A seller at the October BSA show was stocking the sales area with super value quality trees and I snapped up this pyracantha. I missed out on another one because another buyer was faster than I was. $30 and a great buy. However, the plant has major styling issues. Despite the two trunks it is NOT a twin trunk. Twin trunks start from the ground – this is a double apex and stylistically poor. Lots of movement, the left trunk juts out markedly and both trunks are similar size.
In order to minimise the double trunks and utilise the best lower trunk view I planted the tree so that the left trunk partially hid the right trunk, thereby eliminating the two trunk look. Bonsai are viewed from the front so this is a good move.
Now it is a ’single’ trunk tree with two ‘branches’ fighting for dormancy and a double apex with too much weight at the top. I was considering an air layer on the right trunk but with more styling consideration I decided to that removal would provide a better outcome. The left trunk is slightly thicker than the right but the right has more movement and direction and I chose to make that the dominate trunk. The top was reduced just enough to relieve the bulk and better balance the tree.
The left trunk appears to be thicker and somewhat straighter than the right but not in real time and the tree now has a definite direction and shape at the apex. The balance is there and while I may refine it more in the future, for how I will let it settle and grow with new soil that is far more open than the mix it was in. The handmade pot is busy but the tree is strong enough to carry it off.
When I cut the thick left trunk I made sure to seal it so the top branch would not die back. I also tailored the large cut concave as pyras callous heavily and it is best to give the callous room to develop without creating a bulge at the wound.
These are old branch removals and the regrowth is going well and will finally close the gap in line with the trunk.
Even a great buy can need styling adjustments as this pyra did but I am very pleased with the result. It will be a striking bonsai and I will feed it with potash to give it a boost to flower and fruit next year.