Styling Help on Portulacaria

[KingJades]

Hi! I've been working on this Portulacaria that I got from one of those "4 succulents for $4" Home Depot deals and have been styling it as a slanted informal upright. I've only been working the tree for a year and think it's come very far.

I let it grow out a little just pruned it back but the top still seems a little messy. Any suggestions for how to clean it up and set a good structure to build upon?

First two image show proposed fronts. Initially, the front was with the tree facing to the left but the previous back of the tree actually seems a bit better now.



I think the planting angle is a bit low so I was going to bring the tree up a little in the next repot.


Here's the top of the tree. It's a bit ubalanced and all over the place. I think I need to clean it up a bit but could use some help to direct it.

I have a low bud on the trunk that I use for a sacrifice or to bring more balance to the tree.




Thank you!

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I have several of these after we had a discussion (re: argument) here about whether or not these could ever be convincing bonsai. So I set out to educate myself

First of all, consider the leaf scale. (I know they aren't really leaves, but bare with me). Portulacaria leaves are of a fixed size - you can't reduce them via standard bonsai techniques. So you have to look at the leaves and ask yourself - how large of a bonsai do I need to make it convincingly look like an old tree in nature? I think you need to think of growth right now - versus ramification - because a larger plant will better look like a tree.

If you are really fortunate, and know some who knows someone, try to get one of Frank Yee's portulacarias. They have an unusual malformation that gives them corky bark... while they are a succulent.

 

[hemmy]

You can always tidey them up by removing the older leaf under the new sprout.

I'm agree the main 'Nut, if you are starting with anything less than 2", then get the 'cork' variety! I bought some by mail from Bogans Bonsai a couple a years ago and also from the Huntington's ISS sale (Bogans was easier). You'll have to call him, they weren't on the website. They were just pencil sized starts, but cheap. Of course it takes many years to develop the texture.

http://bogansbonsai.com/index.html

 

[just.wing.it]

I have a tiny one that is about the size of yours.
I want to keep mine as small as I can, so I let it grow shoots to several pairs of leaves, then I cut each shoot back to the first pair of leaves. Been building a tight little canopy on it.
I'll try to take a picture later today, after work.
I and also am going to be placing my Tropicals in the basement this year, for winter...wife said I can't use the spare bedroom anymore .....so we'll see how that goes....hope I don't need a space heater running all winter down there...
If my trops die in the basement, I'll probably hang up the trops for good...or at least until I move to a better house!

 

[sorce]

wife said I can't use the spare bedroom anymore

Uh oh!

Mas Babies!

Sorce

 

[just.wing.it]

Uh oh!

Mas Babies!

Sorce

Haha, well yeah, that'll get cooking next year I think... possibly even 2 years from now....but yeah, eventually.

 

[just.wing.it]

Uh oh!

Mas Babies!

Sorce

Here's the new spot in the basement!
Peep the brightness!

 

[sorce]

brightness

Damn....my fluorescent are 2 seasons old already.
Last year I could already tell they were weaker!

Time to get new lights!

@KingJades you never see these on an angle, I like it, heavy or slight!

Sorce

 

[just.wing.it]

Damn....my fluorescent are 2 seasons old already.
Last year I could already tell they were weaker!

Time to get new lights!

@KingJades you never see these on an angle, I like it, heavy or slight!

Sorce

The little cardboard hood above, and the walls around are covered in aluminum tape. Wanted to reflect as much light around as I could.
I wish I had taken a before and after pic.

 

[just.wing.it]

The little cardboard hood above, and the walls around are covered in aluminum tape. Wanted to reflect as much light around as I could.
I wish I had taken a before and after pic.

 

[KingJades]

Found I had a branch coming off the main trunk and passing through the center of the current apex that was cluttering things up. Removed it and the top opened up quite a bit.

 

[just.wing.it]

I like the slanting style, maybe wire that left branch down a bit....if possible.

 

[KingJades]

Updated photo. Not the best photo but snapped a pic for a friend and thought I'd share.

 

[Giga]

It's cute

 

[KingJades]

Slightly better update photo.
Straight branch with no taper on the left is going to come off eventually.

 

[KingJades]

Most recent updates. Trying to fill out the apex and develop it nicely. The bottom left branch is a sacrificial. The subtle movement of the trunk was lost during thickening so I'll have to rewire that movement back in.

I'm having some trouble getting a good apex going. All of my branches higher up on the tree are initially directed backward, but I'm using clip and grow to get the apex facing back toward the viewer.

I'm going to angle the tree at the next repot so the front better lines up with the "chapstick" photo that is attached.

This tree looks much better in person. I'm trying to fix it.

 

[KingJades]

Actually this front might work better. It was initially how I was working the tree up. Thoughts??

 

[Michael P]

Just starting out with some Portulacaria cuttings, so I'm going through all the post on this species. Thanks for showing your work!

I do like this front better. It is more open so you see the branch structure, while the foliage behind the trunk gives depth.