Summer Chojubai Trim
Summer is a good time to look at dwarf flowering quince ‘Chojubai’ and determine what, if anything, needs trimming. Younger Chojubai, about 12 years from a cutting, in early July (Northern Hemisphere). Shoot growth has just stopped and hardened off. This is a clump with several trunks. Notice longer shoot growth on the bottom areas. […]
A Student’s Chojubai-
This is a guest tree with guest comments from a long-time student. The subject is a Chojubai that she’s developed over the last 11 years. A Chojubai 11 years from a cutting. This is the back. The front. 16” W x 9” H / 41cm W x 23cm H. From this view we see shoots […]
Chojubai: 10-Year Development
After growing Chojubai for 10 years from 2” cuttings, I now have some idea what’s possible in that time frame. A few weeks ago we had Daisaku Nomoto in the garden, and on going into the Chojubai house where our efforts of the last decade were, he said, “Only ten years! In Japan they’d be […]
Repotting Old Chojubai
Every few years Chojubai need repotting. And for Chojubai, the size of the pot often determines when that is. This specimen is like many Chojubai in larger pots—they can waltz along for years without getting root bound. In a small pot they will tighten up in 2-3 years. But in a large pot they can […]
Fall Steps: Winter Hazel and Chojubai
This week’s photo essay features three young plants in development, a Winter Hazel and two Chojubai. A young Winter Hazel, left to grow all year. About 13 years old. Still building information into the trunks and branches by wiring and pruning. Faisal wiring the Winter Hazel in a Seasonal session. A single yellow flower bud contrasts […]
Repotting Chojubai in Summer
Ten years ago I had several articles about Chojubai translated from Japanese magazines. In one of them a professional reported his preference for repotting in summer. I was surprised and a bit skeptical. Having since experimented with repotting Chojubai at various times of the year, I agree that this small quince does respond marvelously to summer […]
Pruning Young Chojubai in Summer ~
The last post was about energy balancing older shrubs, using a Chojubai as our example. Here is a younger Chojubai, in a large training container, and to balance it requires a different approach. Early summer is a good time to cut extensions back on developing Chojubai. If vigorous you can cut them twice, once in […]
Fall Pruning GIF
A GIF makes it easier to visualize branch removal. Here’s a Chojubai as an example of fall pruning. The pruning shown here may be applied to many shrubs. Although on first look the pruning looks uniform, it isn’t. With a closer look you may see: Lower shoots were cut short, to control basal dominance of […]
Beech Fall Pruning GIF
Like last week’s post, here’s a GIF to help visualize pruning. With the Chojubai last week, we pruned the bottom more than the top. Here, with a beech, the top is pruned more, with some extensions left on the lower branches to help fatten them. As a general guide for undeveloped bonsai (but often useful […]
Twin-Trunk Hemlock on Slab: Rework
This Mountain Hemlock was the first tree I put on a nylon slab, back in 2012. We reworked it this week. Before work, January 2023. This composition was put together 11 years ago. After the initial round of work. The right side of this composition has felt foliage-heavy the last few years. The skinny trunks […]
