Cork bark portulacaria styling help

Charlo

Mame
Messages
111
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270
Location
Albuquerque, NM
USDA Zone
7B
I have this cork bark portulacaria that I really like. The bark looks a lot better in person. I trimmed it today, took off long extensions and a lot of downward growing leaves. I get junipers and pines, and other non-tropicals, but this plant has me confused as to what to do next. Anyone have any ideas of what I should do next with it? IMG_4966.jpegIMG_4965.jpeg
 
I have this cork bark portulacaria that I really like. The bark looks a lot better in person. I trimmed it today, took off long extensions and a lot of downward growing leaves. I get junipers and pines, and other non-tropicals, but this plant has me confused as to what to do next. Anyone have any ideas of what I should do next with it? View attachment 625145View attachment 625146

Personally I would change the angle.
IMG_2421.jpeg
 
Thanks Ryan, you have a great eye. I will work on changing the angle and tightening up the foliage.
Please do not charge in and follow the first suggestion, especially when the suggestion has been made online with just a couple of 2D photos for reference.
@Ruddigger 's idea may be a really good option but always check that it will work with the material you have.
Check roots before planning or attempting any change of trunk angle. Changing angle may end up with half the roots sticking up out of the soil!
Check that existing branches will work with any change of trunk angle or that they can be bent to fit with the change. Do you have first branch to one side and slightly toward the front? Back branches to give depth?, etc.

Personally, I like the leaning trunk. Way too many upright trunk bonsai, all cookie cutter styled.
I suspect the real problem is way too many branches, all going in different directions so or order or 'theme' in the styling. The leaning trunk speaks of harsh conditions, either constant wind, or shade on one side so the tree is growing toward the light. In contrast, the strong, upright branches indicate good growing conditions to allow strong upright growth. Seeing the 2 together on one tree challenges our subconscious ideas of how plants grow which, in turn, creates unease.

Here's another option to consider.
port 1.png
Remove or drastically shorten strong, upright branches and branches growing back against the flow of the trunk.
The blue circle shows an area where branches are very congested. Consider reducing some of the branches or secondary branching to open up and show similar lines in the remaining branches in that area. Possibly even remove one of those thicker branches completely to leave space for the other to be seen and to develop more fully.

As always, please check that these ideas are even viable with the tree you have before starting on any work. There may be things I can't see in the photos that would make the proposed changes unsatisfactory.
 
I actually dig the angle as is. Maybe something like this where you take off most of the growth from the inside slant and work your canopy a bit on the top grow those two branches out with the green arrow to create balance. Let the bottom green arrow grow long to thicken. Just my $.05 (we don't have cents anymore)


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