Stumped by Box design

Hi Everyone,
This is my first post and I thought I'd tap into the wealth of knowledge that is evidently out there.
I've had this Box stump for a while, one of the boys at Dragon Bonsai did the carving for me, but I can't decide on a design mainly for the following reasons;
The live stem seems too far from the dead wood.
If the deadwood was reduced and carved to form butresses/nebari the stem would be too thin.
I even considered carving a channel onto the deadwood and doing a kind of wraparound, but the stem is too thick/brittle.
The best I have come up with is a design where the dead part would represent a landscape and the 'tree' would be styled as a root over (wooden) rock/mountain. Any thoughts?

I would tend to put it in a nursery pot and try to force more branch development and go from there.

If it were my tree and i didn't like the straight part I would chop it and grow another trunk from the base of the straight portion if it back buds. Otherwise if it doesn't backbud I would chop it upto the lowest branches and grow that with movement towards the carved bit.

hi,

i've shortened the living bit, let it get bushy and then tried to integrate the two 'seperate' parts of the tree - they grow fast too - feed well and 3 or 4 seasons will see quite a difference



cheers marcus

I agree with Marcus...
I think it's all about waiting now, and just growing it out.
Any rush might just jepordize what you have.
Good Luck...
Hey, why don't you start a progression thread on this...

Thanks for the thoughts on my tree - love the virt, I must learn how to do them although it took me a while just to get a photo on!
I will grow the tree out and improve the branching but I still don't really see how the large dead part fits into the image.
If the live part represents a whole 'tree' then the dead part is much too large, and if the deadwood represents a weathered stump, with the live part as a regrowth then it wouldn't look like a 'tree' more like a new shoot.

Maybe I shouldn't worry so much about making the design look naturally occurring, but isn't that the point?
Cheers
jason

marcus watts wrote:hi,

i've shortened the living bit, let it get bushy and then tried to integrate the two 'seperate' parts of the tree - they grow fast too - feed well and 3 or 4 seasons will see quite a difference



cheers marcus

Marcus, I think you given us an excellent preview of how this bonsai should develop over the years. Very good virtual!

Hi Jason nice to see you here, great advice from Marcus.
See you soon

Regards Chris

It seems we have a plan - I'll feed well and post a pic at the end of the season.
Thanks for all your advice.
jason

Hey Jason, excellent specimen you have there.

If you are keen to keep the living trunk in large part, you could consider bending it gradually with guy-wires and clamps.
It will take 2 to 3 seasons, but I believe you could introduce so good movement into the trunk and get it closer to the deadwood.

good luck
Ajay

Hey Jason,
I have a few boxwoods and the article below shows the best way (in my opinion) to get additional branching and ramification on them. Marcus and Stacy gave you great vets to work on. See below:

http://www.bonsai4me.com/SpeciesGuide/Buxus%20Indepth.htm




Good luck,
Tona

Thanks Ajay, I'll be growing a new crown etc from the trunk so hopefully I can wire the branches into position when they're young enough not to snap, but you're right anything older will need gradual bending with clamps/guy wire.
Thanks for the link Tona - that species list is a mine of useful information!
Those virts are a useful tool, is there a tutorial anywhere or do I need to download a program?

Cheers
jason

Jason and Lewis talked possibly re angle of the tree,







Regards Chris

Hi All,
Another interesting idea from the dragons on the design included training a Box whip up the deadwood and growing it out to form an apex near the top. I think I may try that approach first, as if it does not develop well enough I haven't lost anything and can start again from where I am now - and by then hopefully the existing live part will have grown substantially so I'll have more to work with.
Cheers
jason

With deadwood reduction:

http://www.bonsai4me.com/AdvTech/ATPrivetStyling.html

Or with deadwood carved as the focal point:

http://www.bonsai4me.com/AdvTech/ATBigPhatOnePrivetBonsaiProgressionSeriesPartTwo.html

Hello Marie
Those are two very interesting links. It just shows that time is well spent just studying an exasperating tree from every angle, considering every option and not ruling anything out. (It also helps if you are a master with a Dremel!)
regards
Jason

Found a suitable box whip today but never having done a wraparound before, i could use some advice.
If screws are used, what should they be made of?
Do you need to remove the bark/cambium from the whip where it touches the deadwood?
How long does Box take to set in position?

Regards
Jason