Hi... if you dont mind me asking, where did you buy the small casuarina and how much? Have been looking for small casuarinas... ;-)

No wonder could not find it. ;-) Hope you will have a nice casuarina soon. Heard it is a very fast grower, so better suited to be a larger type of bonsai(talked to SanFong boss that day).

Regards
cj

Hi Alvin

I think the white stuff is called mealybug. Sometimes, ants farms these bugs. So, you have to get rid of the ants to prevent reinfestation. Other times, you can spray with pesticide and repeat for newly hatch ones as well.

This bug loves mulberry leaves. I usually just trim it when I see them or shoot them away with water. (for very light infestation) If heavy infestation, I usually drown them but putting the whole plant inside a bucket of water for a day.

There is an organic way of killing them (although I have not have the opportunity to try). It is to use neem oil(margosa oil) + dishwasher, then mix with water. Search around the internet for the exact recipe. Better yet is to mix with dog shampoo with mite prevention chemicals. Margosa oil can buy at Indian sundry shops.

Last but not least, malathion kills almost everything, including us.. ;-)

Additional tips: If you defoliate(depending on the health of the tree) then spray, it may be more effective as the bugs have nowhere to hide. Respray though for new hatches after a week or 2. You may need to rid the plant and the surrounding from ants first, because no matter what you do, the ants will bring them back (for controlling ant farmed mealies).

Regards
cj

This tree has a nice trunkline. I guess now is the time for branch development.

Something about the pot. The tree (as it is now) looks more of a feminine look now. So a more feminine pot would be better. However, at this stage, you probably want a big pot to develop the branch further.

Another alternative is to do a literati style tree, in which case you will need a literati style pot next time.

Hi bonsailelong, sure. I don't have bonsai's yet though. I've just dug up many trees during CNY, now into branch development. Here is one of the tree that has just being hard pruned. (That sifu in the picture is holding some branch so we can imagine where future branches is to be developed)



This post has been edited by cjloong: Aug 30 2013, 12:22 PM

Personally, I'll do it when everything is thick enough. Perhaps before you do ramification.
ie. trunk, roots(nebari) and branches (first few lowest branches especially).

However, it really depends on tree to tree.

Actually, for your tree, try to slant it a little here and there. There may be some hidden shapes that looks better.

Regards
cj

This post has been edited by cjloong: Aug 30 2013, 06:03 PM

They could hide in roots also ya... google mealy bug. You eill find lots of info.

I usually soak the whole tree underwater for a day.

Btw. Just remembered h2o2 works also. Can get in pharmacy. Use a brush to apply.

Was working on the tree just now. This is 8 months later' Planning hard prunning before rainy season where growth is most rapid.




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Here is one of my shohin. Just did a trunk chop.
Also branch development stage(bottom branches). That's why I have all those long branches. When they have reach the desired thickness, I will do a hard prune. If I cut now, very hard to get the desired thickness.

For top part, short internodes are desired.


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.Thanks. All were planted on the same patch but this is somehow smaller.

7 years altogether. 3 times trunk chop and root pruned. Dug up all plants beginning this year.

forum.lowyat.net/uploads/attach-34/post-433634-1377940103.jpg

This side can see the trunk easier. How tall eventually you want this tree to be?

You know right that trunk is the hardest to thicken follow by the bottom few branches.

Right how some aerial roots seems too thick. Whats your plan about them.

Hope u don't mind my questions. Just trying to trigger some brainstorming.

BTW. Those black pine is nice. How much are those? Maybe can tumpang beli if next time.

This post has been edited by cjloong: Aug 31 2013, 09:37 PM

John Samuel? Can you link a pic. Maybe you can air layer those roots. Then use the small roots and out the large ones.

Maybe faster if you use larger pot. Probably cannot than ya...

Just worked on a multitrunk. Here it is. Same, dig before CNY 13.
A bit hard to see. Gonna hard prune next CNY. Maybe will update again and photo could be better.

This post has been edited by cjloong: Sep 1 2013, 02:17 AM


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Thanks for the info. Would you be able to tell me the loc of the nursery.

Search and found it. Nice old tree. Good choice in which tree to emulate. One thing abt ficus is nice ones are usually huge.

What's everybody's favourite species then?

I think I like juniper best, then pine. But these are species I yet to master.

For decidious, its still wrightia. (For our country)

Thanks for the info. So far...

Btw your new premna, how large is it?
The drastic curves are nice features of the tree...

Try Sang Fong. Last time, saw some asam jawa(CNY13 time). The other 2 a bit hard. Leopard tree can find tall trees(10 ft ++), abt RM200-300... ;-) Can buy and air layer the top part... (in fact can layer, grow, layer, grow, ... ) and make many many bonsai's. Saw at Seri Kembangang nursery and OUG nursery around CNY time. Not sure if still there or not.

BTW. You looking for brazilian rain tree or leopard tree? Both are a bit different if I am not mistaken. Both are very nice tree if you are into landscaping your garden.

Asam tree, actually can check with Malay/Indian friends. Tamarind tree actually. Their backyard may have (which you can layer a section if you are nice to them...) ;-)) I do have seeds/seedlings though...

Regards
cj

We live in a matrix... Our brains are attached to the internet... ha ha...

Alvchin
You interested in raising from seed. I bought Tamarind fruit at Jusco IOI supermarket a couple of months back. I have lots of unsowed seeds.

This post has been edited by cjloong: Sep 4 2013, 11:40 AM

I am a few taman from puchong. Oug to be more exact.

Loo, those are awesome looking bonsais... you train them yourself?

Sent you pm.