Sinuous Twin Trunk Thuja occidentalis

[amkhalid]

This thuja was collected Spring 2013. I am in love with the lines of this tree. It is healthy and I will probably do some initial pruning and branch placement this summer. As of now it is absolutely untouched except for trimming away the numerous dead twigs that all Thuja come with. Obviously this tree will need a very exciting container!

 

[yenling83]

Looking good!!! Probably a few different angle possibilities to play around with. I really like the movement of the trunks.

 

[Vance Wood]

If you can find a way to get the growth under control and make it do what you want it to do you could have a wonderful bonsai on your hands.

 

[KennedyMarx]

Just awesome. I'm not a fan of crescent pots, but it seems like the most logical choice for this thuja assuming the planting angle remains the same.

 

[amkhalid]

If you can find a way to get the growth under control and make it do what you want it to do you could have a wonderful bonsai on your hands.

Judicious wiring and pruning will do the trick.

 

[RKatzin]

Wow! That's some nice material! Brings to mind a big old three masted sailing ship. I love it! I have some chrushed yew to be collected that have the same look. I don't know how that will translate into bonsai design.

I have a few Thuja o. and it's been my experience that as far as foliage is concerned, what you see is what you get. You can develop what is there, but the advent of any back buds is non-existent, in old wood.

I see the same growth habit, all the leaves out on the ends of the limbs. There's no chasing it back either. Maybe you'll have better luck with that.

You don't see alot of these in production and not alot of info accordingly. Thanks for showing off and I'm very anxious to see how this magnificent piece develops. Sincerly, Rick

 

[amkhalid]

I have a few Thuja o. and it's been my experience that as far as foliage is concerned, what you see is what you get. You can develop what is there, but the advent of any back buds is non-existent, in old wood.

I see the same growth habit, all the leaves out on the ends of the limbs. There's no chasing it back either. Maybe you'll have better luck with that.

There is nothing to chase back on this tree - both trunks are covered in small young shoots that have popped from the old wood. Instead of pushing back this tree will need selective pruning to remove the excess shoots then to grow to develop branches. But this is a good problem to have.

Its amazing that lots of the thuja I collect have little shoots popping all over centuries old trunks and branches. Something in the air up north, as some have speculated.

Thuja have a bad rap. They back bud pretty well, definitely better than hinoki. This is why thuja is a primary hedging material in the NE. And they just require the same detail wiring strategies as junipers. Problem is that neglecting cutting and wiring will be much more evident on thuja than junipers where laziness can be hidden by pretty poofy things.

I love thuja and while I have only been collecting them for about five years I am surrounded by friends with stunning and inspiring refined examples. They are an amazing species and I am much more convinced by their long term viability as bonsai than some other highly touted N. American species.

 

[RKatzin]

Well, I love thuja and I love your tree! Love to see it all budded out. Thanks again for showing, Rick

 

[amkhalid]

Update after initial styling this weekend. Just the main branches were wired and a new planting angle considered. The work was done at the "project" table of our local show, so I was lucky to be able to throw it into the photography booth for a nice picture.

 

[october]

I love this tree and the photography! It might just be the pic or angle, but it looks like the trunk is moving to the left, but all the growth was wired moving to the right. Was this the plan?

Rob

 

[amkhalid]

I love this tree and the photography! It might just be the pic or angle, but it looks like the trunk is moving to the left, but all the growth was wired moving to the right. Was this the plan?

Rob

Definitely that was the plan. I like the tension of the apices moving opposite to the direction of the trunks. Plus it makes a more compact image which is important to me. Making both apices move to the left would have made a more flowing image but the higher apex would be very difficult to make in that direction and more importantly it would probably end up covering the interesting bends in the trunk.

 

[october]

Definitely that was the plan. I like the tension of the apices moving opposite to the direction of the trunks. Plus it makes a more compact image which is important to me. Making both apices move to the left would have made a more flowing image but the higher apex would be very difficult to make in that direction and more importantly it would probably end up covering the interesting bends in the trunk.

Yes, we usually can't have everything come together perfectly. I think seeing the movement of the beautiful trunk on this bonsai is very important. It took so long to create, so it should be shown.

Rob

 

[M. Frary]

I see these all over where I work. Lots. I usually just walk on by because of the foliage. I'm thinking I should grab some next spring now.

 

[amkhalid]

I see these all over where I work. Lots. I usually just walk on by because of the foliage. I'm thinking I should grab some next spring now.

These are widely used for bonsai in the North East. Around here we usually only bother with collected ones with cool trunks. I would never bother starting a thuja from a young uninteresting plant as the foliage is a drawback. It can be tamed but will never be perfect. You need a trunk that is the focus of the bonsai.

There are some exceptions as October (Rob) from this forum has a very nice bunjin Thuja that I believe was from nursery stock.

If the thuja around your work have exciting trunks, go for it!

 

[M. Frary]

Could other foliage be grafted onto these? Say Hinoki cypress?

 

[Vance Wood]

Could other foliage be grafted onto these? Say Hinoki cypress?

I have heard that this is possible but I have yet to see it-----so I would be hesitant to claim that it is.

 

[amkhalid]

Could other foliage be grafted onto these? Say Hinoki cypress?

Yes, Nick Lenz has successfully grafted hinoki on thuja. I've been trying it myself for the last several years but it is a slow process.

Hinoki has its drawbacks too... it is really slow growing, at least around here. And it doesn't backbud as well as Thuja.

Really, thuja foliage isn't that bad. Here is a pic of my friend's thuja... in my opinion this is as good as it gets. This tree was collected about 10 years ago. It is a bit shaggy as it hasn't been cut this year yet but the foliage is excellent overall. If it was my tree, I wouldn't even think about grafting it.

The worst thing you can do for Thuja foliage is over pinch it. then it just becomes a mess.

 

[M. Frary]

Looks like that one is under control. Guess I'll grab one in the spring and see how it goes. I know where there are a few that look a lot like these. All beat up.