Goliath BC

[dbonsaiw]

In the second frame of the first picture, the first note says "something" leader, but I can't quite make it out. Sever? Select? thanks for helping me read, and thanks for posting, this is a great schema to follow.

I thought it said "several"

 

[Mellow Mullet]

The bronzing could be rust mites, they are bad this year

 

[cishepard]

In the second frame of the first picture, the first note says "something" leader, but I can't quite make it out. Sever? Select? thanks for helping me read, and thanks for posting, this is a great schema to follow.

I have those notes, sent to me by Zack, and mine are a tad clearer. It says “Select Leader … but don’t cut in year one”.

 

[dbonsaiw]

Wired up what may be the new leader. Tree is 26" tall at the cut, with a 6" base (I know, so tiny). Currently thinking about a 3 foot final height. Thoughts always welcome.

 

[Cajunrider]

Wired up what may be the new leader. Tree is 26" tall at the cut, with a 6" base (I know, so tiny). Currently thinking about a 3 foot final height. Thoughts always welcome.

If this were my tree, I would do the following come spring when it starts to grow again.
1. Prune off some of the branches near the top. You have some beautiful branches down below and need to encourage growth on those. BCs are so apical, those top branches can be regrown in no time so don't be afraid of pruning them.
2. I see that you got the lip rolling at the base of your apex. It is time to carve the trunk so you will have a smooth transition there. If you leave it alone, you will wind up cutting a lot of the extra growth away later when you style the tree.
3. Need to do branch selection down below as well. Prune off the ones you don't want and wire them.

Just my humble opinion. You do you my friend.

 

[dbonsaiw]

If this were my tree, I would do the following come spring when it starts to grow again.
1. Prune off some of the branches near the top. You have some beautiful branches down below and need to encourage growth on those. BCs are so apical, those top branches can be regrown in no time so don't be afraid of pruning them.
2. I see that you got the lip rolling at the base of your apex. It is time to carve the trunk so you will have a smooth transition there. If you leave it alone, you will wind up cutting a lot of the extra growth away later when you style the tree.
3. Need to do branch selection down below as well. Prune off the ones you don't want and wire them.

Just my humble opinion. You do you my friend.

Many thanks. On point 2, do you cut it on an angle from the leader or do you leave about half the chop flat and then angle the other half? (a la Zach Smith - btw, he officially retired).

 

[Cajunrider]

Many thanks. On point 2, do you cut it on an angle from the leader or do you leave about half the chop flat and then angle the other half? (a la Zach Smith - btw, he officially retired).

The flat cut already served its purpose. You now have a healthy top with the lip roll started on your apex. I would angle cut 1/2" away from the current lip then use a knife to carve it so you have a rounded top that ends 1/8" away from your lip. This way you won't have an ugly flat angle on your tree.

 

[dbonsaiw]

I repotted the tree into a grow box and cut the top. I’m tempted to eventually cut lower, but will just leave it be this season. Tree is backbudding hard. Soil is very water retentive and would float away upon watering so I added a healthy layer of sphagnum moss to keep the soil in place.

 

[dbonsaiw]

Leafed out nicely. At some point wiring and pruning will be in order. And here’s Goliath next to his DR neighbor “tiny”.

 

[Cajunrider]

Leafed out nicely. At some point wiring and pruning will be in order. And here’s Goliath next to his DR neighbor “tiny”.

Looking good. As for "tiny", whatcha feeding him?

 

[dbonsaiw]

As for "tiny", whatcha feeding him?

Osmocote and bonsai pro liquid fert.

 

[Cajunrider]

Osmocote and bonsai pro liquid fert.

The scar on your chop is healing nicely it appears. Hard to see under the cover but the angle is right and the top is healthy.

 

[dbonsaiw]

The scar on your chop is healing nicely it appears. Hard to see under the cover but the angle is right and the top is healthy.

I cleaned up the top a bit and the cut can be seen much clearer. Should I angle the cut even further on the bottom so the cut meets the branch opposite the leader or just leave it be?

 

[Cajunrider]

I cleaned up the top a bit and the cut can be seen much clearer. Should I angle the cut even further on the bottom so the cut meets the branch opposite the leader or just leave it be?

Leave it be. The side branches at the edge of the cut are helping the tree heal now but they soon need to be pruned else they form reverse taper.

 

[dbonsaiw]

Just a spring photo. This guy needs a haircut, but I am debating chopping it shorter.

 

[Cajunrider]

Just a spring photo. This guy needs a haircut, but I am debating chopping it shorter.

Super healthy!