European and Japanese Larch
prebonsai larch
The Larch have been grown in a 50% organic mix, with akadama and pumice.
We have to balance, early stage growth, with better roots. We want to take the saplings we received in 2021 and give them a better root system. We planted them in pots to nurture their initial stages.
The trees were treated differently and where there was no interest, some kind of interest was attempted or the natural interest was enhanced.
When you look over dozens of saplings, some will be tall, and with branches lending themselves to a cone shape, while others may look better if they were trunk chopped. Each tree was examined, and a decision was made towards stage 1. They were then continued along that path for three seasons.
At first the trunk was cut halfway up the trunk. A gentle arc was added to provide some interest. A few branches were wired to set them to better positions.
This was also cut, perhaps above half its height at the time. The branches were wired and trunk was given a soft curve that comes back on itself.
This shows that the original apex was cut and a new set of apical branches were started.
This trunk was contorted and compacted a lot due to its very long lean starting point. A new younger leader was started.
Here we cut the tree down to a very small height, wired branches in all directions. We repotted it into this smaller flat pot in 2023, after a root prune.
This has two separate trees, grown side by side to form a twin trunk planting. Both trunks were cut down, but together one was left taller than the other to facilitate a future style.
This trunk was drastically reduced and then a new leader was grown to get the taper, so as a shohin it would look interesting. The top will be allowed to extend and then another trunk chop will be neccesary to get close to the eventual height.
Another twin trunk, also pruned down and towards a twin planting.
This tree was pruned and trunk chopped, but all the branches were taken back to the trunk and all the new buds were allowed to extend for a more branchy design.
This tree was cut and a flat (ish) top was the idea. Other branches were allowed to come out, but most were removed to focus on what you see currently, to thicken the apex.
This tree was styled to be a wide, short tree, you may find in a garden. Not typical styling for a larch, but interesting no less, with a twisty trunk and branches.
FOR SALE - prebonsai Larch in the store
