It is has been unusally cold in Florida this year, however the trees are going dormant quicker and giving me a great opportunity to work on the,  I have been looking forward to repotting this crepe myrtle correctly for a long time now.  As you may remember I showed this tree at the BSF convention in May, and I bought a new Sara Rayner pot for it back then.  The time to repot the tree couldn’t come soon enough.

I let the tree grow out a lot, just to thicken some branches and to improve the tree’s health.  The ramification continues to increase and the tree’s scars are just about completely covered.

The tree’s roots looked strong and healthy.  I didn’t really have to reduce the roots at all once I combed out the old soil mix.  The dark color and rounded top add a nice balance with the tree.  I only had to wire a few back branches but for the most part it is clip and grow to keep this tree in shape.

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There are times when it is good to take a step back and reassess your situation. I have worked with this Ficus “Too little” for years and have made no progress. I got 6 stitches in my left hand working on it and I’m pretty sure this tree isn’t for me.

So what to do with it? I can honestly say I learned from this tree and now so can someone else. I figured the best thing I could do would be to donate it to the Central Florida Bonsai Club. I’m hoping it goes to a good home.

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I am not a fan of GROWING the Portulacara, however I greatly appreciate them when they are done well as Bonsai.  I don’t think there is anyone better than Jim Smith at this and his trees are legendary.  That is one tree that looks fake when done as a bonsai just because they are so perfect.  I have tried a number of times to grow them but on my watering system everything gets watered the same.  Dwarf jade don’t like a lot of water and the last tree I had developed root rot. 

So I sent my Dwarf Jade to Roger’s Nursery for a ”vacation” and while it was there Mike took the liberty to cut my tree into two halves (top and bottom).  Although the bottom was rather rotted out, the top was a great tree.  I’ve been growing it for a while now and keeping it off the direct water spray and it seems happy.  I’m trying to find some “before” pictures, but here is a current view.

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If you haven’t worked with a Simpson’s stopper you should really give it a try. They have a beautiful aroma as you work on them. They produce tons of flowers and berries in the fall. Exfoliating bark that is some colorful and smooth, and the dark green leaves add great contrast.

Well th ecarving is done and the tree got a first class wiring job by Mike Rogers. No way I’m going to stand in his way if he wants to work on one of my trees. He taught me just about everything I know about bonsai.

Front side

Back side

So here we are at the wire out tree.  Still plenty to do on this one.  A few months back I started a thread graft on the lower first right branch.  It hasn’t completely attached yet so it will be into spring before that is is complete.  However the branch is doing well.  The large branch on the top right side will be removed once I get some new growth to replace it.  There are already new buds popping there.  Lastly a change of bonsai pot in the early spring.  I am thinking something more shallow, dark purple/brown and oval.  Should be great with the colors of this tree.

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