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sun_worshiper

Pugged Hong Kong Orchid

sun_worshiper
13 years ago

Not a fruit tree, but thought you might enjoy my first attempt at "pugging" a tree.

Despite the weather being a bit iffy, I couldn't hold my Hong Kong Orchid dormant any longer. It was sending out new shoots all over the place. So I went for a drastic shaping prune. When I bought it, it had been tipped over in the nursery too long and a side branch had become the dominant shoot. Not an ideal specimen, but it was the only one small enough to fit in my car=) So this year I am going to attempt to make a nicely formed tree out of it. So here we go:

The "before" note the side shoot that is bigger than the main trunk, and the very spindly main trunk that is 6+ feet tall:

{{gwi:1305804}}

And the "after" - I made the pruning cut at about 3'. Just below the side shoot that was too dominant, and above a very well placed new sprout that I will train to become the new central leader.

{{gwi:1305805}}

{{gwi:1305806}}

My hope is that I can channel all the growing energy this season into creating a well formed trunk.

Comments (17)

  • mango_kush
    13 years ago

    theyre pretty vigorous growers. which color and species Bauhinia is it? I love them, Im planting a silk floss in my front swale when im finished with my front yard.

  • puglvr1
    13 years ago

    Hey SunW...best of luck with your tree, I bet it takes off in the Spring. Keep us posted...can't wait to see it once it gets growing!

  • sun_worshiper
    Original Author
    13 years ago

    This is a Bauhinia blakeana. It is a grafted tree that I got from Excalibur. The graft is about a 1/3 of the way up the "after picture" of the trunk. I sought out the grafted type so that it wouldn't set seed pods. It flowered this year, but got nipped by frost before I had a chance to find out if any seed pods set. I got it for the flowers - they are so gorgeous!

    {{gwi:1305808}}

    There is a big specimen and Disney, so I'm hopeful that if I protect it from frost for a couple years and work on forming a good stout trunk that it can get big enough to survive on its own as a large tree=)

  • puglvr1
    13 years ago

    That is one gorgeous bloom! I wish you the best with it.

  • sun_worshiper
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    Now that it's been a couple months, figured I'd post an update on this tree. It has taken well to the drastic pruning and is growing vigorously. The new shoot I selected to become the central leader is already 3/4 the diameter of the trunk it is sprouting out from.

    Here it was when it was just starting to grow:
    {{gwi:1305809}}

    And here it is today:
    {{gwi:1305810}}

    It is currently around 5' tall and growing rapidly.

  • jacob13
    12 years ago

    Wow,

    Your tree has really taken off and is really growing quite nicely. Looks like your Pugging paid off. Good Job and a Brave soul.

    - Jacob

  • sun_worshiper
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    Thanks Jacob!

  • puglvr1
    12 years ago

    Hi SunW...I hope you don't mind but I wanted to share some pictures of my Pugged Desert Rose. I've noticed that some plants take very well to this type of pruning...Jades do well with it too!

    I did this this January...
    {{gwi:84641}}

    Taken today...
    {{gwi:22212}}

    {{gwi:22215}}

    Pugging Its not just for Mango trees anymore,lol...

  • amrkhalido
    12 years ago

    Amazing tree pug1vr1 , its just the perfect size and shape.

    Amr

  • nullzero
    12 years ago

    I recently pugged my yellow strawberry guava tree. The trunk was to long and narrow to support a good canopy. It is now looking pretty good.

  • sun_worshiper
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    Wow - that is so cool puglvr! What a beautiful result. I just love the juxtaposition of the massive, knarled trunk and the delicate blooms.

    Since I started the thread, I'll open up the floor for anyone else who wants to show off pictures of a tree they have pugged=) It is so fun to see other people's results! I'd love to see a picture of your guava nullzero.

    I don't have an updated pic, but my tree is growing crazy fast. The central leader is up over my head already around 6-7' now! I want that tree to be an "avenue" tree eventually reaching a full grown size of around 25', so the growth is great. Now it has a nice upright trunk to start the scaffolding of the rest of the tree.

  • nullzero
    12 years ago

    I can update with a picture this weekend. I cut it down to about a 2ft tall trunk, with one primary stem.

  • mangodog
    12 years ago

    God Pugsly - your pugged desert rose is wicked pretty!

    Is it going to stay a bonsai type plant....or you going to let it grow - guess it's been in that pot for a few decades, eh????

    lol......mangofurball

  • puglvr1
    12 years ago

    Thanks Amr, SunW and Mangodog!! Appreciate it!

    Looking forward to that picture Nullzero...

    MD, lol...I've only had that Desert Rose appx. 6 years?? I trim it often because I want to keep it in that same pot for as long as possible...I've trimmed the roots twice since I've had it. I wish I could find a NICE shallow bonsai type pot for it but I live in a pretty small town and the selection just isn't here...and I don't want to pay a lot for shipping...so I'll keep looking.

  • nullzero
    12 years ago

    Puglvr,

    Here is that picture of the Yellow Strawberry Guava. I cut it down to about a 2ft section, the tree was about 4ft tall originally.

    From April 30, 2011

  • sun_worshiper
    Original Author
    12 years ago

    Great picture nullzero. Looks like it is growing strongly, will be fun to see how much it grows this year!

  • puglvr1
    12 years ago

    Thanks for the picture Null...looks like its doing well! Best of luck!

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