p.afra first styling

P.afra  first styling
Any suggestions
Regards
Aman

Nice start. Much better than mine. Only comment would be to evaluate the double branch on the lower left side. Perhaps remove one, the lower?

Thanks and keep us up to date.

very nice tree. how long have you been working on it? An do you have any tips on styling this tree I have the same but I haven't styled it yet.
P.S. I love that style

Thanks
I bought the plant last year it was messed up .
There were two trunks on it.
I saperated the two . the other one is a semi cascade I will post it.
The plant I guess can take bends easily. Compare to other species. Just keep the branch at a bending angle.

Regards
Aman

Very nicely done Aman !

Let me know how you keep the branches short.

When I cut mine back and there are no leaves, I just end up with stumps.
Thanks for any advice in advance.
Until.
Khaimraj

i have several of these as they are the species that got me fully into bonsai in the first place (after some dabbling)
i received a couple 2-3" cuttings january 2012
and here is one of them in summer of 2014 at just 2.5 years old... it is maybe 7" tall.



i have found them to be very vigorous growers, given plenty of sunlight, water and nutrients.
they back-bud on old wood, but i dont believe i have ever pruned a branch back to zero foliage and so i dont know the relation between pruning and back budding, though my guess is that the back budding is random and not necessarily induced by pruning.

re: wiring, they do bend easily, but they also break easily, so use caution...
i tend to use a bit thicker wire than normal and wire it a bit looser than normal because it cuts in very easily and very quickly...
because of that i have found it is better to gently "suggest" where you would like the branch to go, as oppose to hard, directional command wiring... and don't bother with copper (unless thats all you have) as aluminum works just fine.

the clip and grow method also works really well with these.

cuttings root easily at any time of the year...

leaves reduce easily by simply removing the larger leaves that may appear and after a while it takes the hint and makes smaller and smaller leaves that do not increase in size.

keep in mind their natural habitat in africa... elephants are constantly pruning them back and shoots & leaves that fall tend to root themselves, thus propagating the species.

regarding styling, that is up to you  

many enthusiasts do not take these seriously, but they sure are fun to work with...
(and who cares what elitists and snobs think anyways ?    )

Thanks kaimraj
I never cut a branch in this species unless it is not needed.
I tried to bend it .
I think it takes time to grow to its required thickness.in my climate .


Thanks beer
for giving a detail information

Thanks
Aman