The croton has been growing unrestrained in full sun for over two years since the last update.
After defoliation.
I have removed the potting soil from the roots and washed them with a hose. The tree is tied to the work table with a nylon cord. Photo by Andrea.
I am reducing the side bulge with a concave gouge. Photo by Andrea.
After carving with the gouge. Photo by Andrea.
The tree is potted into a rectangular unglazed Japanese bonsai pot. Photo by Andrea.
The rich organic potting mixture is covered with a layer of wet washed basalt sand. This will weigh down the soil during soaking. Photo by Andrea.
The pot is immersed in water. The sand layer keeps the soil from floating away. Photo by Andrea.
Letting it soak for a minute. A little wiggle of the top helps the soil settle in. Photo by Andrea.
I put the bonsai on the glass table to drain. Photo by Andrea.
I photographed the croton the next day in its Japanese rectangular pot. I have not wired or otherwise formed any branches. Bonsai is one of
those rare sports/crafts/arts where procrastination is sometimes helpful. Those two lower branches may be wired out someday, or maybe they're
sacrificial branches. If I cut them today I would never know.
Email Richard dot J dot Wagner at gmail dot com