Cedrus Atlantica - Shakan

[MJL]

In my efforts to slowly build better stock, I recently purchased this tree and another ‘gluaca’/blue variant.

Apart from doing some minor work in the Shari (more to do) - I have not done anything to the styling, yet.

Front

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Back

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I think it will benefit from a tilt forward and slant to accentuate the positive aspects of the tree.

Possible new replanting angle.

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I think the top needs work. There is a very thick branch at the top left that I think is too heavy for its position.

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Very hard to draw but I am thinking something like this.

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In effect, Jin the overly thick branch, tilt and bend the top section to create a new top and fill gap to right. Move back branch back to left to fill space left by jinning the thick branch.

Apologies if that does not makes senses

I welcome other thoughts.

Cheers,

Mark


Bonsai teaches me patience.
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[treeman]

I like this one. You don't need to do much IMO. Keep the top as is it's very good. Keep it flat.

[MJL]

Ok, cheers. Thanks Mike. I appreciate the advice![THUMBS UP SIGN]


Bonsai teaches me patience.
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[shibui]

Second Mike's apex advice. Old cedars almost always develop a flattened apex. Make the top from several branches wired to give the flat top instead of the usual single point apex. Pointy top cedars are young and still growing.
Lowest branches can be below horizontal. Branches on older cedars seem to droop down quite a bit.

[MJL]

I guess this tree could be a design guide - albeit mine is slanting and has more curvature in the trunk.

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Bonsai teaches me patience.
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[MJL]

I reckon this tree deserves a pot this year. Credit where credit is due ... it is one of the trees that I purchased from Tim, so kudos to Tim for the care to date. I am struggling with pot selection - I thought round but my head is going around and around ... pardon the pun.

Recently, I thought someone posted a link to a site that helped re: pot selection (but I can locate it if they did) and I have numerous books which I will reference too but I thought I would canvas any thoughts from this fine community.

Here's a few shots from today before the sun went down ...

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I think I may tilt it slightly upon repotting as per below ...not sure

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Ideas welcome.

[TimS]

It's looking better and better under your care Mark! Just keep an eye on the branches, and especially the tips, the will try to pull the appearance of the branch back up again. The main branches are set now, but wire the tips as needed. Needle plucking the undersides of the branches will help you achieve a better pad silhouette too.

For your pot thoughts, the below photo is the pot it came in to me, an el-cheapo chinese oval job. I don't have a photo of it in this pot, but it neither looked bad nor good. It was a training pot, so that's why i took it out of this pot and put it into one of my grow boxes there to stretch it's roots out.

Others will be able to advise better on pot choices who actually grow cedar (not me), but just so you have an idea of what it was in before you head down the path of a deep oval pot again that i can say 100% does not flatter this tree at all.

I think the tree is almost at the point where it deserves something a little better than a training pot or box quite frankly.

Crappy quick phone photos.

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[Ryceman3]

I’m not going to give any pot advice, it’s an area I don’t think I have enough experience in to really add a forthright opinion.
I did want to say that of all your trees this one is up there for me... great lines in my opinion and a natural look that ticks a lot of boxes for me.
As you have said, and speaking of boxes, it is time this one was relieved of its grow box and found a new home. Good luck picking one and choose carefully, it deserves something nice!

[MJL]

Hey Folks,

I am a little confused with repotting timing. Here is my tree as it is now. Is it too late to repot or indeed, should I repot later in summer? There seems to be a fair breadth of advice. That said, I still haven't landed on a pot so no rush - if I need to wait another year I will.

Anyway, any thoughts on repotting timing? And again, if anyone has any more thoughts on pot I'd be interested. Currently I am thinking a dark pot, perhaps texted or with a matt glaze reflecting the nature of the bark... perhaps oval (or rectangle) with the tree slightly tilted and offset.

Cheers in advance.

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[Keep Calm and Ramify]

if anyone has any more thoughts on pot I'd be interested. Currently I am thinking a dark pot, perhaps texted or with a matt glaze reflecting the nature of the bark...

MJL
Regarding finishes - I found this rough textured pot by Denise Allen really accentuated the bark texture and colour of a deador cedar I currently have.

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[MJL]

Geez I love that texture, thanks for the posting this pic! I’ll look at Denise’s pots - I am yet to come cross Denise’s work.

[one_bonsai]

I would reduce the size of some of the branches:

Cedar Re-design.jpg

[MJL]

Hey O_B (wan),

My apologies for the delayed response, I have been rather busy.

I like what you've suggested here - rather subtle changes to tighten up the tree a little. Thank you for taking the time to respond.

Mark

[鸕盆栽 Gamauji Bonsai]

Hey O_B (wan),

My apologies for the delayed response, I have been rather busy.

I like what you've suggested here - rather subtle changes to tighten up the tree a little. Thank you for taking the time to respond.

Mark

For a powerful tree like this the second pot posted is better. Light or feminine pots would like out of place.
Either a textured pot like in second pic (but no so much as to overpower the tree) or dark brown super plain would be better.

You want the tree and pot to be seen as one

[MJL]

I've probably let patience get the better of me. Perhaps I could have waited another month but I wanted to transfer this tree to a pot from a grow box. It's not the final pot but it's the best that I had around the house at the moment. I think it looks OK. In future a more rugged pot will support this tree.

One of the things I am trying to do better is improve that way I anchor trees into their pots. This tree is wired in through the root ball - solid as a rock but again I learn all the time - once it's anchored, "it's anchored Gerry" and apart from re-doing wiring - it cannot be moved. I think the positioning may be improved if the tree was slightly tilted toward the viewer but alas - it is where it is for the next 2-3 years now. I have also opened up the mix, the roots were happy but quite wet and the mix I have now chosen to use is more open, the top dressing is finer than what's underneath so I'll need to take care; this new mix will dry out a lot quicker than the old.

The tree is a little messy at present. The tree had verdant early spring growth, so a few weeks back I pinch-pruned (and cut off any upwards/downwards shoots too). I am now going to let it settle and then think about some of the styling suggestions mentioned in this post. For now - it is what it is - and I feel good to have something akin to a bonsai in my collection (rather than all the sticks in pots ). I do love the bark emerging on this tree.

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