Atlantic Cedar

[Watto]

I was fortunate enough to attend two workshops with Mauro and after the first one I really needed to practice my wiring technique before the second. This tree was in need of some shape and so the practice session began. I have owned this for a while and a few ideas have come and gone, but listening to Mauro talk about design principles gave me the idea that this has become. A new pot and some TLC and I am hoping it develops into a reasonable tree. It was originally a sort of slanting style but now in a more classical informal upright
Appreciate suggestions or comments.

[Elmar]

Nice. What was his teachings on wiring that seems to be different?
Your last pic shows neat wiring, tho...


Cheers
Elmar

[Raymond]

Watto, how long does one leave the Raffia and rubber on?

[kez]

Nothing special or different with Mauro's wiring, he juat doesnt accept messy/crossed wires and places lots of importance on proper anchoring and direction of wrap

Good solid application of technique in short

Lovely cedar watto!

[Daluke]

It's hard looking at your pics sideways! But from what I see it looks good.

One thing (I'll start with a disclaimer saying I'm a pleb) the bends look a bit too angular (sharp?) and artificial??

Might just be the photos.

Thoughts?

[Watto]

Kez has the wiring down pat. In his opinion there is no substitute for correct anchoring, direction and angle, and the finishing is also important. The finish should be with narrow wire appropriate to the task and finished with a loop to prevent the branch form coming loose.
The raffia and rubber will stay on probably a year or a bit more.

[Watto]

Daluke - the pics look fine to me. The sharp angles of the branches is typical of their natural look so I'm fine with it.

[Pearcy001]

Looking great Watto!

The thing I might suggest is really separating the left and right pads at the bottom of the tree. It seems to make it too cluttered IMO. Showing the trunk through the middle would break this up and be much more pleasing to my eye. Also the bottom left branch flicks up like a Nikey tick, may seem more fluid with the rest of the tree if it was straightened out, even if it is running at the downward angle. In saying that, lovely tree mate its looking great.

Cheers,
Pearcy.

[Watto]

Hopefully the first foliage pad will fill in over the coming months and then it wont look out of place. The little bit of trunk coverage is to add mystery.

[Pearcy001]

The little bit of trunk coverage is to add mystery.

Everybody loves a little mystery

[Jason57]

beautiful tree Watto........I love the styling you've created.

[bodhidharma]

Hi ya Watto! Did you undercut the branches? Otherwise they just rise up again which is frustrating. if not i would recommend it. Good potential tree.

[Watto]

Bodhi - I didn't undercut however I did bend until you can feel that slight tear in the branch structure, not damaged but just sufficient to set the branch as it repairs itself. I'll let you know in about 18 months how successful it was.