picea pungens update and concidering future choise of pot

Hi everyone

I thought I would share an update on my picea pungens and at the same time ask for some ideas on the future pot. I realize that this tree will never be a show stopper, but I like it, since it is my first collected spruce and it responds well to my treatment (so far): Last week I chose to make a new apex using a side branch. The present styling is finally starting to show some direction and I think I am going to stay with this styling.


Next decision is to look for a suitable pot for the future. I have some ideas myself, but I would appreciate pot comments, before I decide wether to focus next years training on candle pinching and initial carvings or root improvement and a first transplant in a training pot according to choise of future pot.

Thanks in advance

/Loke Emil

Hello Loke. May I make a few suggestions for consideration before a bonsai pot.. Your tree will develop much quicker in a large container like this. If this is the front, then the bottom branch is obscuring the trunk line and coming straight at the viewer? The apex branch appears to be underneath a side branch that is wired across from left to right? I personally would cut the tree back harder to build taper in the top third of the tree and develpo it in a larger container.

Hi Will

You may kill all my darlings - whenever you see fit to help me get the most out of a tree. I don't mind growing the tree in a large container, but it needs to be transplanted and slightly root pruned next spring. Your suggestion of pruning back even harder to improve taper is probably a very good idea...But I think I'll need to persuade you to draw a quick virtual of how you see it - I guess I am too blinded by my own idea

However from the following closeup of the apex-in-progress you'll se that the current leader is infact the upper branch. As you mention, the lowest branch on the right does interfere with the trunk: when viewed from the actual front this branch is slightly to the right, not hiding the trunk (I didn't have a good picture of the tree seen from the actual front at hand). However seen from either sides, this branch looks like a swans neck at the moment. If I can't change that over time, the branch will have to be jinned.


Glad to get some constructive input, thanks - and beware of too many sardines
/Loke Emil

Hi Loke
I think pictures from 4 sides with an uniform colored backdrop
and taken on the hight of the middle of the tree, would help.
regards, Sunip

Hi guys and dolls

...though this collected tree might never really become a good bonsai, I do like to give it a try from time to time. I had some fun the other day giving it a new direction - in the attempt to further reduce the foliage, improve movement and taper in the trunk, as suggested by Will Baddeley. The old leader was removed, the trunk took a radical bend and a new apex was chosen. Have a look for yourselves, if you please. And all though you might agree that this tree is rather inferior material, I would still appreciate any ideas or comments...if never a decent bonsai, at least I like to learn from this rather impossible tree...until I get my hands on some kick-ass yamadori pines



Below is a picture of the new apex. The stump from the old apex leader is left to be jin'ed at a later point. There are still too many branches in the apex section, but they will be thinned out as the tree gets more ramification. so this is for Will



Regards, Loke Emil

Hi Loke.
Honestly speaking, this tree is becoming a very nice literati.

In the future if it were mine, I would reduce the foliage pads further and make use of the other branches as jins and probably provide deadwood running along the trunk as well to aged it further.

It is coming along nicely...slowly but surely.

regards,
jun

Hi Jun

...I think you're absolutely right...didn't see that path my self though, thanks

I took a good look at the literati path for this tree. Result: one of the top branches are now converted into the image of a jin'ed dead leader - placed next the left side of the new apex. I'll post a picture of this when there is some further progression to show - and believe me, there is still a lot more work to be done...

regards to you

/Loke Emil