Zach’s Personal Collection
bald cypress
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Bald Cypress
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progression
bald cypress
Updates are in date order beginning with the first date Zach began documenting the progression.
2015
This Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) came home in 2015, and I knew from the start that I was keeping it for my personal collection. A BC of this size, 6″ trunk (6″ above the soil), will invariably take about 10 years to reach a “finished,” showable state. So as of the end of the 2019 growing season, I’m halfway there.
2016
I got really good growth the first year the tree was on my bench. That encouraged me to defoliate in July of 2016. In this photo, you can see the progress in building a new leader. This must be done properly, or the tree will look unnatural during winter dormancy.
2016
Here’s a closeup to show you the new apex building process, which includes growing a new leader and controlling the powerful rolling callus that BCs typically produce.
2017
Here we are at the beginning of the 2017 growing season. I’ve got a good branch structure going, and my new apex is poised for further thickening. Again, this process is going to take a number of years and can’t be rushed.
I’ve also got the tree potted into a training pot. This will slow the growth, of course, but I’ll still be able to accomplish all of my plans for this tree.
2017
Two months later, the tree is full of foliage and continuing strong development.
2017
Another defoliation in early July. It’s easy to see how much the branches and leader have thickened since the beginning of the year (two photos above).
2017
Here’s a head-on view of the tapering transition point, showing how well the callus is filling in. At the top you can see the “shelf” of wood I left when making the year two chop. This is to prevent the callus at the top of the wound from growing too rapidly and thereby producing a reverse taper at the transition point. The shelf will be carved down either at the end of this growing season, or the beginning of the next.
2019
This closeup, from February of 2019, shows an adjustment I made to the transition point on the left side. The callus did its thing as it was meant to, but there was a bit of a bulge where I didn’t need it. The solution? Carve it down. That makes it look much more natural.
2019
Time for a root-pruning, as the tree has been in this pot for a couple of years now. Many collected trees will re-root with great vigor once you’ve taken them from the wild. It’s a normal response. BC commonly do this.
Note: I don’t defoliate cypresses in the year they get root-pruned.
2019
The tree is root-pruned and back in its home, ready for the 2019 growing season.
2019
This shot was taken in June of 2019. The growth is not quite as vigorous as I’d like, though it isn’t bad. In situations like this, you make sure the tree gets enough fertilizer. I’ve also seen some occasions where BC will get chlorosis, and this specimen looked like it could use some iron. I’ve always found that works well, usually within a few weeks.
2019
A few weeks later, and looking better.
2019
This shot is from December 27th, 2019. I’ve removed the wire from earlier in the season and cleaned up the trunk. The state of development is very pleasing to me, though of course there are still some years ahead before this tree is showable.
With that said, there’s a significant flaw in the design of this tree that I need to address now, before it becomes too hard to do so. Can you spot it? I took the opportunity to write an article illustrating the advanced training technique I used to correct this flaw. If you’re interested in learning more, send me an email and I’ll be glad to forward it to you (it’s in pdf format).
we love your input
Would love the pdf to help with a couple of BCs that are in their 2nd year of development that I dug down here in SW Florida. Thank you in advance
Hi Zach, I’m coming late to the game. But I would love to get your education and advice on BC Bonsai. If there’s a PDF that you can share I would enjoy that. I am also in Southwest Florida.
I am specifically wondering about using heavy wire with raffia on a still soft upper trunk. I am in for something like Banting’s flat top
Hi Zach! Greetings from AL. New to bonsai and my first is a bald cypress. I admire your beautiful work, informative website, as well as the kindness in sharing your experience. If I could acquire the pdf guide, link to article or anything that would help a newbie it would be much appreciated. Thanks!
Hi Zach – would you mind please sending me the pdf detailing the technique you use for pulling down the lower right hand branch? Thank you!!
Hey Zach, this is fascinating. could you share the development guide pdf with me?
Hey Zach,
Earlier this summer I was able to get my hands on a couple of large-ish BC trees for an absolute steal. Both stand about 7 feet tall with ~2.5 inch trunk diameter. They were $28 each so how could I resist?
Could you please send me this PDF you speak of? I think it would be extremely valuable. Thanks for all your help!
Wondered if I could please get the BC development guide as well? Thank you!
Could you send me the pdf, please? TIA
Gonna guess that the flaw is the large flute/root in the front of the tree? Looks like it might be dying back?
No, it’s the angle of emergence of the lowest right-hand branch. I needed to wedge and pull it down.
Would love the pdf file:)
Hi Zach,
i would greatly appreciate your guide as well. I have a couple of BCs in early and your guide would sure help. Thanks!
Hi Zach! Can you send me the BC Training Guide please? I just added a BC to my collection and am looking for information on how to train it.
Great blog by the way, Thanks!
Robert
Hi Zach! Can you send me the BC Guide prease? Thank you so much. From Brazil!
I will email it to you, Bruno.
Hello Zach, I’m getting a nice BC from you in Oct. but I have a few others I’m looking to practice development on. Can you send a copy of the guide so I can get better? Thanks
Emailed it to you, Nathan.
Hi Zach,
I would very much appreciate the pdf file, thank you in advance. I also wanted to get on your list for customers interested in acquiring one of the Bald Cypress specimens that you will be listing after your next harvest. Im guessing this would be late 2021 or spring 2022. My email
address is: Thekingoflimbs@ProtonMail
Hi Zach! This BC looks awesome! I’m in Louisiana and have 4 tiny saplings with intentions of getting back into bonsai. Would love your guide to get going on our state tree:)
I emailed you the guide, Harry. It’s meant for larger specimens, so you’ll need to grow out your saplings or get hold of a larger specimen to use it.
Hey Zach, love Bald Cypress as it reminds me of a state park in TX I use to visit. Could I get a copy of your BC guide? Thanks!
Emailed it to you, Jason.
Would love to read the PDF of the Bald Cypress Flaw, please send me a copy. Thanks
Emailed to you, Nancy.
I just acquired 4, nearly 1” BCs and plant on growing them out a bit, maybe getting some root flare by growing on the shore of my father’s pond. He planted 3 of them 6 years ago and they’re very large now with great root flare and taper. I would also like the pdf of your development guide if you will kindly send it to me! Thank you for all your wealth of knowledge
Emailed you the guide, Caleb.
Can you send me the PDF please?
Emailed it to you, Jonah.
I love your BC. Saw your forest any updates on it? I have 5 saplings I just got to make a forest would love to learn more about BC please allow me a copy of your PDF.
I’m letting the forest grow out for now. I probably won’t post an update until next year. I’ll email you the development guide.
Fantastic info and beautiful tree Zach. I’m wondering if it was possible to propagate from a grown BC I planted at my parents about 20 years ago. And can you Bonsai from that or does it have to be from seed? Would love a copy of your PDF to learn more.
Dalton, you can collect seeds annually from that tree. I don’t recommend cuttings, as they don’t necessarily offer a faster way to reach your goal. Starting with small material is a 10-20 year project to a completed large bonsai. You can make a small bonsai from seed in about five years. For something larger, go with collected material. I’ll email you my development guide.
Hello Zach. I just acquired a decent sized BC in all places a local nursery here in NW Indiana. It is now showing buds. I would like to get ahold of a copy of your BC training guide to help me decide when and where and how to chop the trunk to what I have in mind for this tree. I thank you sir in advance.
I just emailed you the guide, Martin.
Hi Zach, I’m looking forward in getting the BC in June. I know it will be a great training journey for me. I already have a smaller BC which I got last year, I haven’t done anything on it besides trying to thicken the trunk. I would like to have a copy of your BC training guide.
Thanks,
Dennis
Thank you, Dennis. I emailed you the development guide.
Hi Zach. Loved seeing the progression of your tree. I have two BC that where given to me as a gift in 2020. They were very thin so I planted them in some tubs to simulate being in the ground as much as possible. They thickened up nicely. The trunks are now approx. 1” at the base. Being new to bonsai, I’m now wondering if I should replant them in a training pot or continue to let them grow “wild” to continue to thicken. I would appreciate any info you can provide on caring for and training BC. Thanks, Drew
Thank you, Drew. If you want thicker trunks on your cypresses, plant them out in the ground. If you do this, make sure you spread the roots out laterally so they have the best chance to grow without crossing over one another or taking on some other grotesque appearance. We see this all too often in container grown trees (such as nursery stock).
Interested in the BC training guide as I have a forest group as well as several individually potted BC that I have let grow freely for two seasons (first one when salvaged as abandoned seedlings that grew upwards after being heeled in so trunks are a bit bowed, then last year in forest tray and training pots).
Thanks, Danny
Emailed you the guide, Danny.
Beautiful tree. I’d also like some info on BC training, thank you. What’s your stance on keeping collected BC in standing water?
Thank you, Zach. I’ll email you my BC development guide. I don’t currently grow BC in standing water but plan to do some experimenting this year. Local experts swear by it.
Would love everything you have about BC. Just bought one and would love everything you have so I can train mine in the years to come
I’ll send along some info, Jared.
Please send a copy of the PDF file on the Bald Cypress Flaw, thank you!
Coming to you by email.
Would love to read the PDF of the Bald Cypress Flaw, please send me a copy!!
Please send on a copy of the PDF whch reflects the problem with the BC.
Bedankt
Will do.
Could I get a hold of the PDF you mentioned?
Hey! could you send me a copy of the pdf also? thanks!!
I would be interested in a copy of your .pdf about correcting the design flaw in the tree.
I haven’t run into defoliation before. Which species do you use it on?
I’ll email it to you, Richard. As for defoliation, it’s a technique used on a number of species to encourage ramification and smaller leaves. For BC, it helps with ramification and to produce fresh foliage in summer. BC fronds reduce in size somewhat as the bonsai matures, but not dramatically (it’s not generally necessary).
Hi Zach I would be interested in the PDF file.
i would like to read your article as well.
i love the progressions.
could you share some tips on wiring the BC.
i would like to try a weeping style on a smaller BC.
Thanks,
Emailed you the article, Kevin. Thanks for the feedback.
Hi Zach,
I’m interested in a copy of the PDF detailing how to fix the flaw.
Thanks
Emailed it to you, Chris.
I would like to learn about the flaw, please. I have a nursery BC awaiting its first chop! Need to learn as much as I can about the species.
I would like to learn about the flaw. I have a bald cypress from a nursery awaiting it’s first chop! Need to absorb as much as I can about the species.
Is it possible to make the pictures expandable? It would nice to be able to see the details of the work you do. Those shoots are typically nothing more than lines on the tablet. It would .make spotting the problems you point out theoretically possible to identify (assuming knowledge of the issues I suppose). Happy New Year.
Danny
interested in the pdf
Nice tree. Interested in the flaw and it’s correction. Happy New Year
Hi Zach,
Yes, please send the advanced training.
Thank yoy,
Delmon
Hi Zach..
I have been very interested and intrigued with your work for many years.. I would love to find out more info on the flaw and advanced techniques.. I am also going to make it my mission to actually acquire one or more of your tress.. Next one or two that speaks to me I will no longer be hesitating for even a moment..
Thank You..
-ryan
Happy New Year, Zach. Please send me the flaw info. Thanks. Hunted some trees today!
Hi Zach. Could you please send a copy of the article. Regards and Happy New Year, Greg.
Hi Zach! Could you send me the article?
Thanks from Spain!
On its way, Jose.
I would like to know more of the process.
Headed your way.
I am interested in learning more
Sent you the article, Jack.
Hi Zach,
I’m interested in receiving a link to the article. Thanks.
-Lee
Could you send me the pdf, please? Thanks a lot for your informative post!
Yes, please send the article. MichaelCav@aol.com. And Happy New Year!
Done.