How do you go about forming an apex on coniferous species?

[electraus]

Hello everyone,

I’m a little over 2.5 years into the hobby and feel like I’ve become relatively proficient in many techniques but one thing I cannot seem to grasp is apical formation on conifers. I have a better understanding when it comes to deciduous trees because I can see pictures of the winter silhouette but that’s obviously not the case with most conifers.

I don’t know if I’m misremembering but I feel like I ran across a post on here where someone explained the process with illustrations but I was too early on to even begin to understand what was going on. Are any of you guys familiar with the post I’m referring to? Or, if it doesn’t actually exist, are willing to explain this concept? Thanks so much in advance!

 

[rockm]

There are numerous ways to do it, depends on the species and what's available up top to work with. Wire is your friend. Conifer branches are VERY bendy...

 

[electraus]

There are numerous ways to do it, depends on the species and what's available up top to work with. Wire is your friend. Conifer branches are VERY bendy...

What about something like a juniper? It’s the species I work with most, so I’d like to start there. Just for the sake of clarity, I’m referring to the traditional dome-shaped apex commonly used on junipers. I understand you’re supposed to use wire but I’m not sure what the initial shape of the apical branch is supposed to look like.

 

[Eckhoffw]

What about something like a juniper? It’s the species I work with most, so I’d like to start there. Just for the sake of clarity, I’m referring to the traditional dome-shaped apex commonly used on junipers. I understand you’re supposed to use wire but I’m not sure what the initial shape of the apical branch is supposed to look like.

A lot of it depends on whether or not you want a straight, vertical Apex, or a curvy Apex.

If it’s a Juniper, it’s likely you want the movement in the tree. If that’s the case, wiring down the leader, will allow a secondary branch to take over, creating movement and taper to the apex.
Or just prune to shape.

 

[rockm]

What about something like a juniper? It’s the species I work with most, so I’d like to start there. Just for the sake of clarity, I’m referring to the traditional dome-shaped apex commonly used on junipers. I understand you’re supposed to use wire but I’m not sure what the initial shape of the apical branch is supposed to look like.

There is no single way to do it. It mostly Depends on what the tree offers up to work with. The dome shaped apex is mostly the product of wiring and shaping the foliage. It takes a while.

Bonsai Apex/Crown Building – Bonsai4Me

bonsai4me.com

Soulution for Styling Apex

Thought I post up a thread about what to do when forming the apex of a tree when styling. I think this seems to be a point where often people struggle with. So, I thought I would post up a cool trick I have learned through wiring a lot of trees... Sorry in advance that my crude and fast...

www.bonsainut.com

 

[River's Edge]

One of the methods that work well for me is to select three smaller branches and wire them to form a circular pattern at the top where the apex is intended. Then through the process of shoot selection, wiring and pruning one gradually forms the apex. Keeping three smaller side shoots near the apical tip and reducing the apical tip is the first step.
This process takes time and several steps, one of the main reasons why it does not appear to be simply attained.

 

[electraus]

There is no single way to do it. It mostly Depends on what the tree offers up to work with. The dome shaped apex is mostly the product of wiring and shaping the foliage. It takes a while.

Bonsai Apex/Crown Building – Bonsai4Me

bonsai4me.com

Soulution for Styling Apex

Thought I post up a thread about what to do when forming the apex of a tree when styling. I think this seems to be a point where often people struggle with. So, I thought I would post up a cool trick I have learned through wiring a lot of trees... Sorry in advance that my crude and fast...

www.bonsainut.com

Thanks for all these resources! I appreciate it! This was actually the exact post I was talking about, so thank you for helping me find it

 

[pandacular]

Below is another video from Mirai, though unfortunately not free, that deals explicitly with this topic, breaking it down by phase of development and species, and including a decent lecture on theory. If you like Ryan Neil's style, this video is as close as you'll get to an answer from him. Free trial is worth binging, if nothing else.

Titled "Apical Formation"

Academy | Bonsai Mirai Live

Bonsai Mirai presents online live video streams of Bonsai professional Ryan Neil from the premier full-service American bonsai nursery and school located just outside of Portland, Oregon.

live.bonsaimirai.com