Guy Guidry made a stop in Orlando last week for a workshop, and I couldn’t think of a better tree for him to help me with than my new bald cypress.  I’ve always seen it as a weeping style, but he made a few other options.

Guy Guidry sketches

Everything from flat top to an extended twin trunk style.  However with a bit of pushing from Mike Rogers we went for the traditional Japanese Formal Upright (shown in the center drawing)

Guy Guidry & Mike Rogers

In oder to make this style, the main trunk needed to be shortened and smoothed.  Guy couldn’t wait to get the power tools going.  Here is a great shot of him working with Mike Rogers in the background.

Paul Pikel wiring

After removing about 4 inches from the top I started the wiring, and I have to admit I have been looking forward to doing this for months now.

Wired bald cypress

Here is the tree with all its branches wired.  I knew that not all the branches would remain but I wanted to get this done prior to styling the tree. 

Initial styling

The tree looks great after its initial styling.  I have a rather big scar to heal over this year and to develop a top.  However this tree should be looking very good by next Winter

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Well actually the tree isn’t shrinking, just the bonsai pot that it is in.  Last year when I potted this tree up for the first time it went into a very large bonsai pot.  However because of the lack of roots close to the trunk I had no choice.  This year is a different story.

Bald Cypress ready for repotting

This tree put out so many new branches in all of the right spots.  I can’t wait to wire it out.  It is naturally weeping a bit, so that is how I plan to style it.  First I need to get it into a smaller pot.

New Bonsai pot comparison

As you can see the new pot is a great deal smaller.  I remember potting the tree last year and there were very big roots so this is going to be a very tight squeeze.

Great New Roots

When I pulled the tree out of it’s current pot I was very happy to see these kinds of roots.  The tree thrived this past year and these roots are proof.  Also if you ever had a question about how well my bonsai mix works, now you know!!

Raked roots

After a quick rake the roots are now combed out, and the tree is ready for the new pot.

Too Big

Okay, don’t panic!!!  This tree really is ver large and I knew this challange was coming.  There is some growth on the tips of the roots, but still there is plenty close to the trunk.  I’m pretty confident this will go in with some help.

Saws All to the rescue

Of course when I said help I was referring to my Saws All.  I removed just enough of the roots to have a nice fit with a little room for new growth.  You can still see loads of roots remain.

Repotted Bald Cypress

Success!!!  The tree fit, and this combination pot and tree looks very good.  I have still some carving, wiring, styling, etc to perform but the hard work is done.  Now comes the fun!

Big Nebari

One last shot to show the nebari of the trunk.  The tree is sitting a little low in the pot on purpose to let the roots heal up.  Next year I’ll raise it up a bit more to really show the trunk spread.

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Sometimes it’s more challanging to decide on how to style a tree, however there are times when the tree just tells you how it should be styled.  I have done pretty much nothing so far to this bald cypress, and yet it shows every indication of a weeping informal upright.  The huge base of the tree is softened by the low handing branches which bring the whole tree together.

Weeping Informal Upright Style

The plan going foward it of course wait for it to go dormant, carve the trunk, repot it into a smaller pot, and then do the initial style wiring.  I’m really pretty execited about seeing this one in a few more months.

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Nope, it’s not a baby, just a Bald Cypress that I have added to my collection.  Actually I purchased this collected tree last year from Mary Madison.  However it was in too large of a container and it needed another year to recover and develop roots.  Even though Bald Cypress do well as Bonsai, this is one type of tree that requires patience.  You can’t rush them or you will certainly lose them.

Bald Cypress rootball

Here is the Cypress as I removed it from the nursery container.  The ball is huge and needed to be reduced quite a bit.

Bald Cypress Roots

Big trees need big pots

Initial planting - Bald Cypress

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