nagasaki crabapple - malus progression

[just.wing.it]

Any updates, @barrosinc ?

Yeah, how's it looking after bout a year? @barrosinc
I'm glad you decided not to chop....
I also have a tree I decided not to chop and I'm happier with it tall.
That's a cool little tree, have you seen the root spread yet?

 

[barrosinc]

I made this pot out of stoneware, it wasn't fired at a high enough temperature so it didn't go Brown, but preferred it over plastic.

I am using a front that might no be definite because it seemed to have no lateral branches from that angle.





Looking at the pictures it didn't seem to add any ratification almost

 

[cmeg1]

Any updates on this Apple?

 

[erb.75]

updates with flowers?

 

[erb.75]

Erbdate? ops, I mean update?

 

[bonsaichile]

updates with flowers?

He lives in Chile, in the Southern Hemisphere. We will need to wait until September to see flowers!

 

[erb.75]

He lives in Chile, in the Southern Hemisphere. We will need to wait until September to see flowers!

ah I missed that! So I guess it's probably dormant right now. gives me something to look forward to bonsai-wise in the winter!

 

[barrosinc]

So here's the tree.
I have been doing as Peter Adams recommends in his book and cut back in summer. But in not sure if this is for ramification or for trees in refining state.

I have had trouble too getthe lower branches to elongate.

This pic is from the future front.

 

[0soyoung]

I have had trouble too getthe lower branches to elongate.

Think about growing pines. We have a wildly growing sacrifice (apex) that produces a lot of auxin and suppresses the growth of stems low on the trunk.

So, reduce the vigor of the apex --> less foliage fewer apical meristems (buds/branch tips) generating auxin (since it tends to be apically dominant, apical branches can be easily remade later in development).

 

[barrosinc]

Always so helpful, oso.
I will cut apex branches back very often and leave the lower branches untouched.

 

[barrosinc]

Think about growing pines. We have a wildly growing sacrifice (apex) that produces a lot of auxin and suppresses the growth of stems low on the trunk.

So, reduce the vigor of the apex --> less foliage fewer apical meristems (buds/branch tips) generating auxin (since it tends to be apically dominant, apical branches can be easily remade later in development).

oso, could you help me with how much should I cut from the apex?

 

[0soyoung]

oIso, could you help me with how much should I cut from the apex?

I don't have enough experience to pass out recipes. I approach these things by exercising principles (I think) I understand.

I would cut it back to one node on every branch in the top third, or so, of the tree. If there are specific ones that I can do without, I remove them (being careful to leave the branch collar where 'latent' buds reside). Then, next spring when the buds pop, I nip off the extending tip after the first pair of leaves.

If the lower branches that are being allowed to run aren't vigorous enough (by your Oct/Nov, say) maybe defoliate the top quarter of the tree and/or selectively lop off apical branches/shoots. Meanwhile, I wouldn't remove anything from the lower branches during the growing season. I often gently wire the soft tips of the lower branches about this time. I do it to save bench space; however, it may help to invigorate them (auxin flow and gravitropism).

Of course, if you are planning to redevelop the top part of the trunk to have more taper, this would be an opportune time to chop it and wire the new leader. Even then, you may need to keep clipping away at the foliage on the top third or forth of the tree for the low branches to rapidly thicken.