False Acacia Pre-Bonsai

Not yet 100% sure what species this is but chances are that its what we locally call a "false acacia" a.k.a. Leucaena Leucocephala. I will have to wait for the flowers to be sure.

In the meantime I've decided it was time to start working on this little guy.

What I would consider to become the future front

Previous owner was trying to train a new apex but I disagree with this approach. When this branch will thicken later
I feel it would be too close to the deadwood already present. One has to go.

There's an interesting natural uro (hollowed out area) on the lower area. The wood look already weathered and might need some treatment sooner than later.

The old apex that dried out. I know lots of articles say that jin (dead branch, usually stripped of bark) is mostly for coniferous bonsai but being in a tropical context with lots of  deciduous and broadleaf species, I see natural jin and natural shari on lots of  deciduous / broadleaf species.

Sketch

It always helps when you see something in a plant and put it down into a sketch. You don't need to be a great artist and it does not need to be a drawing. I can be notes or a description of what you see in your material. 

In this case I see an african styled tree, slanted with the foliage pad growing away from the main trunk.

I also want to make use of that old dead apex .

Time to start working

Just for info I was working on the tree at night, that's the reason why the leaves are closed. Its not due to wiltering!

If I go by my sketch, then I need to keep this section of foliage.

If I go by my sketch, then I need to remove this section of foliage.

There are various bud that have started to swell. For me that means that a new growth cycle is starting.

The tree seems to display an apical dominance so I'll need to take this into account too.

Those two branches need to be removed. 

Cleaning up done

Carving the shari

Some of the wood carving tools I'll be using to create the jin.

I found a cavity at the back of the trunk. It was not too deep but I'm glad I did that carving early.
If I had waited another year before starting to work that jin this might have gotten worst.

Back side cleared of its bark.

Done for now

I'm done for now.
I'm going to allow the jin to be worked by the elements and keep a close eye on it.
The bark is rather dark, so I might use some lime sulphur on the jin and uro to make them come out.

Future front

Side of the tree

What I'd like to achieve in the future

Kusamono : Fern and moss

Quick and easy little kusamono
Materials needed :
Pot ( with drainage hole and mesh )
Fern(s)
Moss
Old bonsai substrate

Collecting a yamadori ligustrum

During the past weekend I wend over to Hem's place to collect a nice little privet that was grown in full ground for some years. Hem has been working the root ball for some week to cut the long lateral roots and force the tree to create finer feeder roots closer to the trunk.

Started off by preparing the bonsai substrate to place the tree into.
In this case :
Grid, perlite and "soilless soil" which is basically a mix of composted organic matter.

Sifting grit

Sifted grit

Perlite

Mixing together the sifted perlite and grit

Mixing together the sifted perlite and grit

Added the "soilless soil"

Added the "soilless soil"

Will be repotting the tree into a collander. Google up "Bonsai Collander" to get more info on this technique.
Basically the collander will prevent the roots from curling up like they do in a all closed up training pot.

Will be repotting the tree into a collander.

The little monster

The little monster - Removing the soil all around the root ball.

Uprooted

Uprooted

Repotting

Repotting

Added some wires to hold the tree in place.

Repotting all the way to the top

I'll have to wait for the roots to develop before attempting anything on this one.
That should take between 6~12 months.
In the meantime, no pruning. I might consider some wiring but I want to have a better look at the nebari and possible styling options before.

Some of the old cuts.
I find it interesting that the deadwood turns black instead of white.
The trunk is already pale and a white deadwood would not be enhanced... Maybe I'll go for pitch black deadwood on this one :)