Advice For A New Guy

NewbieNate

Hi All,
I have recently taken my first step of many in this beautiful art. This is my Japenese Juniper. I think it has great potential as a cascade, and I'm looking for any advice of how to work with it more. Any and all suggestions welcome. Thanks.

Nate

Attached Images

juniper.jpg (69.5 KB, 90 views)

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Nate
I agree that the tree has potential. Lovely cascade started with the makings of an apex/crown at the top of the tree as well.

Here's what I would do with it
1. The tree is too 'back heavy'. Cut somewhere around line 1 to remove the two upright branches on the far right.

2. Wire this branch (number 2) to the rear and to the right of the main trunk, and thin out the foilage on the new bottom of the branch a bit. With regular pinching I think this could be a wonderful apex.

3. This full branch (number 3) needs wired to a more defined position. Based on the direction of the branch growth and the growth of other close branches, it needs to move to either side of the cascading branch.

4. These areas (marked as 4) are a little too 'busy'. The cascading portion of the trunk should be highlighted a bit and show through the foilage. Thin out one or more of these areas, using branch girth as a criteria for pruning.

5. Get more feedback and form your own opinion. We often forget that Bonsai is an Art form, and the finished product is the offspring of the artists thoughts and feelings. Just because I prefer Rembrandt, I can't say Picasso or Dali are poor artists or have made "non-art". Whatever you decide, be happy and post a picture here for all of us to appreciate.

Attached Images

juniper.jpg (21.5 KB, 85 views)