Styling advice please for my collected Callistemon

[OwnLeeOne]

I collected this tree with a number of others about 6 months ago. Im pretty sure its a bottlebrush - can anyone confirm? I am new to bonsai and wondering if this is a good/bad start? Should i be wiring or let it grow more? I have been using seasol fortnightly and recently added some Dynamic lifter to the top. This is the first tree i have really chopped, it was about 30cm now about 12cm. Any comments would be appreciated. Cheers.

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[hugh grant]

Hey mate
looks like a bottle brush to me . I think you should just let it grow a bit more unless your going for a small tree.

Hugh

[Joel]

Look up "Callistemon viminalis" or Weeping Bottlebrush.

Joel

[MelaQuin]

When you collect one of the first criteria is picking a trunk with movement. This little tree looks fairly straight at the moment. Definitely let it grow on. Keep feeding so it throws out new branches and the trunk thickens a bit more, then you can start styling it. At the moment it is too young, too plain to really see a direction but callistimons develop rapidly and this could grow into a nice bonsai in a year or two.

When you can repot without disturbing the roots too much get it more in the centre of the pot. I know it is only in basic training but it is easier to see a tree's future if you have it better positioned in the pot. Harder to get inspiration when it looks as though it is trying to slip over the side and back to the bush. Maybe this doesn't bother you but I have more styling luck if I try to establish the front on any new tree, pot it according, be prepared to change the front as the tree develops but you still get a better view of it.

[OwnLeeOne]

Yeh i thought that might be the case. Thanks for your comments, the photos are pretty bad they are more of a side view this is another pic from the same day - a better front. The roots were exposed coming towards the front, but i later covered them. I planted it like that because i didnt want to chop any roots off yet and they were growing in that direction.

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This is another one i collected the same day. I buried the trunk with which bends and surfaces in the middle of the pot. The dead branch was recently snapped off by some one else. I have no idea what to do with it now. What do you guys think? cheers.

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