Is this good nebari?

[Jarrod]

I think we should all take a step back from our trees sometimes and evaluate them critically. This is a swamp cypress I have had in my possession for a few years. I took a step back to evaluate my tree. First thought was, is this good nebari?? Your thoughts? Perhaps others could post there own trees faults and ask for help and assistance. You need to be critical of your own work before you can yourself further in this hobby/art.

[Taffy]

What you said is so true Jarrod. You can look at your own trees all day long - especially when you've been developing it over a number of years and miss some 'faults'. It's not until someone else looks at it and points them out that the thought goes through the mind: 'Why didn't I see that?'

With your tree, the two side root have a really good flare on them - as Swampies do in their natural state. If those three in the middle weren't so parallel to each other and had the same flare, the structure would be almost flawless.

[Jarrod]

Thanks for the reply tman. I agree, this nebari could be fixed but it will take some not so gentle persuasion at the next repot.

Also I have seen, thanks to this photo, a section that appears to show reverse taper. I don't think this is the case on the tree, and it's just the way the photo appears. I will have to go check though.

What I'd like to see here in this thread, or another of your own, is your best tree, and you being critical of it. That way we can all learn more about what is good and bad in regards to bonsai design. Rules are rules but to see them discussed openly will improve everybodys understanding of them.

[craigw60]

Hi Jarrod, I think if you take a long term view with this tree the root base will work out fine, eventually those heavy roots will fuse and you can create a second layer of roots which will flow out from them. When root pruning the tree you will need to be especially hard on that big root on the left side to arrest its development and so get a more balance scale. The main thing is to be sure the underside is correctly pruned so that all the flow is going into the surface roots and no into some unseen system beneath the tree.
I think what you have is very workable
Craigw

[Jarrod]

And a pic of the whole tree

This thread was more about people being more open to criticism then anything else. I am open to anything you have to say. I would love some constructive comments, good or bad. Bring it on!

[aussie4bonsai]

Hi Jarrod
The nebari is fine it’s the trunk that has the problem.
The trunk can be fixed with a V-cut(Go to search and type in V-cut swamp cypress)
If you do V-cut you need to leave growth on both sides and it has to be cut right through.
I am using Vice glue and cable ties to put the two halves together it is a lot easier than drilling and screwing. Here is what could be achieved.
Barry

merge.jpg

[Jamie]

gday jezza

mate I agree with taffy on the fact the outer roots are perfect, the three inner ones arent to flash, what I would be doing is going down to the nursery and getting yourself some swampy whips and start some root grafting.

I think with carving and deadwood this trunk will be grand

[Taffy]

I don't see the 'reverse taper' as too much of a problem. Yes, it's a bit wider where the first set of branches are, but that's probably because they are a pair of bar branches. If the left one was removed, that stub above removed and that side shaved down a bit, you'd do away with the perceived reverse taper. From there on would require a bit more work because it is pretty parallel all the way to the top. I might be wrong, but it appears that upper left section of the trunk is dead wood. If that's the case, then it could all be carved out leaving you a good taper right up to the highest branch.

[aussie4bonsai]

Jarrod
The last photo of V-cut doesn’t show how much it will improve your nebari, so I merged the photos to show how much the out side roots rise improving your nebari and taper at the same time.
Before cropping the V out of your photo I cropped the base at potting mix level then after v-cut I added to the out side roots to show the gain.

rc.jpg

Neberi.jpg