Atlantic Cedar, what should i do?

[mayhem15]

Hi all, joined last week cool site.

A question;

i've had this cedar for around 10 months now, wondering what should i do re pruning etc or just let it go for another year?

27.9.2023.jpg

Thanks

[KIRKY]

Welcome, hope you enjoy your bonsai journey.
At this stage not a long to trim. If you want it to thicken up suggest you repot it into a larger pot wire it up for movement unless your planning on growing it straight Apart from that remove all the “T” branching. You never want branches growing on the same level, or you will get ugly thickening of the trunk at that point.
Cheers
Kirky

[mayhem15]

Thanks for the advice Kirky appreciate it, i will have to address the T branches for sure.

[shibui]

Depends what you want from your tree.
Some newbies are more than happy with a thin trunk and sparse branches. They just want a tree in a pot. In that case trim longer branches to keep the shape compact. Small pots don't allow much growth so it takes many years for trunk to thicken and branches to develop pads.

Other growers aspire to a thicker trunk with bends and good taper from base to top. In that case a larger pot allows more growth. More growth = thicker trunk sooner. At some stage (years) chop the main trunk and use a side branch as the new trunk leader. Wire trunk and branches to give desirable shape before they get too thick and rigid.

You've chosen a particularly slow developing tree so even fast development is likely to take 10-15 years to get a show worthy tree from a small cedar.

[mayhem15]

Thanks shibui for your advice

The tree was a gift so being that im happy to go forward, its a good way for me to learn the art.

I will look for a larger Pot, Wire and trim a little.

Cheers