Is this Picea in Need of Spring Pruning

node

I'm pretty much a beginner, have a small Spruce (Picea), and am looking for advice on how to proceed.

I bought this plant at a garden center in the summer of last year, repotted it into something a bit larger, as the roots were completely filling the pot it came in and I felt combing it out at this point might kill it. I did wire it up already at that point.

I repotted it again at an angle this spring in early march, young buds just starting to swell up. I did comb out the roots and trim the roots a bit at this time. The soil is a mixture of Akadama and Orchid Soil (Peat blocks & bark).

Now it is started to sprout quite vigorously and is showing lots of new growth.

It is pretty much wired up in the form it is supposed grow in - I’m going for something in the direction of a rather informal semi-cascade - but I’m sure if I leave all the new shoots on, my guess is that it will start loosing needles from the center outwards and I’d like to avoid that at this stage.

So my first question basically is, how many and where should I pinch the new buds, to make sure it doesn’t start dropping needles in places I don’t want it to.

I also wouldn’t mind some feedback on how everybody thinks it is starting to look, and what I could do to improve its form.

Generally I would appreciate some constructive criticism at this point and before I reach for the pruning shears. J

Oh, did I mention that this is the second tree I’ve ever wired up from top to bottom.

Greetings,

node

Attached: The first two images show the tree as it is first wired up and repotted in October last year, the other images show the tree as it is today.

Attached Images

	OKT_04_Bonsai_Pine_front_01.jpg (73.0 KB, 27 views)
	OKT_04_Bonsai_Pine_front_02.jpg (70.4 KB, 23 views)
	Apr05_Bonsai_Picea_FULL_01.jpg (68.7 KB, 18 views)
	Apr05_Bonsai_Picea_SIDE_01.jpg (66.0 KB, 25 views)
	Apr05_Bonsai_Picea_TOP_01.jpg (72.4 KB, 10 views)
	Apr05_Bonsai_Picea_FULL_06.jpg (70.9 KB, 14 views)

__________________
Whenever you find that you are on the side of the majority, it is time to reform. - Mark Twain
Never let your sense of morals get in the way of doing what's right. - Isaak Asimov
The most savage controversies are those about matters as to which there is no good evidence either way. - Bertrand Russell

Advertisement