2 year bonsai tree progression

[Steeldrifter 0]

Here's a neat little four pic progression of a bonsai I have been working on for the past two years. It was a tall house plant when I got it in the spring of 2014, so I trunk chopped it down to nothing. Then let it sprout and grow wild a bit over the past 2 years. Now just gave it its first hard prune today. Still has some years of growing & pruning to do but you can see the shape starting to take hold now. Nothing teaches patience quite like bonsai that's for sure.

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SPRING 2015

 

 

SUMMER 2015

 

 

SPRING 2016

 

TODAY 2016 AFTER A HARD FIRST PRUNE

[Bimini15 0]

He is a man of many talents.

[mikechell 0]

You definitely have the proverbial green thumb, Steve. I know it'll be Winter, and most of your trees will be dormant, but I can hardly wait to see them in person. I am really looking forward to the visit.

[Steeldrifter 0]

Looking forward to seeing ya Mike. Would offer to take ya fishing when ye get here, but you, feb....ewwwww....don't want to be the reason you have a stroke lol

[mikechell 0]

Um ... if you have a fishing game on X-Box, that's probably close enough.

But, it might be another of those warm Winters. One can always hope.

[zip 0]

I AM GROOT!

[caloosa bug 0]

https://youtu.be/BEPbXYzE5_Y

 

haha. For those who don't know groot.

 

I had a small one for a couple years. I eventually killed it.

[Bimini15 0]

Looks like a Chia pet for GenerationX

[mikechell 0]

"Guardians of the Galaxy" ... funny movie with some good special effects.

[DrVette 0]

Hey Steve, Did the moss in that living rock ever bloom? It is the smallest most pure wight flower you can imagine...But it isn't actually a flower. I forgot what it really is.

[Steeldrifter 0]

Not yet Todd. There is some small areas of green coming in but nothing big enough to shoot any sort of flower yet.

 

Well here is another tree I have been working on lately. A Hinoki Cypress bonsai I have been working on for the past 2 years. First pic is when I bought it, very tall and one dimensional looking. 2nd pic is after it's first trim a year ago, still was not happy with it then. 3rd pic is today after a styling into a true Literati style. Much nicer looking now.

 

 

Last year, still not happy with it at all...

 

 

Today in a nicer Literati style.

 

[mikechell 0]

"All things come to those that wait."

Bonsai is the ultimate teacher of patience. Personally, I no of no other undertaking that requires such a slow pace.

 

Turning out to be a beautifully shaped tree.

[Kudu 0]

Nice! Have you ever seen a Mimosa tree trained to be a bonsai?

[Steeldrifter 0]

Not in person I haven't Dan, but there are some really beautiful ones online if you goggle Mimosa bonsai tree. Very nice looking when in bloom from the looks of it.

[mikechell 0]

Just about any tree species can be Bonsai'd ... but trees that have small leaves make better Bonsai.

Mimosa are one of those species with perfect leaves for it. But the leaf "fronds" get large if insufficient sun is available.

They also are relatively quick growing ... reducing a little, the patience required.

They aren't cold tolerant, at all, so you might not want to try those, Steve.