|
bonsaiTALK Master Craftsman
Join Date: Jun-2005
Location: Kentucky
Country: United States
Posts: 538
|
Ponderosa
I will be repotting this Ponderosa Pine tomorrow into a larger pot. I need to commit to a front. My present intention is to remove the jin and grow a new apex by extending the branch immediately behind the apex upward and letting it branch out. The branch is hard to see from the front picture, but is clearly visible in the back picture below. It is fairly strong and well developed already. It just needs to be brought upward toward the jin.
My problem with the present front is the nebari is far less attractive then the current back and the left trunk's bow like appearance is very noticeable from this perspective. If I go this route, I'll end up cutting off the left trunk entirely (big decision for me) and jin it. While the foto doesn't show it well. there is quite a bit of subtle movement in the main trunk and actually at the bow between the two trunks.
If I go with the present back as a new front, it presently leans sharply away from the viewer. So I'll need to pot it at a pronounced angle to lean it sharply forward. I am open to carving it to add movement and separation in the bow as well.
As an aside, a smaller section of the tree was removed years ago and ring counted at the Univeristy of Kentucky's Agriculture Department. The area is marked "knob" in the photos below. Over two hundred rings were counted in just this section. So, the tree is pretty old. Definitely over 200 years old.
It is 25 inches high at the point of the jin and 45 inches wide from outer branch tip to outer branch tip.
I'd really appreciate any thoughts as I am truly not committed to either idea. It's in good health, but could use some extra room to grow and fresh soil. The present soil is broken down and somewhat slow to drain. It's time.
|