Questions About Cryptomeria BD Bonsai

[Deleted member 47471]

I reserved a young cryptomeria today at a local nursery. It is the tallest and fullest among the remaining four. The 1st branches seem young and elastic. My questions are:

1. Though the tree will undergo development, do the young/bendy/elastic-like primaries need to mature before initial structural bends and styling? Or do they currently appear ready for movement?

2. Is Fall the optimal time for initial Structural styling (bending, tearing and recovering of fibers?)

3. Given the fullness of the body with primaries, is it advisable to eliminate common structural problem areas like parallel branching, swelling/junctions, etc. now, or can it wait?

The age of the tree is unknown to me and the sales associate. The tree had good Spring and Summer flushes, so it’s in an energy positive state, right? If that’s the case, the tree can tolerate structural work and recover well in the Fall, right? The tree is strong.

P.S. my apologies for being grouchy today.

 

[CaptColin]

I'm no expert, but I love these, and have a few myself. I've had great luck wiring and pruning after last frost in spring. Not sure if you can get away with other times, I've just always played it safe. Not much info out there but there is some, Bonsai Empire had a resource on them if I remember correctly. Good luck!


1. Go for it, they take forever to get woody
2. Idk, but I've had great results in spring
3. I hard prune new ones in spring to correct structural deficiency and they always flush out

 

[Deleted member 47471]

I'm no expert, but I love these, and have a few myself. I've had great luck wiring and pruning after last frost in spring. Not sure if you can get away with other times, I've just always played it safe. Not much info out there but there is some, Bonsai Empire had a resource on them if I remember correctly. Good luck!


1. Go for it, they take forever to get woody
2. Idk, but I've had great results in spring
3. I hard prune new ones in spring to correct structural deficiency and they always flush out

Thank you very much, Capt. I’ll check BE for some literature (have found some content on YT).