would it help if I cut back the shoots that aren't off the trunk? I don't necessarily need those, just keeping them on for health root growth. I could add another pic with more of the nebari showing as well.

Would love opinions on where to graft branches on.

Keeping low shoots on a Crape for root health is like pouring water in a river to keep it wet. I don't know of any non-tropical species that roots with the vigor of Crape myrtle. So you can remove those. As for grafting on branches in good spots, how experienced a horticulturist are you? Grafting is an advanced technique. Not to discourage you, but if you don't have abundant experience with bonsai techniques you may want to get more material to practice on before tackling an important specimen.

 

[Eric Group]

need to open your eyes a bit - not anywhere close to a 25 year project - These grow at an incredible rate and I can see something in this. Material like this make you push yourself to find the image and work with what you have. I say 6 ish years and it would be something worth looking at. Keep it in a wide training flat or the ground to develop though - bonsai pot 3 years down the road maybe.

15 minutes thinking about this tree - hollow the main trunk out and graft, or cut back the second trunk an build like so. Make sure it's healthy first before you start any of this work.
View attachment 157868

My eyes are open. Obviously 25 years was an exaggeration- IF you know what you are doing, don't get the impression the OP has done a lot of training, wiring, grafting, root grafting or carving and... a hole that size... root base that tall?

To get it into a pot like the one you pictured, you pretty much will just need to chainsaw the bottom flat and hope for the best! (Like what Thumbless mentioned)

Just not my style I guess- but this is why these forums are here- differences of opinion. I think too often with threads like this people feel like they are doing some new guy a favor by telling them how awesome their material is when saying: "that is not ideal material, look for something with a better nebari, movement and taper" is going to make this a much more rewarding experience! CAN "someone" make a tree out of this CM? With years to regrow a base, years to grow out a whole new top and a whole lot of GOOD carving? Maybe so! Is someone who is on their "first Bonsai project" going to know anything about how to do ANY of the stuff this tree needs? No, Probably not!

What someone needs for their first project is a tree and a watering can with the intent of keeping the thing alive (sounds like the OP has done that with this tree for a few years?), maybe using it to learn how to wire! They need to join a club, find a friend who will mentor them... The speed at which you work your way up from there will vary but a tree like this is just not screaming "first project" material to me. JMHO

The size and kind of melting area of the upper root base are the only appealing features about this tree to me- but maybe it looks better in person. If even that larger stump were still alive, you'd have so much more to work with!

 

[JustinSmith]

Keeping low shoots on a Crape for root health is like pouring water in a river to keep it wet. I don't know of any non-tropical species that roots with the vigor of Crape myrtle. So you can remove those. As for grafting on branches in good spots, how experienced a horticulturist are you? Grafting is an advanced technique. Not to discourage you, but if you don't have abundant experience with bonsai techniques you may want to get more material to practice on before tackling an important specimen.

I have a degree in horticulture and feel comfortable researching new techniques and experimenting. Thanks for the feedback!

 

[JustinSmith]

My eyes are open. Obviously 25 years was an exaggeration- IF you know what you are doing, don't get the impression the OP has done a lot of training, wiring, grafting, root grafting or carving and... a hole that size... root base that tall?

To get it into a pot like the one you pictured, you pretty much will just need to chainsaw the bottom flat and hope for the best! (Like what Thumbless mentioned)

Just not my style I guess- but this is why these forums are here- differences of opinion. I think too often with threads like this people feel like they are doing some new guy a favor by telling them how awesome their material is when saying: "that is not ideal material, look for something with a better nebari, movement and taper" is going to make this a much more rewarding experience! CAN "someone" make a tree out of this CM? With years to regrow a base, years to grow out a whole new top and a whole lot of GOOD carving? Maybe so! Is someone who is on their "first Bonsai project" going to know anything about how to do ANY of the stuff this tree needs? No, Probably not!

What someone needs for their first project is a tree and a watering can with the intent of keeping the thing alive (sounds like the OP has done that with this tree for a few years?), maybe using it to learn how to wire! They need to join a club, find a friend who will mentor them... The speed at which you work your way up from there will vary but a tree like this is just not screaming "first project" material to me. JMHO

The size and kind of melting area of the upper root base are the only appealing features about this tree to me- but maybe it looks better in person. If even that larger stump were still alive, you'd have so much more to work with!

Appreciate your thoughts. I'm up for a challenge for my first project. If I walk away with a free tree and a sub-par bonsai I only have myself to blame really. Figures this is a good chance to learn about grafting techniques (if needed in the future), developing nebari, etc.

 

[Zach Smith]

I have a degree in horticulture and feel comfortable researching new techniques and experimenting. Thanks for the feedback!

That is awesome. Be sure to post up your efforts so we can see how they work. I've never personally grafted Crape myrtle, though I have done a number of other species.

You should add your location to your profile. It helps with advice-giving.

 

[Giga]

My eyes are open. Obviously 25 years was an exaggeration- IF you know what you are doing, don't get the impression the OP has done a lot of training, wiring, grafting, root grafting or carving and... a hole that size... root base that tall?

To get it into a pot like the one you pictured, you pretty much will just need to chainsaw the bottom flat and hope for the best! (Like what Thumbless mentioned)

Just not my style I guess- but this is why these forums are here- differences of opinion. I think too often with threads like this people feel like they are doing some new guy a favor by telling them how awesome their material is when saying: "that is not ideal material, look for something with a better nebari, movement and taper" is going to make this a much more rewarding experience! CAN "someone" make a tree out of this CM? With years to regrow a base, years to grow out a whole new top and a whole lot of GOOD carving? Maybe so! Is someone who is on their "first Bonsai project" going to know anything about how to do ANY of the stuff this tree needs? No, Probably not!

What someone needs for their first project is a tree and a watering can with the intent of keeping the thing alive (sounds like the OP has done that with this tree for a few years?), maybe using it to learn how to wire! They need to join a club, find a friend who will mentor them... The speed at which you work your way up from there will vary but a tree like this is just not screaming "first project" material to me. JMHO

The size and kind of melting area of the upper root base are the only appealing features about this tree to me- but maybe it looks better in person. If even that larger stump were still alive, you'd have so much more to work with!

yes and no, The thing I had an issue with is just dismissing the material and saying best not use it. Most, if not all material can be made something interesting and beautiful given time and good advice/skill. Weather they have skill, of not, the only way to get said skills is to practice. I LOVE this forum and check here regularly and welcome new people who want to learn. Best thing is to tell the truth(there are times when tree's are best left alone) and give them a goal or plan who haven't have enough time in this field. I just not a fan of dismissive people or material out of turn

 

[M. Frary]

Im with Eric.
It's a leveright tree as Smoke calls them.

 

[Velodog2]

Interesting to me how many people here don't seem to have the stomach for a long term project. This hobby should be about patience, and a lot of the satisfaction I get is from realization of long-delayed rewards and the process of getting to them. But to each his own, and I swear this is a legit comment that is not trying to troll for controversy.

Nevertheless if I take into account the lack of experience of the op and the question becomes is this a good first tree as opposed to is this tree worth doing, then the answer may change. If that is the case, do both. That is, stick this tree in a pot, chop it off, and wait. Little is invested in time so why not. Then go look for an elm or something that will give more immediate rewards. Win-win.

 

[Eric Group]

yes and no, The thing I had an issue with is just dismissing the material and saying best not use it. Most, if not all material can be made something interesting and beautiful given time and good advice/skill. Weather they have skill, of not, the only way to get said skills is to practice. I LOVE this forum and check here regularly and welcome new people who want to learn. Best thing is to tell the truth(there are times when tree's are best left alone) and give them a goal or plan who haven't have enough time in this field. I just not a fan of dismissive people or material out of turn

I do not dismiss material regularly... only when it doesn't make sense for the situation... if Johng showed me this tree I'd be interested to see what he planned for it...