Pictured is the Bald Cypress as submitted to Bonsai Clubs International for the 1997 Ben Oki International Design Award Competition
Pictured is the Bald Cypress as submitted
to Bonsai Clubs International for the 1997 Ben Oki International Design Award
Competition
Bald Cypress
Taxodium distichum
Height ... 52 inches Root Base ... 21.5
inches
Collected from the swamps of Southeastern Louisiana in February 1990, this Bald
Cypress, Taxodium Distichum, was 25 feet in height. Using a small cross cut saw,
the roots were severed easily because of the mucky soil of the swamps. All
branching of the cypress was on the top one third of the tree. After digging,
the new top of the cypress was cut at 48 inches and roots were wrapped in
burlap. There was no branching on the cypress after the collection process was
completed. Upon returning home, the cypress was bare rooted and all major cuts
on the large roots were made to insure that the future roots would easily fit
into the proper bonsai container. Initial planting was made in the bottom of a
plastic 55 gallon drum with drainage holes drilled in the bottom of the tub.
Soil mixture used was 50% expanded shale and 50% pine bark sifted through 1/4
inch screen mesh. During the first year, new branching throughout the cypress
was encouraged by keeping the top of the tree thinned in order to begin the design process that
was anticipated for the following year. Here is a photo of the cypress in
the fall of 1990.
Design of this Bald Cypress bonsai is the Immature Variant Style of the natural
way Bald Cypress (Taxodium Distichum) grows. The Immature Variant Style is of a
young Bald Cypress that is blunt and fluted which grows naturally on the
floodplains of central Louisiana.
Structure of this now 52 inch tall cypress bonsai is being developed by the
wiring of the bonsai twice a year. Initial wiring of the tree is completed on
this bonsai before the first spring buds appear and the second wiring of the
year is done during the month of July after this vigorous growing bonsai has
been completely leaf pruned. Every branch of the bonsai is wired and the use of
guy wiring is employed. Guy- wiring is anchored to the bottom of the bonsai
using small eye bolts (wood screw type) screwed into the bonsai. When eye bolts
are removed, only small holes remain which the bonsai heals very quickly.
Protection of the wood where the carving was done to achieve taper was with lime
sulphur for the first 5 years. Since then the wood is protected with cut paste.
Anticipated time frame for the scar to completely heal over is another year and
a half.
Future of this Bald Cypress bonsai is the removal of all branching on the top
half of the bonsai as soon as the scar that was used to create taper is
completely healed over. The scar tissue has no bud information and because the
scar is so large no branches come from that side of the bonsai. After braches
are removed at the top of the bonsai, branches that "pop" will then be
tread grafted into the scar tissue. The exact placement of the new top branching
will not only be perfect, but will be in
scale with the lower branching of the bonsai.