Re-working a Tropical Pine

[A Random User]

Re-working a Narrow-Leaf Buttonwood. These are awesome plants to work
with and they make the perfect pine substitute. Only problem, is that unlike
a normal Buttonwood, they have rather smooth bark, so I am purposely
scaring the bark to give the tree an older appearance.

 

[Poink88]

Have you tried Casuarina?

 

[A Random User]

Here are some earlier progression pics of this tree, for all of you guys who
have taken the time to post comments regarding it...

 

[A Random User]

Have you tried Casuarina?

Yes, part of the problem with these is that they are on the invasive species list,
so as a nursery you are not allow to really sell.

 

[carp]

Buttonwood are on the endangered species list, but we all know that the bonsai circuit is full of "illegally" collected Buttonwood; some laws are just made to be broken.

 

[lordy]

View attachment 57119View attachment 57120
Re-working a Narrow-Leaf Buttonwood. These are awesome plants to work
with and they make the perfect pine substitute. Only problem, is that unlike
a normal Buttonwood, they have rather smooth bark, so I am purposely
scaring the bark to give the tree an older appearance.

The scars kinda look like the same pattern of wire scars. I would think if you do this "intentionally" that you would go out of your way to make the pattern irregular.

 

[A Random User]

The scars kinda look like the same pattern of wire scars. I would think if you do this "intentionally" that you would go out of your way to make the pattern irregular.

Yes, I have done precisely what you have suggested on quite a few trees...
This tree however, and a lot of tropicals work rather well by doing a pattern resembling
wire scars... once they have healed, you flip the pattern and go across, This is how
I and a lot of others who work with tropicals make a tree, or branch look old.

 

[Nybonsai12]

Yes, I have done precisely what you have suggested on quite a few trees...
This tree however, and a lot of tropicals work rather well by doing a pattern resembling
wire scars... once they have healed, you flip the pattern and go across, This is how
I and a lot of others who work with tropicals make a tree, or branch look old.

Any pics of a tree with this done to it that is farther along and appears old, curious to see what it looks like.

 

[Eric Group]

View attachment 57119View attachment 57120
Re-working a Narrow-Leaf Buttonwood. These are awesome plants to work
with and they make the perfect pine substitute. Only problem, is that unlike
a normal Buttonwood, they have rather smooth bark, so I am purposely
scaring the bark to give the tree an older appearance.

I am curious... Can you not grow Pines in your area? I mean I am sure species like JWP or Mugo would struggle and die with no real lengthy winters to speak of, but I know of people keeping JBP with success in SOUTH Florida... Like Ft Meyers/ Punta Gorda area... And you see two needle Pines growin Naturally there in the wild all over. I guess I am just asking because you mention these as being a "substitute for Pines"- well there is no substitute like the real thing! Why not go get yourself a nice JBP? Just curious...

I kind of would like to own a Buttonwood personally, but I don't have the space or sufficient set up to keep many tropicals alive through the winter in my house... I have two Bougies who struggle through the winter for me every year, get shocked when I move them outside, grow slow through the Spring (cool temps at night I guess...) then they tend to explode for me during the Summer. Makes it kind of hard to really train them for Bonsai though, as I have found the branches to be unreliable when it comes to lasting the winter... But I like the flowers, so I keep them around.

 

[A Random User]

I am curious... Can you not grow Pines in your area? I mean I am sure species like JWP or Mugo would struggle and die with no real lengthy winters to speak of, but I know of people keeping JBP with success in SOUTH Florida... Like Ft Meyers/ Punta Gorda area... And you see two needle Pines growin Naturally there in the wild all over. I guess I am just asking because you mention these as being a "substitute for Pines"- well there is no substitute like the real thing! Why not go get yourself a nice JBP? Just curious...

I kind of would like to own a Buttonwood personally, but I don't have the space or sufficient set up to keep many tropicals alive through the winter in my house... I have two Bougies who struggle through the winter for me every year, get shocked when I move them outside, grow slow through the Spring (cool temps at night I guess...) then they tend to explode for me during the Summer. Makes it kind of hard to really train them for Bonsai though, as I have found the branches to be unreliable when it comes to lasting the winter... But I like the flowers, so I keep them around.

Yep we have pines and they grow very well, here is a little JBP of mine that is currently
up for auction at Bonsai Classifieds. Reason why I said it makes a good substitute is
just like junipers are styled like pines, so can these.

 

[A Random User]

Now I gotta start considering a new pot...

 

[A Random User]

Felt these pics should be attached to this thread seeing that they
are a part of and have to deal with this tree...
These are pics of what use to be the apex of this tree, that I initially
styled as I demonstrated in a previous thread
http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?15727-Soulution-for-Styling-Apex

The tree has since had a change in the angle and this portion now
makes up the left hand portion of the tree.

Side note... I you look close, you can see how the wire scars once healed
really do age the bark nicely. These branches were supper smooth when
I first started it.

 

[A Random User]

Tree is coming along nicely, is really beginning to fill in,
and scars are healing. Will post up a pic soon !