Bonsaify | Bonsai Development in REVERSE? From Refined to Redesigned
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- Опубликовано: 29 сен 2024
- Sometimes, bonsai don't always go (or grow) as planned. That's the case with this Monterey Cypress Eric started 15 years ago from seed. At one point, it was healthy and refined enough to be part of a Bonsai Society of San Francisco annual show. Now, it's almost dead. Eric hopes to bring it back to life with a design reset!
00:01:05 When the tree first started declining in health a few years ago, Eric thought it had root rot and treated it with multiple fungicides. After, the entire tree other than 1 branch died. Monterey Cypress are susceptible to a pitch canker fungal infection that gets into the cambium and suppress growth, deform and kill branches or occasionally the entire full-size tree.
00:01:58 Eric plans to reorient the foliage to more of a "cypress shape" and use a Dremel tool to strip off the rest of the bark; on the living branch he will remove wire and then rewire.
00:02:32 The Dremel tool isn't getting the job done so Eric moves on to splitting and carving. He sees evidence of beetles or small insects that chew on cambium.
00:03:37 What happened first - the tree died and then beetles, or beetles caused the death. Close-up of beetle evidence.
00:04:43 Close-up look of what could be canker (small area of dead tissue, which grows slowly, sometimes over years). Side of lifeline has a weird look.
00:06:05 Eric comments on how the properties of wood when dry (dead) are very different than when wet. Splitting the bark to create natural-looking deadwood, using a different process than the fiber-pulling he did with Junipers in a recent video: • Bonsaify | When NOT to... .
00:07:27 Finding tunnels in the wood is a sure sign that a borer beetle larva is the cause.
00:08:58 Insect frass (feces) creates interesting features for deadwood.
00:10:47 Eric finds a couple more holes in the wood.
00:11:10 Using a Dremel with wire wheel to strip off remaining bits of bark and smooth out the wood enables Eric to accentuate some of the contours in the wood.
00:12:12 Wire wheel is done for this session. Time to remove the wire!
00:12:48 Starting over with design of the tree - new wires added. Eric explains what he sees and how it guides his design plan.
00:13:56 From refined, show-ready tree back into middle development. Reset and go back to middle development techniques.
00:15:48 Structure Eric has set is intended to be the foundation and he won't do any more work for now; he's just going to let the tree grow.
What experiences have you had working on trees that need to be completely redesigned due to dieback? Let us know in the comments below. Thank you for watching - give the video a like and share it with friends. Subscribe to the channel to be informed of new Bonsaify videos!
This has happened to me a few times already, but I didn't need any fancy pests or disease to get the process started. I just got really good at accid-I mean uh, intentionally- snapping trunks while wiring them.
Superb video, and I think the new version of this tree will be better than the original.
I’ve seen borers in my area in South Carolina that have never been observed here before! Likely cane in on a purchased tree, or on shipping materials? I’ve been treating my entire garden the past 2 seasons with systemic insecticides, so far good results but need to change up my systemic this season. In gonna start to quarantine collected materials as well, suspect some may be coming from the wild too. Good luck with your tree!
This was one of the most interesting instructional videos I have seen. The forensic investigation and redesign approach to the tree were both fascinating and inspirational! Thanks for sharing this with you subscribers...
I use a Bonide systemic insecticide drench each spring on all my trees. Borers are a growing issue as trees are weakened by global warming and as borers themselves spread. Good luck on that one, I think I’d act fast in case there are borers in the live vein-Larry
Hope the Cypress makes a comeback. Appreciate you sharing the process of investigation.
I picked a few of Monterey Cypress trees while hiking in Pacifica. Little seedlings grow abundantly in the area. I see lots of conifers dying in the bay area but they are mostly pines and some redwoods. I haven’t noticed large Monterey cypress trees dying abruptly like the other species so badly affected by the pine beetle.
I put the seedlings I picked two years ago in pots and just let them go. after watching your videos I’m glad I started those a few years ago. I just put them in the ground to fatten them up a little faster.
Always nice to work with local species
Thank you for another excellent video,
Mats
Pretty fortunate that you had one branch left alive. Would you have discovered all this if the whole tree died and you went on with the theory of fungal infection being the primary cause?
I think not. I wouldn't have noticed the borers if the whole tree died. In fact I had another tree from the same batch that did entirely die, and I never checked for borers. Now I wonder..
Nice won meen.
Definitely a lot of potential! Very nice tree
Maybe the canker attacked first and weaked the tree, and that make it susceptible to the borer insects infestation? its known that those pest usually target weak or sick trees to begin with
It almost looks like a tanuki for now. But I’m sure it’ll look interesting after a few years growth
Going to change container since you need so much more growth?
Yes, into a box, or perhaps even in the ground. They can grow quite fast when they get going!
It seems there was life cambium when cleaned the tree ?
Have you had any success with the washer over seedlings technique yet? i just popped a washer on 2 zelkova, trying to see what that gives me in terms of nebari
No, so far I'm not liking it as a technique. Most of the ones I did with Zelkova swelled, but they didn't issue good radial roots. I think layering later, or regular root work might be better.
Always a pleasure to watch
Boring insects vs. exciting insects? You need to put a quarter in the Dad bad joke jar Sir.
=Takes Bow=
Great job,thank u
I have a Monterey Cypress that I started training this year, so I am glad this video came out two-fold! 1) I know others have had success with the species. 2) How to deal with common issues of the species! Thank you for this video
I Collected a Cypress this early spring with the most amazing taper I've ever seen... but unfortunately it was completely full of rust apples.. in my defense it was getting dark when I found it and basically had to cut all and I mean 90% of the Foliage mass to cure the rust issues... it just started growing again in the last month or so but now has completely reverted back to juvenile foliage. I'm hopeful it will still make an Attractive bonsai one day. Patience cures almost all mistakes if you learn from those mistakes.
These beetle damages look like Scolytinae caused them. They can kill off big parts of forest pretty fast.
Please explain why you didn’t use lime sulphur
Just didn't feel like it TBH. And, Cypress (Hesperocyparis ssp.) wood is naturally rot resistant. The sun will bleach the color so it's not really needed. If I want to preserve the base as-is, I'll need to use wood hardener.
Eric, can you torch all the dead wood now and give the tree a survivor of a forest fire look? It could ensure that no further pests will invade and have a dramatic look to it. Just a thought !
kalau di indonesia bonsai ini nama nya bonsai cemara dan yang unik nya pola dasar nya sangat bagus sehingga ndi indonesia jarang ada..bonsai yang sangat luar biasa...
Terima kasih telah menonton !👍
What are some recommended preventions or treatment to borers that isn’t toxic ? Bonide organics? And also besides noticing fras in soil and mechanically treating
did you make the 2nd part of this? pls lmk, tia
Part ☠️. Not sure if there was another borer, but this bonsai has ceased to be! It is an ex-bonsai!
What type of fertilizer do you use in the fall?
For specimen trees, I've switched to a mix of BioGold and miracle grow. I don't change types through different seasons, just amounts. Heavy fertilizer in fall ensures better health through winter! In fact some tree species I fertilize only in fall. (mature Japanese maples, ponderosa pine for example.)
👍👍👍
Couldn’t you also have left it more rough and sparse, really telling the story of this tree strugling to survive rather than work towards a new idealised aesthetic? Or would the risk of loosing the tree completely be too big and is going for maximum vigour the only option?
Yes, I could have. There is no reason that the deadwood has to be polished. And I mentioned that it didn't have to be done now. however, I felt like cleaning it now, then allowing it to naturally weather and decay while the tree re-grows might lead to an interesting result. I have definitely had times (and particular trees) where I did not want to clean bark and deadwood. The natural state can be quite nice; just didn't think so in this case.
What time of year do you repot Monterey Cypress? Thanks and thanks for all the great videos.