This deodar cedar was dug in Canberra many years ago with the one I posted last week and at the time all the three I dug looked the same to me, slanting long and skinny. I mentioned I took those three trees on very different journeys and this one in the literati style has come along only OK and I need some expert assistance to take this to the next level.
A re-pot to reduce the not so attractive nabari and possibly a new pot at the same time may help. The reduction in foliage mass is to let more sun into the tree and that may assist with some back budding.
More time and more work needed, but here it is for now.