I have just bought myself a new tree

[VirulentWaif]

Today I bought a Cedrus deodara and was trying to work on it to make it look it's best and have found it is being very with-holding of it's own deeply hidden potential Bonsai.
I was wondering if anyone out there would be willing to assist me to begin it's design. I have the tools required for many types of bonsai, from the branch pruners, to the stem bending clamps.

Here is a plant of it from several angles:





Thanks I would appreciate others views...thankyou

[VirulentWaif]

No one prepared to be honest and answer?....I had a dream about this tree last night and the truck was twisted in a very oval zig-zag and the apex of the tree was in line with the trunk, with branches only left on the outside of the zig-zag, and one branch running from the base up through the middle that was eventually stripped of bark and turned into a jin. Any thoughts?

[squizzy]

Hi there virulentWaif,

Firstly is there an easier name to address you by like dave or bob?

I dont know agreat deal about cedrus other than I have had a couple die due to getting carried away with cutting, bending and cutting and bending.

I have attached a photo of my latest creation for you to ponder and decide wether you think it has attributes or flaws that you might like or not like to see with your tree.

iphone040612 003.jpg

My tree has no taper for the majority of the trunk and I think you may find it is very hard to get taper once its at this stage. The wires need to stay on for a fairly long period for the tree to hold its shape.

You have many options. I think there was a post not long back of some great cedars ( fairly old) and the other place to look might be some posts by alpineart.

Hope this helps

Squizz

[VirulentWaif]

Hey Sqizzy I do like your tree, It is basically what my "dream tree" looked like but maybe with a few more lvls of branches and a sharper 'twist'.

Oh and my name is James, so if Virulent, or Waif is too impersonal I don't mind being called by my real name (Just not Jamie, have hated that name since I was a small child!)

[Barry1]

Sqizzy I like where your going with this tree !how long has it been in training
And James it looks like you have some nice material to work with there ...enjoy

[Stewart_Toowoomba]

Hi James

Well done on the posting - us newbies can get a little carried away by wanting interaction and wanting it now. I usually am lucky to get 1 comment for about 200 views so don't be disappointed if your overnight posting didn't get too many comments as yet. Patience grasshopper.......

I have no cedars myself but to me it looks as though you have good stock to consider a formal upright - yes can perhaps seem boring and a good one is hard to create but you have good branching across several sides and there appears to be some taper. Some good advice given to me several years ago is look for the smallest tree within your stock.... and plant now for future growth - ie - if you can put the plant in the ground for a year or two to develop quicker growth (than you current pot) and to develop a thicker base. Don't be quick to put into a traditional shallow pot as you will slow down growth. For those who are renting or moving around this can be a hassle, so i'd consider potting it up to a larger pot (when appropriate! check the wiki on when to do things to trees...)

Good luck with it all. If you put it in the ground, you can go and buy another one!

Cheers

stew

[VirulentWaif]

Grasshopper anyway I do like the formal Upright style the trunk is totally uniform from base to apex, there is only one or two branches that throw of the 'uniform shape' that can be 'trimmed' slightly. I actually like the suggestion Stu I have a couple of trees that I have tried to "deform into a shape" but this can be my leave alone and let it make its own shape, with a few minor snips here and there. Thank you very much

[bodhidharma]

viewtopic.php?f=104&t=7742&p=87333&hili ... dar#p87136
Have a look at this thread and it might help you out.

[alpineart]

Hi VW , Do a search on deodar cedar , cedrus deodora and cedrus deodara or deodara. this will reveal numerous topics on differing styles and methods employed by other members . Some members like me miss spell quite often so you have to forgive me for that .

Cheers Alpineart

[Craig]

James, maybe there's some inspiration for you in this lot


search.php?st=0&sk=t&sd=d&sr=topics&key ... or_id=1800

[Guy]

Often the base and root placement can influence the final design so before going with a formal upright -or any other style for that matter-I would carefully remove a little of the soil and see what will be the surface roots are like and whether they can be adjusted or uncrossed to suit that style
then replace soil or repot into the next size up-and leave until an appropriate time

[VirulentWaif]

I have just finished pruning and wiring up my Formal Cedrus deodara tomorrow im going to de-soil the roots and un-circle the roots and stick it in a poly box with nice friable soil for a couple of years to let the trunk and branches fatten up a bit. Thanks for your help guys it does look amazing in real life, pity my photographics is so dodgy .

[Craig]

No way would I repot a cedar now, wait till warm weather arrives.

[Stewart_Toowoomba]

Hi James

Check out the wiki on "When Should I..." found at https://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... hould_I%3F
Although it doesn't refer to cedars, i agree with Craig. More patience still..... wait till it gets much warmer so the tree can kick on from the root prune and repoting. Very neat wiring too - hope it doesn't get too tight. Once you get more growth, you can slightly bend down the brances to give a more aged appearance. You can also give some lateral movement to the brances to avoid the wheel spoke look too.

it's a worry though... i suggest a formal upright and Bodhi gives you a "how to bend the bloomin' heck out of a cedar" thread.... hmmm interesting

cheers

stew...... fellow grasshopper

[VirulentWaif]

Yeah I did see that post from Bhodi. I myself am Druidic and actually 'forcing' a tree into a shape with an angle-grinder and a core of copper is still a bit alien to my way of thinking...But if it works, use it. I really want to see a picture of how the wound has healed over the wire. The photos Stewart are from a low perspective, the branches do seem to actually slope upwards, trust me, they are flat or pointing downwards, I spent over an hour getting those branches where they should be after wiring, and have found myself sneaking out at least once a day to check on the tree under the disguise of having a cigar. I have never before seen the formal style as a beautiful tree form, until I actually made one, before I was of the "struggle to survive, twist and bind" school, but to actually read up on the formal styles philosophy of trying to make a tree that has basically formed in the perfect spot, as far as water wind and sun, no competition for nutrients etc, is concerned, has made my appreciation for this style far more, than it once was. I am really looking forward to making one of each of the Druidic trees such as Oak, and Elm etc, in the 'Formal style', for my collection.