Bumping the thread so Martin will see it. Ready to cut, doctor!

Picture update.

looks like it will really branch nice now

I love it!

Thanks Martin for your help. I found that the nodes weren't really stacked anywhere on this plant. The area with the top branches were the tightest internodes. I don't expect to enter this into any contest, but I am quite fond of the branching pattern so I really hope that big scar on top heals nicely so that it isn't visible.

Thanks for your support Marica and Cythia.

Tracy

It won't be that noticeable once the top side branches grow, Tracy. Then as the tree grows more the scar will even become less noticeable.

Rick

Tracy, no need to worry. Like I stated before (and Rick, too), the branches will hide the scar. It has some nice ramnification. :-)

Ok it has been 12 days since I pruned the giant S1. She is ready for a fabric pot! How does she look?

Tracy

Looks like it's filling in nicely.

Thanks so much, Marica. It isn't obvious from the photographs but the caudex has fattened tremendously in 12 days. It is bulging the pot sides!

Tracy

Tracy, Martin told me he wouldn't trim my GB if her were me, but I really don't like how tall its getting. I want it to be short and fat.

Dain it really is about what you want from the plant. A trim won't guarantee caudex growth but it's the experimenting with cause and effect and making discoveries that are the joy of raising the seedling. I vote for whacking it using Martin's diagram as a guideline. Post pictures of course!
Tracy

Tracy, It is a nice tree, but I believe that it will just become fuller in appearance from the existing branches all growing. I have had a number which did this and they do grow and become larger in the caudex, but this is just a natural process from age.

We all have to experiment and what works and the results can be completely different for each of us.

Really, what do you have to lose.

Rick

Tracy, nicely done. The scar will callus over and finally disappear. If you want the upper branch to become a new main stem, make sure that it grows straight up (guide it using strings or wire).

Dain, well, it is not too late. Whack it if you like. It is actually difficult to ruin the looks of seedlings (<1 year old) simply by pruning. ;-) Bigger plants with thicker stems is another matter...

Officially repotted into a 1 gallon root pouch.

Thanks, Martin. I am ordering some bonsai wire of a couple colors today. I really like the way this seedling is pushing branches and getting stronger.

Tracy

Tracy, looking good but this can't possibly be a 1 gallon (almost 4 liters) pouch or? ;-) My 1 gallon Smart Pots are 2-3 times bigger!

The root pouches do run a bit smaller, my 2 gallon root pouches are the same size as my 1 gallon Smart Pots.

Martin this is a silly question. I have a rather large collection of tools including wire cutters. Do I need special bonsai cutters? I'm thinking probably not.

My GB continues it's upward quest. I really don't want to ruin the form, though. Martin, help!

Are these Arabicum's or somthing else?

They are Thai Socotranums, specifically the 'Golden Bell' lineage.

Thank you

Dain if you snip the leaves in the area that you are going to cut it will make it much easier to look at it and decide which node will you cast as the new Apical stem. Then cut above it about a quarter inch at a 45 degree angle with the node facing you as the front of the plant.

Martin I checked the labels and the fabric pot brand Root Pot advertises their 1 gallon pots to only be 3.8 liters. Their 2 gallon pots are 8 liters. It doesn't make sense but I really do like this smaller size since I can go straight from a 4 inch pot without the worry of overpotting the plant.