Overgrown natal plum

[nuttiest]

This tree could probably look like something if I would just trim a little away from the front, so we can see a trunkline, or primary branching. Or maybe tighten up those pads, look at how many pairs of leaves, what a shame. I don't though. Do you know why?

 

[rockm]

This tree could probably look like something if I would just trim a little away from the front, so we can see a trunkline, or primary branching. Or maybe tighten up those pads, look at how many pairs of leaves, what a shame. I don't though. Do you know why?

Cut all shoots back to two leaves. You’re in Fla. you will get another flush of growth before winter sets in. Natal plum is pretty tough. It’s used as hedging material. Hard cut back results in tighter growth pads. There are resting buds at the base of each leaf. Cutting back activates those resting buds to grow. That means you’ll like get two shoots at every cut.

Not sure what you’re asking. Why? Does it have long shoots and pair of leaves? Because you’re not pruning it properly.

 

[nuttiest]

Not sure what you’re asking. Why? Does it have long shoots and pair of leaves? Because you’re not pruning it properly.

NO, because it's not old enough to be worth my time it is only 19 I have to wait until it's 20

 

[ABCarve]

NO, because it's not old enough to be worth my time it is only 19 I have to wait until it's 20

Why not 21? Then you could have a martini with it after you were done.

 

[nuttiest]

Lol, I like it. If your bonsai isn't drinking age...
I figured something out here, RockM. If I want to mimick what the tree does then I could do the clip to to leaves at the end, but the higher points clip t 4, and 6, and so on
like this

 

[rockm]

You can do what you want of course but having worked in Natal plum I can say you will get a more compact tree by hard prying back to two leaves on the shoots. “Doing what a tree wants” is a stretch that leads to long lanky lookin branching. IMO of course.

 

[nuttiest]

“Doing what a tree wants” is a stretch that leads to long lanky lookin branching. IMO of course.

That is the fun part I thought sure it was growing that way when I drew this inside. Then I thought wait, does it really grow like that? All this time I never observed. It is the opposite, all of the long cascade type strands develop on the bottom, with the longest at the bottom tip 20 pairs. Going to clip a little right now and ask for guidance after you can see the branches

 

[nuttiest]

here is maybe front now

 

[nuttiest]

I guess the pads I started aren't very visible

 

[nuttiest]

I forgot this one has a questionable front (could not see it) but this is with most cut back

 

[jason biggs]

The cascade looks believable + not forced... bark looks aged... gonna be a nice tree, well done