Hinoki initial styling - constructive feedback welcome

[SuperBonSaiyan]

I styled my first bonsai today! A cultivar of the Hinoki cypress.

Before:


After:


I welcome any constructive feedback. If you don't like it, please say why so I can learn. Whether it's aesthetics, technique, or anything else.

I've only recently gotten into bonsai, so I'm sure there are things I can improve upon.

I decided to leave a bunch of deadwood instead of cutting down flush, as it may give me more options in the upcoming days as I study the tree a bit more. I figured I can always cut down to flush later on.

From mid-summer, I do plan to apply wire and shape the branches a bit more - this was just the initial styling to get the general shape of the tree in place.

[TimS]

I’ll be interested to see how it goes, I’ve not tried removing so much foliage from a Hinoki, but that’s not to say it’s a problem either.

Keep in mind going forward that they don’t back bud (or at least I’ve not seen it happen), so try to keep foliage alive close in to the trunk as much as you can to help give you options in the future for design

[SuperBonSaiyan]

I’ll be interested to see how it goes, I’ve not tried removing so much foliage from a Hinoki, but that’s not to say it’s a problem either.

Keep in mind going forward that they don’t back bud (or at least I’ve not seen it happen), so try to keep foliage alive close in to the trunk as much as you can to help give you options in the future for design

Me too! I did worry about that at one point (whether too much foliage was removed), but I think it'll be okay. I am really interested to see if the branch on the left will survive. I deliberately snapped that to see if Hinokis will survive (like Junipers) with a live vein. I wanted to get rid of the branch anyway, so it'll be a free experiment.

[shibui]

I am really interested to see if the branch on the left will survive. I deliberately snapped that to see if Hinokis will survive (like Junipers) with a live vein. I wanted to get rid of the branch anyway, so it'll be a free experiment.

All trees/branches can survive with a live vein. It has nothing to do with species, just basic pant biology. The question I'm asking is whether that branch actually has any live connection to the trunk now.

[SuperBonSaiyan]

I am really interested to see if the branch on the left will survive. I deliberately snapped that to see if Hinokis will survive (like Junipers) with a live vein. I wanted to get rid of the branch anyway, so it'll be a free experiment.

All trees/branches can survive with a live vein. It has nothing to do with species, just basic pant biology. The question I'm asking is whether that branch actually has any live connection to the trunk now.

I'm not sure, but time will tell... or is there another way I can tell?

It's not part of the final design because it's thicker than the branch below it, which looked odd to me. In my mind, trees should have thinner upper branches.

[bunce]

See how the back budding goes, id personally be chasing a mame sized tree out of the material.