AusBonsai

This is one of a pair of trees that have been posted before:
viewtopic.php?f=23&t=10713&hilit
viewtopic.php?f=25&t=11684&start=0&hilit
In summary, both were purchased up at Bodhidharma more than 18 months ago. Then both accompanied me to a workshop with Craig Wilson, and have since had gradual work done to confirm their styling direction.

With time for an update I felt it appropriate to give them each their own thread, so here we go ...

When I first bought it Bodhi and I discussed styling, and Bodhi, you'll be happy to see this tree confirmed as Formal Upright It was repotted into a shallower pot a year ago, but is only now really regaining it's strength. More wire will follow over this growing season. The apex also needs to be sorted out too. All in good time, and next year it'll get a nice pot

Not a bad start

Looks good Ryan. Will be interesting watching this one develope. I think your choice of style suits the trunk. I really have to get up and see bodhi soon. That's a great looking tree to start with.

Josh.

Ryan I think you should let the leader run for a year or two. this would help heal the scar in the crown and lead to better taper in the long term.
Craigw

Lovely tree and agree with craig, the top section of trunk needs to put on a fair amount of growth to thicken it up to heal the scar

Ken

In relation to the scare and taper, would it blend better if the cut was on more of an angle. I often see nice trees but with a flattish section from the chop and a definite change from old trunk to new trunk.

Josh.

Keels, Josh, Ken, Thanks for your interest and encouragement.

Craig, thanks for the advice. Look forward to seeing you down at Waverley next meeting

The scar is concave in an attempt to provoke roll over and also has quite a few branches around it including the leader. The scar healing will be very long term as these seem to be slow growers, and the current plan was to hide it within the top canopy/apex. All branches need to put on a bit of weight as well to become more convincing.

Thanks, Ryan

cre8ivbonsai wrote: these seem to be slow growers

If it is a seiju it will be fast growing hence the propensity to grow so fast that reverse taper is difficult to prevent. You may have or may be thinking of a Hokkaido which look exactly the same but are slow growing.