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Making a big cut on an ume bonsai

March 10, 2017 by Jonas Dupuich

I’ve had this ume bonsai for a long time. Several years ago, the tree lost all but a single branch due to fungus. The branch survived, and I’ve been letting the tree grow freely so it can regain some vigor. Now that the tree is strong again, it’s time for some cutback.

Semi-cascade ume

One benefit of the dieback is that there is now lots of deadwood on the tree.

Close-up of the deadwood

Looking closer at the branch structure, much of the foliage emerges from a single, straight branch with little ramification.

Straight branch – not good for the tree’s design

The simple solution is to remove the branch. Early spring is the best time for removing large branches on deciduous bonsai as the trees are generally growing quickly and can begin to heal immediately. Here’s the tree after making the cut.

After removing the straight branch

The removed branch

Some cutback of the remaining branches was necessary.

After shortening some of the remaining branches

The cutback encouraged me to take a closer look at the tree from the other side. As the deadwood is more interesting there, it may become the new front.

Potential new front

The tree still has a ways to go, and some wiring will be necessary to help set the main branches. For the time being, however, the goal will be to thicken the main trunk line and increase branch ramification.

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Filed Under: Bonsai Development Tagged With: Ume

Previous Post: « Pinching spring buds on Japanese maple
Next Post: Review of Bonsai Fundamentals Course by Michael Hagedorn and Bonsai Empire »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Scott Shatrowsky says

    March 10, 2017 at 4:54 am

    Very cool Ume! Not sure what it looked like before, but the deadwood definitely adds interest overall. Is this a white bloom or pink?

    Also, you mentioned the near death experience with fungal issues being the main culprit. Do you mind elaborating on that a little more? Did the fungal issue run it’s course or did you have to take matters into your own hands (I imagine the latter but I had to ask).

  2. Jonas Dupuich says

    March 10, 2017 at 8:41 am

    Here’s a pic of what it looked like before: https://bonsaitonight.com/2010/02/23/repotting-and-grafting-ume/

    As for the fungus, I pretty much let it run its course as there was simply a season of dieback out of nowhere (several trees in the area suffered similar damage). I repotted the following year and used a dormant spray during winter and have been letting the tree recover ever since.

    • Scott Shatrowsky says

      March 10, 2017 at 10:06 am

      Thanks Jonas!

      That old post was great! It’s really a shame to see how much work you put into that tree only to have sever die back change the tree entirely.

      I must say though, the current design looks very promising.

  3. Duncan says

    March 10, 2017 at 9:06 am

    Love the possible new front

  4. Michael M says

    March 10, 2017 at 10:16 am

    Jonas, Looks like you never give up on a tree! 7 years ago you were working on a nice nebari. Now it is a cascade and the nebari is forgotten! Are you getting white or pink flowers on this branch? And will the wire wrapped branch be taken off later or will it be barked over?
    Thanks for the inspiration.

  5. Bruce Winter says

    March 10, 2017 at 12:55 pm

    Ah yes, fungus. Since moving to fungus alley I’ve had to become pro-active about this problem. A lot of searches reveal cutting edge treatments but still It’s an uphill battle. Can’t grow ume to save my soul. I agree about the deadwood on the other side but The lower trunk on the current side seems more interesting. Either way it’s a chunky beauty!

  6. Nate Lind says

    March 11, 2017 at 12:42 pm

    Wondering what the ‘ dormant spray’ you used was? Do you not like it, is that why you’re not mentioning it by name?

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      March 11, 2017 at 2:49 pm

      I only have a vague memory of what I might have sprayed as this was several years ago. It could have been lime sulfur or copper.

  7. Andreas says

    March 13, 2017 at 6:56 am

    Nice transformation, perhaps better than an original tree and, of course , very nice pot. What kind of pot is it?

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      March 13, 2017 at 1:57 pm

      Hi Andreas – the pot looks like it’s Japanese, 30-40 years old or older. No identifying marks on the bottom.

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