Hibiscus (Rosa sinensis) 'Brilliant' - UPDATE

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The Hibiscus is really starting to put on some serious growth; the branches I decided to keep are merging into the trunk & are "leafing out" with big, giant leaves. Hopefully, they will voluntarily reduce in size, but right now, the tree still thinks he is a full-sized tree.

I have been pruning this tree since the cutback to select the main branches & control their tendency to "reach for the sky". I don't want 'leggy' growth & the pruning thickens the branches..making them look older & melding them with the existing bark. 

Now that I've established the 3 main branches, I want to start defining the sub-branching & so I will limit my pruning for awhile to "pinch & grow", which gives me a more granular control over the sub-branches individually, instead of just overall length.

I am still impressed with the vigor & stamina of the Hibiscus. Nothing much seems to deter him from growing & growing, in spite of being chopped, top & bottom , 5 repots, in less than a year, each repot reducing the roots/rootball overall, combining for what I estimate must be a 75-80% total root reduction & still going strong, as evidenced by these photos.

He still has one more repot to contend with this year, as I transtion to in-organic potting mix for all of my trees. This goes against all the informal rules that govern bonsai, then again, I don't think the Hibiscus knows about those rules & I'm not going to tell him.