development plan for larch bonsai

[raffaelbaer]

Hello everyone,

So I want to develop a larch bonsai similar to this one:



My main question was what route I should go along for creating this tree:

Plan 1:
- Let the main stem / main shoot grow until sufficient thickness of the first part of the trunk, then cut it and wire up a new leader,
also work on the branches in the meantime, continue process till end result

Plan 2:
- prune the main stem / main shoot right now, and grow a new large sacrificial branch, then when sufficient thickness in the first part of the trunk,
cut it to the next best branch to develop as a leader and wire it up also working on branches in the meantime, continue process till end result

What do you guys think will be more sufficient in creating such result as shown above?

Cheers
Raffael

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

From the scars I think that this tree was grown with a combination of those two methods: Let the main stem grow and wire the branches, keep them tight and small and compact. Then let one branch grow wild to the side, and create the thickness you need. Then cut back the sacrifice branch and refine the branches further.

 

[Shogun610]

What does YOUR current tree look like?

 

[leatherback]

Looks like a tree collected. The top section is MUCH younger than the trunk, and the transition in age is abrupt.

Grow a larch. Ensure the keeper branches remain short and compact. Allow the other branches, and especially the top to grow out. Over time remove the sacrifice branches and top.

 

[raffaelbaer]

Hey, thanks for all of your great replies, I wasnt online that much, however I've got some progress pictures for you!

I think In the current state I will let it grow freely for maybe 4-5 years, but work on my main branches, when my main trunk is thick enough,
I will cut it to arround 1/2 of the current main stem height, and the wire the new leader up... I think for now theres not much else I can do, just let it grow and work on branches and a bit on my nebari...

What do you guys think?
What could i improve about the current state of the tree
PS: I dont want the bend this drastic as in my reference tree, it should look more realistic than / bonsai idealistic...

 

[raffaelbaer]

for reference, something in this style could look really good on my specific tree I think...
Maybe I Would wire the branches a bit more drastically downward....

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Hey, thanks for all of your great replies, I wasnt online that much, however I've got some progress pictures for you!

I think In the current state I will let it grow freely for maybe 4-5 years, but work on my main branches, when my main trunk is thick enough,
I will cut it to arround 1/2 of the current main stem height, and the wire the new leader up... I think for now theres not much else I can do, just let it grow and work on branches and a bit on my nebari...

What do you guys think?
What could i improve about the current state of the tree
PS: I dont want the bend this drastic as in my reference tree, it should look more realistic than / bonsai idealistic...

View attachment 526967View attachment 526968

I would do two things first:
1) Remove the wire, it has no function other than holding the guy wire in place, which it isn't doing. Yes, that's a hard observation, but bare with me please. Because of this, I'm walking down two flights of stairs to take a picture for you in the rain.
2) Wire the branches down, all of them except the top ones.

Now that would help you set the bones pretty well. You're essentially halfway there! I mean, the trunk is there but it lacks taper. That can be solved by making a new leader two or three branches above that block you put in place.

Give me a couple minutes, I'll make some pictures of how I did my bends.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Wood screws! And reinforced with tape. But you could use metal hose connectors as well instead of screws.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

I'd cut back and grow for apical taper now, because if you continue letting this thicken all together, you might be unable to get better taper without having to cut half the tree down and regrowing it.
I would work those main branches as much as I'd work the apex, so that both are "ready" at the same time. Otherwise, either one of the two is going to look out of proportion while there was no reason for it.

There's a nice bottom shoot that you could let grow freely and use that to increase the taper on at least the bottom. Give it a cooky bend and you might even have some cool deadwood. If it ends up looking ugly, cut it off entirely and leave just a nice scar instead of a jin.

 

[raffaelbaer]

Thanks for you great demonstration and Help, today I wired the branches and have decided to do following:



If you wonder, the branch that is surrounded with turquise color, will be removed, the bright green one I will use to develop the new leader, it is almost located perfectly 2/3 of my final height, which is awesome...
Would you suggest cutting back to it now and develop the new leader while at the same time therfore further thickening my main trunk, also the age difference in wood wouldnt be so abrupt then and I can get my wound to heal nice, cause I didnt do such heavy chop...

for the pink and purple branch: They are located perfectly at 1/3 of trunk, however are rather small, I want to encourage them to get bigger by specifically pruning the tourqise, blue and orange branches back to the last years wood (essentially removing and new growth), once the new shoots later this year have emerged... In hopes of getting more power put into the pink and purple surrounded branches...

Is my Plan for doing the trunk chops okay at this time in terms of further development or will it slow me down a lot...
Would you suggest removing the bright blue branch now or should I leave it and see if I can integrate it in the desing... Oh and for the branch right to the orange one should I also remove it?

Thanks in advance for your amazing help
and hopefully we can bring this tree to the next level

Cheers
Raffael