Pushing back Sekka

[JoeR]

These sekka are 2 maybe 3 years old from cutting. I left the wire on and they unfortunately scarred, they grow quick, but I am hoping they will not be noticeable in time.

I do not understand the principle of pushing back, or maintaining dense foliage, on sekka. It does not develop the fronds as other hinoki do, so the techniques ive read and use for others dont quite apply. I also have seen them back bud much more vigorously than other hinoki, but not consistently.

I plan to grow these out quite a bit more, but I am hoping to encourage and preserve lower branching.

Any advice is greatly appreciated

Two examples shown below

 

[WNC Bonsai]

Watch

and

 

[WNC Bonsai]

I have about 10 that look like yours and will be air layering the upper thicker sections and making cuttings from smaller diameter branches. That will leave the lower trunk with existing foliage to make a small tree as shown in Eric’s videos. I plan to air layering the thicker branches since I am not confident those thicker, woodier ones will root as easily.

 

[JoeR]

I have about 10 that look like yours and will be air layering the upper thicker sections and making cuttings from smaller diameter branches. That will leave the lower trunk with existing foliage to make a small tree as shown in Eric’s videos. I plan to air layering the thicker branches since I am not confident those thicker, woodier ones will root as easily.

Thanks for the links

I watched Eric's videos, but he wasn't certain how they would respond, so it was cool to see they survived even the 90% reduction. Looks like I have to wait until summer to chop them. He mentions a Japanese blog too, that guy has some amazing stock with fast progression in some pretty tiny Terra cotta pots. Only watched one of those videos but look forward to the rest, and I'll post any relevant info I find from them

 

[WNC Bonsai]

Thanks for the links

I watched Eric's videos, but he wasn't certain how they would respond, so it was cool to see they survived even the 90% reduction. Looks like I have to wait until summer to chop them. He mentions a Japanese blog too, that guy has some amazing stock with fast progression in some pretty tiny Terra cotta pots. Only watched one of those videos but look forward to the rest, and I'll post any relevant info I find from them

Yes, I have watched just about all pf those and a couple others too. I may have been the one who told Eric about that channel.

 

[JoeR]

Yes, I have watched just about all pf those and a couple others too. I may have been the one who told Eric about that channel.

Bryan from bonsailearningcenter also told me he sprays for fungus and thinks the sekka may be prone to infections too, just an fyi

 

[WNC Bonsai]

Bryan from bonsailearningcenter also told me he sprays for fungus and thinks the sekka may be prone to infections too, just an fyi

Yes, I took a dozen cuttings 2 years ago and had them in a plastic bag “greenhouse”. They developed a fungal infection and I lost several but about half hung on for almost a year. One finally rooted and the rest died. I plan to dip my cuttings this spring in dilute hydrogen peroxide then spray with fungicide. I will also be able to keep them in my greenhouse on a heating mat instead of inside a plastic bag.