Making ready an olive for restyling

Three years in the past I acquired a big olive that had come from the Blue Oak Nursery assortment.

Olive, July 2020

Though the tree was in want of styling, I needed to gauge the well being of the tree earlier than continuing.

After letting it develop for a 12 months, I repotted it right into a deeper container.

After pruning the roots

As you may see, the trunk flare is sort of two ft throughout!

The deeper pot helped, however after two years, there was little new development.

July 2022

That fall the began rising like loopy. By November it was lined with 24″ shoots from the highest to the underside (I don’t have a photograph).

This was the signal I used to be searching for. I trimmed the tree earlier than winter and repotted it in early spring. By this summer season it had placed on one other flush of development and was prepared for styling. Right here’s the tree after pruning and wiring.

August, 2023, styling by Adam Toth.

The tree didn’t miss a beat and continued rising into fall.

Olive, early November, 2023 – 37″ tall, container by Sara Rayner

I really feel just like the tree responded precisely the best way I needed it too, however I don’t know if it will have responded as properly if I’d labored on it earlier. Both means, it reinforces for me the concept there are advantages to ready to see robust development earlier than doing a number of work on a tree.

Information & Updates

• The Golden State Bonsai Federation Rendezvous is that this weekend, October 20-22, on the Lodge Mission de Oro in Santa Nella, California.

  Similar day and weekend registrations are nonetheless obtainable. Registration contains seminars from a wide range of lecturers, demonstrations from Bjorn Bjorholm, and the chance to buy within the vendor backyard. It’s the one occasion this 12 months the place you may be taught from Bjorn, Peter Tea, Laurent Darrieux, Adam Toth, Julian Tsai, Jennifer Value, Mike Pistello, and David Nguy in the identical weekend!

  I’ll be merchandising and presenting seminars on evaluating reveals (offered out) and looking for pre-bonsai materials (11:00am at this time, Friday 10/20).

  Study extra on the GSBF Rendezvous web site.

• Submit your bushes now to the Bonsai Central exhibit and conference to be held exterior St. Louis, Missouri, on Could 3-5, 2024.

  The occasion is an superior endeavor sponsored by the Bonsai Society of Larger St. Louis. Featured company embody Bjorn Bjorholm, Andrew Robson, Mauro Stemberger, Tyler Sherrod, Younger Choi, and Marija Hajdic.

  I’ll be saying extra in regards to the occasion because the date approaches, however within the meantime, you may get an summary immediately from the supply on the Bonsai Wire Podcast.

  Study extra in regards to the occasion on the Bonsai Central web site.