This plant was field grown using the escape technique. It was dug in the winter of 2000, root pruned and potted in its current two gallon size pot. It underwent a minor root pruning and repotting Feb '04. The first photo shows what would probably be the finished front. The second photo shows the back and the scars from the sacrifice branches. These will need another two or three years of growing to completely heal. It also has a bit of shari on the upper trunk section
Branches have not been selected, but it is time to begin saving prospective final branches. The probable apex is at the top of the main trunk and will need one or two more years of unpruned growth to help heal over the top scar and smooth the taper.
The trunk is fairly cylindrical, but leaving a lowest large branch for several more years should correct this and increase the bottom caliper. There are no large surface roots, but nebari work could begin now with no special problems to overcome. Note the major scaly bark.
With three to five years of field growing this should be a magnificent four to five inch caliper crab with no unsightly graft union or continual suckering. Or it could be worked immediately into an oversize bonsai training pot at its present trunk size. Cutting grown plants of this caliper are extremely rare.
Price, including shipping: $300
