bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - What to do to a new Mugo

I think you first need to decide how big you want the finished bonsai to be. If you like mame and shohin, go ahead and start styling. The trunk look pretty respectable for a small bonsai.

But if you want a substantially larger bonsai when you're finished, you need to put it into a roomy pot, or in the ground, to let it put on some bulk. Don't prune, except to avoid getting a knob at some join. You can break the extended candles off by 1/3-1/2 if you want, to start developing ramification. But even this will slow the tree's growth some. (If it were me, I'd do it anyway; but it's your tree.)

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Treebeard 55

"... the Lord God made all kinds of trees ... trees that were pleasing to the eye ..." (Genesis 2:9, NIV.)

10-May-2008	#4
treebeard55 Transplanted Jungle Rat Join Date: Aug-2007 Location: north-central IN Country: USA USDA Zone: 5b AHS Heat Zone: 5 Posts: 311	I think you first need to decide how big you want the finished bonsai to be. If you like mame and shohin, go ahead and start styling. The trunk look pretty respectable for a small bonsai. But if you want a substantially larger bonsai when you're finished, you need to put it into a roomy pot, or in the ground, to let it put on some bulk. Don't prune, except to avoid getting a knob at some join. You can break the extended candles off by 1/3-1/2 if you want, to start developing ramification. But even this will slow the tree's growth some. (If it were me, I'd do it anyway; but it's your tree.) __________________ Treebeard 55 "... the Lord God made all kinds of trees ... trees that were pleasing to the eye ..." (Genesis 2:9, NIV.)