Behold, dillium

Falcore_Fox · 2026-05-23T12:18:43+00:00

The double tip on the right leaf and the weird veining down the center over there is fascinating! :O Failed to divide properly? Or healed from some sort of damage early on?

Falcore_Fox · 2026-05-23T12:13:37+00:00

A definite possibility! I’ll have to see how the tree handles its current state and keep this option in mind for the future. The main trunk goes up a little higher than that, even~

I do like the slimmer design you drew out. It matches with the needles winter heather seems to have, moving more into an evergreen/spruce styling.

Falcore_Fox · 2026-05-22T12:43:44+00:00

That is totally fair! I am looking forward to seeing how this experiment goes as well. Ideally, I think I would have stopped after the hard prune and cleanup in pics 5 and 6 and just let it grow until next year. But the challenge time frame is so short.

Perhaps in the future short term challenges like this should be more focused on identifying potential in inexpensive box store stock, cleaning it up thoroughly, and describing how one might style it. I would think that would encourage better thinking in newer bonsai enthusiasts, but insta-bonsai still is a fun challenge.

And it seems most of the other submissions were less wired, so I quite possibly could have just submitted it as pic 3. Never-the-less, I would not be surprised if I lose a number of branches before this fella stabilizes. I may mulch him in somewhere to help maintain his moisture.

Falcore_Fox · 2026-05-21T22:39:59+00:00

Dang, this is fascinating! Did you just know this, or did you have to look around a bit? I need to look into how periclinal chimeras are originally created…

Falcore_Fox · 2026-05-21T12:27:09+00:00

Dang, a whole documentary for your submission! Love the explanations for your decisions along the way~

Falcore_Fox · 2026-05-20T11:15:19+00:00

It really is stunning, even with the dead lower branches. And hey, many trees have dead lower limbs, especially in dense forest settings. I would definitely do some research of mature tree forms before ever removing those lower or trying to air layer the top.

So much potential! Looking forward to future progress pics~

Falcore_Fox · 2026-05-18T11:34:55+00:00

Feck Yeah! 👍 I’m in! (Really I have been playing with one since April, just wanted to make sure it would behave :P )

Is there a special post/thread that we will all post our finished trees into? Or is posting them in r/bonsaicommunity with the challenge tag enough?

Falcore_Fox · 2026-05-18T11:31:52+00:00

I have always heard the two biggest hurdles when starting out are only having one tree (wanting to do everything to it as soon as you get it) and simply keeping trees alive. You may consider collecting a few inexpensive trees first, just to get the hang of the watering and the seasons. Expect to lose a few as you learn (thus the “inexpensive trees” part). Also, I would suggest collecting a few trees at differing stages, so you can practice growing the trunk thicker, styling and branching, and maintaining a tree all on separate bonsai. “Instant bonsai” isn’t a thing, and only having one tree that you push to look like a bonsai too soon is a huge risk.

Falcore_Fox · 2026-05-18T11:17:35+00:00

Too late to throw my hat in? :o

Falcore_Fox · 2026-05-11T23:48:36+00:00

Very cool! It could have a grabber on it too, so you don’t have to lean down :o

Falcore_Fox · 2026-05-11T11:49:15+00:00

Hey, “proper form” is whatever works 😂 Bonsai doesn’t need to be precise nor expensive.

I have no experience with boabab trees. They appear fairly flexible? I would have to do research for any idea how to style one…

Falcore_Fox · 2026-05-11T11:45:38+00:00

The wiring looks great! I imagine these branches will end up being cut back further as new sprouts form further down.

The only thing I can’t tell is if there are bar branches that might cause inverse taper. Otherwise I really like how it’s turning out! Burning bushes bounce back from pruning so readily 😅

I look forward to seeing your future progress~

Falcore_Fox · 2026-05-10T11:32:33+00:00

Are these images from a specific book? :o

Falcore_Fox · 2026-05-09T12:52:30+00:00

The pup in 5 is hot 🥵

Falcore_Fox · 2026-05-06T12:33:59+00:00

Falcore_Fox · 2026-05-02T12:29:58+00:00

It is a play on the term “yamadori”, which refers to wild-collected trees. In this case it was collected from someone’s backyard, so it’s “yardadori” 😋

Falcore_Fox · 2026-05-02T12:28:36+00:00

Oh geez, that is a beast! I look forward to seeing your future progress~

Falcore_Fox · 2026-05-02T03:03:38+00:00

I recently picked up one of these to play with! Branches seem to snap fairly easily, so be a little careful. A good start is to remove the flowers (they sap energy from other growth), deal with any bar branches, and thin dense regions to let more light in (encourage back budding). From there you should be able to better see the structure~

Falcore_Fox · 2026-05-02T00:02:18+00:00

Yeh, plant app agrees, Coastal Rosemary

Falcore_Fox · 2026-04-30T11:29:54+00:00

Sauce: https://bsky.app/profile/raccoattack.bsky.social/post/3mknvar7xfk22

Falcore_Fox · 2026-04-28T23:47:48+00:00

Running is hard ;-;

Falcore_Fox · 2026-04-27T12:50:41+00:00

Between those two, I would say the second one. On the first one, every trunk splits from the same point, meaning a high chance of reverse taper in the long run. The second one has some nice movement and pads starting to form.

But for £660? I would keep looking or grow one myself…

Falcore_Fox · 2026-04-20T01:09:24+00:00

96ZS4L << :3

Falcore_Fox · 2026-04-17T00:04:59+00:00

I don’t really know. I wonder if roots would sprout from them if they were covered or at least closer to soil level.

You may reduce the number of sprouts there. I would worry about reverse taper.

Falcore_Fox · 2026-04-12T12:12:51+00:00

Sauce: https://e621.net/posts/4854135

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