picea pugens (fat Albert)

[PWC]

Hi all,
I am trying to acquire better stock but as a newbie I'm not confident about the prospects of their survival so tend to work with cuttings, tube stock and clearance stock. The problem with my approach is that this pre Bonsai stock is probably around 5 plus years away from anything even closely resembling Bonsai.
As you all know us newbies always want something in a bonsai pot. So yes I picked up another clearance subject, this one has a bit more age and size to it and interesting bark. I would like to think it could develop into something reasonable int the next year or two.
It has a base of 5 cm and overall height of 50 cm.

I was thinking informal upright and reducing it a bit in height.

Any ideas and comments regarding future possibilities are most welcome.

Apologies for the side views, it's seems pretty random sometimes it just won't orient them correctly.

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[MJL]

Hi PWC,

I think that stock is interesting and has potential. Perhaps something along the lines of this blue spruce (see link below) might be a design guide: https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/548313323367364008/

It's hard to see from the photos but you might aim for a slender, sparsely branched informal upright with a slight sweep in the trunk line. Perhaps a new top at A or B to create a little more taper; keep some lower branches as sacrifice to fatten bottom up (just a little more) and perhaps remove some heavier bar branches mid-way up. As per below.

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I am only 5-6 years into this hobby myself so others may have different and better advice but I thought I'd have a crack for you.

I am trying something something similar with a cedar and picea that I recently purchased. I look forward to seeing what you do.

Cheers,

Mark

[PWC]

It's hard to see from the photos but you might aim for a slender, sparsely branched informal upright with a slight sweep in the trunk line.

Thanks for you input Mark, your suggestions mirror my initial thoughts for it's future development. It was one of those impulse buys, I have just started to research the species and it seems it might be a bit of a challenge.

Peter.