Cajunrider
Imperial Masterpiece
Just collected these BCs. I am thinking about chopping one super short to make it a shohin. Which one?
Which one should I chop super short?
- Thread starter Cajunrider
- Start date
RobGA
Mame
I don’t know anything about bald cypress but I’m thinking the one with the curved trunk.
TrevorLarsen
Chumono
I would also say the curved one, because then you can add even more movement.
Cajunrider
Imperial Masterpiece
To be a shohin the rootball will be pruned to within 1/4” of death.
As short as I plan to chop these trees, curve or straight doesn’t matter.
hampton
Shohin
I vote for the one on the right in the last picture. Good root flair and fluting
My vote too, if it matters...
I love this pair in photo 1... that is the perfect duo to tie together at the top and grow out. I don't know how you resist! But I get smaller is the best way to take up north when you go.
these two together in a design could rival batman in a shorter time, maybe
these two together in a design could rival batman in a shorter time, maybe
Cajunrider
Imperial Masterpiece
They will be both chopped to 5” with the idea that an apex will be some where below that. Then two shohins will be developed. One will go to @19Mateo83 and one will be mine.
Root balls will be tightly pruned to befit a shohin. Keeping them alive will be critical in the first growing season.
@19Mateo83 Whether your tree lives or dies, you still owe me a horn beam
If they live, they will be kick-butt bonsai.
Root balls will be tightly pruned to befit a shohin. Keeping them alive will be critical in the first growing season.
@19Mateo83 Whether your tree lives or dies, you still owe me a horn beam
If they live, they will be kick-butt bonsai.
Cajunrider
Imperial Masterpiece
To make sure that the roots are all sharply cut for best survival chance I will use my big chop knife. It will be razor sharp after I sharpen it tonight.They will be both chopped to 5” with the idea that an apex will be some where below that. Then two shohins will be developed. One will go to @19Mateo83 and one will be mine.
Root balls will be tightly pruned to befit a shohin. Keeping them alive will be critical in the first growing season.
@19Mateo83 Whether your tree lives or dies, you still owe me a horn beam
19Mateo83
Masterpiece
I have all the faith in the world in you my friend 
About right here looks like a winner to me, gotta leave some room for die back and carving 
About right here looks like a winner to me, gotta leave some room for die back and carving
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pandacular
Masterpiece
This is gonna be wild. I would think 5” might be too tall for a shohin chop on these however. That’s only 3” to build an apex out of.
19Mateo83
Masterpiece
These are gonna be dope if they live
leatherback
The Treedeemer
The curved one seems to have a better flute & more evenly sized roots whoch would make it my preferred. The smaller the tree, the more irregularities start to matter. (Big guys get away with anything)
Shibui
Imperial Masterpiece
I can't see that it matters which you choose.
As you've already pointed out the curve won't exist after a chop so that leaves the lower trunk and roots.
Roots seem pretty similar. Especially when you realise that to grow a new leader and branches will take years so the roots will also have developed more. The matching hard chop on the roots you propose will probably also look quite different to the current photos.
Toss a coin and go for it on one or both.
As you've already pointed out the curve won't exist after a chop so that leaves the lower trunk and roots.
Roots seem pretty similar. Especially when you realise that to grow a new leader and branches will take years so the roots will also have developed more. The matching hard chop on the roots you propose will probably also look quite different to the current photos.
Toss a coin and go for it on one or both.
awarrenj
Sapling
Just a suggestion but there is a BC Forum that involves all the top BC folks and if you pose your question to them , you will get some real pro responses.
( I am not one of them but I get a lot of great info there.)
( I am not one of them but I get a lot of great info there.)
Cajunrider
Imperial Masterpiece
Apex will be chosen below the chops. 5” provide tiny margins for errors.
leatherback
The Treedeemer
just a suggestion, considering who posted the question is not specific to bald cypress..
Cajunrider
Imperial Masterpiece
In this case the question is about aesthetics and challenge. The one with a curved trunk has compact roots and is relatively easier to do shohin. The one with a high root presents a bit more challenge but may be very interesting once done. @19Mateo83 got dib on that challenge now.
