Deodars - Where to start?

[feralpossum]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this (not bonsai, just this site). Returning to bonsai after an absence of 25 years or so. I've joined my local bonsai club, but as I'm a shift worker, and they only meet once a month, it's often quite some time before I make it to a meeting.

I've picked up a couple of dozen projects, two of which are Cedrus deodars. They both have roughly inch thick trunks, and I have reduced their height to about 70 and 90cm. I have tried to reduce the upper growth on both, and leave the lower branches longer. I intend to pot them up into Styrofoam containers from the local green grocer. I can't plant them in the ground, as I rent, and it's also necessary to chase the sun a bit, in my back yard.

I'm looking for advice on what else to do. Obviously they need to be left to their own devices for a bit to thicken up, but how much shaping can I do? I have thrown a bit of wire and a trunk bender on one to try and get some movement in the trunk. Does anyone have any other advice? Anything would be greatly appreciated.

[Andrew Legg]

Welcome back mate! Keep a close eye on wire on cedars. Once they bite they mark forever. Drop a few pics in here and you'll get more of a response.

Cheers,

Andrew

[feralpossum]

Thanks Andrew,
I'm new to this online forum caper. Hoping the image below will come through as an image rather than just a string of gobbledegook.

[Andrew Legg]

Looks like you gonna have to try that again mate!

[terry.muller2]

Hi feralpossum
I have had one for years and would also like to thicken the trunk. It is healthy but it has been very slow to grow. The needles are small and it does grow but?

Sent from my SM-T530 using Tapatalk