Larch styling question

Hi I just wanted some feedback before I hack it off. I acquired a larch in October for an amazing price but the branches were way too flat and stretched side to side almost horizontal to the pot, at least for me. The bark was great though and the taper and nebari weren't bad either so I was very anxious to get the tree wired. After finishing, I think the tree would benefit and look older perhaps more naturalistic if the current apex was removed. What do you guys think?  


This is shortly after getting the tree mid October


Just before wiring


Sorry for the bad quality but by the time I was finished it was dark so I did what I could with indoor apartment lighting


Should it look like this?


Thanks for looking!

Over a week and not a single idea or criticism? I was hoping for some opinions of whether I should keep the top portion of the tree. I'd rather hear, "Your larch looks like something I would sweep my floor with", than nothing

I'd say the last is the better option

hey tom... from one snowboarder to another, i prefer something between the two, but closer to the first one...
the second one looks to me like someone dropped something heavy on it from above, obliterating the apex, but not in a natural way

the trunk, taper, bark etc is all cool, but some of the most interesting movement is in the upper reaches...

Thanks for your feedback guys, I think I will wait until summer is over and next winter to see what ramification will bring and what can be done up top. A new small round pot should look better than this plastic trainer.

I like 2 also with a bit more growth up there you are money.

Sorce

I agree, something in between would be best I think. Probably to the next crotch of branches. Nice wiring job and tree.

Not a larch person, but here is my initial reaction. When I see the virt with the top cut off, the foliage becomes smaller in relation to the rest and the whole thing gets a sort of squattish, literati-ish look- two good looks that don't look good together(my taste) unless you're a baobab tree. I would consider continuing the growth upward, another six inches maybe added to the total height. I like how the branches are wired down.

Thank you all for your feedback, I appreciate it! : )

shucks, I would have to have missed this post. As Nick Lenz was noted for saying..."Larches Rule"...

Coupla thoughts

#!. I'd like to see it repotted into an unglazed oval pot. be sure and center it in the pot at 40% in from the back edge so that the movement of the tree over hangs the 60% space alotted it. Remember regarding the pot length you want to measure the length of the tree and add diameter of the trunk at soil level. Then take that combined length to figure 2/3rd of it and that is the length of the oval pot. Tilt the trunk forward a bit so you can begin to see the trunk movement appearing so subtley at the base of the soil.

#2. I like the condensed version of #2, but instead of doubling back on itself with the crown, I'd like to see it continue with flow of the tree, making the crown face the other way.

Seattle Huh? Was just up this mornin' to bonsai NW and visiting with john...while he was busy repotting trees....

Thanks for all the feedback. I decided to just leave it for now, as the option of hacking is always an option but gluing it back isn't. I was going to stick it into another pot but I didn't realize that the root ball was still so tall and thick. I only had one other pot with me that I liked at the time of re-potting, so I just shoved it in to that one. I have had various comments on how it doesn't fit at all and it looks like the Larch is going to launch into space. I really like to color but perhaps I do need to go to something wider and shallower but I have not seen a Larch in a pot like this and for now it doesn't bother me too much. The jin in the front will probably have to go, it's distracting. All in all the tree survived the repot and actually had roots coming out of the bottom so I am happy that it's healthy.



Thanks for looking

yeaaaaaa........that pot HAS to go......huge potential with this tree in my eyes. That pot.....candy bowl...maybe...ANYTHING else!!!

what you want is an oval pot known as a "wobbly".So Named Because the potter distorts the sides to make it look unbalanced.

Just a fall update.




These were taken 7 days apart, quite a drastic change

Plan for the spring is a different pot, I may cut the top off as well.

It looks quite healthy!

I must have missed this thread first time around (don't know what I was doing in January) but I'm sure it's not too late to say great tree and it looks even better after wiring!

If it was mine I would take off the top, I much prefer your virtual without the spike. I also agree with LanceMac10, that pot has to go dude! What were you thinking     

Sorry only joking, the tree really is very nice but the pot does nothing for it in my view and is just too small. Some sort of drum pot with a rough texture to compliment the beautiful bark would be my suggestion (but what do I know?).

Cheers

Richard

Thanks for the feed back! I really appreciate it.

I more or less got stuck with that pot I wanted to place it into another but I didn't know the root situation before and because I had nothing else with me at the time, I put it in there. I think a round drum would look good.

I also think that the top part is just too much. Too pointy and "Bonsai" like. I want it to look older and like a real tree so I will take that top off.

I like the tree, coming along nice. I would not cut the top off, I would let the ramification of upper branches create a broader, more rounded top.

And I concur the pot has to go. I do like a cream color round or oval. Randy Davis has been using a salt glaze over a cream or green color that might be interesting. Round and cream, or beige, or yellow. Or even a blue to contrast with the autumn yellow of the leaves.

Some YiXing pottery is made with yellow clay that unglazed is quite nice, not overly bright and ages well to a mellow color.

The trunk on this tree is big and masculine enough to work well in a rectangle.

Really there are many pots that would work. Nice tree, I think its ready for a nice pot.

Thanks for the input Leo, I appreciate it

I would be happy ( almost ) with the angle of the main branches as shown on the pic " just before wiring" though . But I also know that it would be very difficult to resist the burning temptation to do something with the new tree in the backyard.

The pot seems to be very small for a larch that loves moisture and a good space for its flat root ball. It is quite difficult to strike a good balance between our liking, bonsai pot "rules" and the health of the tree.

Thomas, good luck and have fun. You have a great tree _ I do like it.


BTW The comment above comes from an old fashioned skier who doesn't understand why people are using a flat board to have fun on the snowy slopes if there are ski?

Actually you want to restrict these trees with smaller than normal pots. I would go round drum 2 inches wider but shallower than the present pot. UNGLAZED! It's a conifer.

Vlad: When I bought my snowboard, it was only the board and I didn't get a buy one, get one free deal so only one stick was sold to me . I like to ski sometimes as well but I can play more on a snowboard. Thanks for your input!

M. Frary: I have been definitely been considering some sort of flatter drum like pot. Problem is it still has wood between the nebari and the bottom on the tree so I have to slowly cut out the bottom and focus on creating the important white tips on the sides of the tree.

I will report the re-pot in the spring.

Howdy, I hope everyone is enjoying the buds opening and perhaps collecting new trees.

I wanted to update you with this tree. It obviously needs to be filled in up top and probably a shari made from the front Sauron/former jin. I think it's drawing too much attention.

Happy Spring!

I don't think I'd change a change anything, it looks great just the way you have it. A observation, though, it looks as if it could use a slighter bigger pot.

i just caught the exchange w/ vlad about skiing vs snowboarding...
i dont want to cause a digression in your thread, but if snowboarding was invented first, nobody would consider cutting it in half lengthwise, adding uncomfartable boots and sharp pointed sticks to hold onto... sounds absolutely barbaric !

now back to the tree...

that pot is a big improvement in the presentation...

imho the very top does not tickle me... whatever is being suggested "happened" to the tree, i would think it would have since "recovered" and then continue its upward reach from the top... just my thought