comments and criticisms please

denny

[img:7e10d3cd5f]http://a3.cpimg.com/image/23/64/8780323-4968-02000180-BBBBR.jpg[/img]

[img]http://a5.cpimg.com/image/19/F8/9689625-228f-02000180-BBR.jpg[/img:7e10d3cd5f]

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Denny
Still Growing in zone 9
So.Cal.

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Adam

If I were u I would transplant it into a shallower pot next spring. Just my 2 sense.

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[Adam]
"Cass Bonsai Gardens"
"Bonsai Knowledge"
"DaGhostCrew"

denny

yeah i know,the pots a problen.
i`ll have to ignore that for now because i dont have a bonsai pot to fit and i was worried it had outgrown its training pot.
do you think there is too much root showing?

__________________
Denny
Still Growing in zone 9
So.Cal.

Earl

I know I always have problems with roots because most of mine aren't old enough to have developed a nice nebari. But, yes, my opinion would be that unless you are going to do exposed roots, they should fan out as much as possible right at soil line. If you look at old trees in real life, there are not many that show light between a root and the soil.

As it develops more branches, I really liked what Matt did on his recent virtual of a maple...curving the branches up and out instead of flattened or down.

You have a nice upright developing. It looks great in leaf.

windblownhermit

All the following may just be as a beginner's prejudice from only looking at "classic" bonsai example, so take it with salt.

I feel that you have a nice thickness of trunk but too much of it vertically. Hence, though you do say it is a younger tree, it does not seem to present the illusion of age and mass; not a compelling presence I guess you could say. In that it represents a sapling, which it basically is!

I think, as a beginner who has never done this personally but knows that there are lots of people out there to jump in with more technical advice, that if you agree that the trunk could be shorter then maybe you should height(air) layer it. Of course, I don't know how this species of tree takes to layering, but you would solve two questions with one procedure: a sapling-looking trunk would magically begin to appear older and more massive, and a slightly quirky root pattern will be left in the original tree while a handsomely radial pattern will have grown on the new one. Not only that, but you might get two nice trees out of one.
I guess the drawback would be that you end up with a smaller bonsai height-wise than you may have been wanting.

denny

well,i just gotta assume im doing ok then.
thanks earl and al.

__________________
Denny
Still Growing in zone 9
So.Cal.

juliet-of-oz

hi denny

I assume you are trying for a broom stlye..i sure would with a lovely unmarked and straight trunk like that.

If so, I would cut off those two roots that are above the soil line and plant it is a shallow timber grow box making sure to spread the roots out so that you can start to get a good even nebari growing. Broom style trees dont usually have arial roots like that and while they are there, the base of the tree wont increase...

I have made the mistake many times of working with the branches before thinking about the roots....and as such have had to start over again...ahh well live and learn. While my trees are in a bonsai pot and root growth is limited..they dont tend to want to branch out or fill out at all.

While the tree is in its grow box ....feed it well and hopefully as the roots grow so will the branches and ramification. So, you end up with a broom style top of branches and a matching broom style root system to support it..

just another opinion...

Jules

denny

sounds like great advice jules.
thanks very much.

__________________
Denny
Still Growing in zone 9
So.Cal.