My first styling: Picea Mariana Yamadori.

[JPH]

I've been dreaming of bonsai since I was a teenager. This is my first attempt at actualizing it. I know it's not great but this is a huge step for me. Critique is welcome of course. I wanted to convey the feeling of spruces in the Taiga. Was I successful?
I tried my best to let the tree guide the design. I'm fairly happy with it. I didn't plan a lot in advance. Just cleaned out most of the dead/weak growth and moved my way up the tree working branches in pairs.

 

[vesper818]

Nice!

 

[Shibui]

Looks good but branches in pairs may become an issue in time.
Trunks tend to thicken faster where branches join. Where 2 branches join on opposite sides the trunk thickens twice as fast and can develop inverse taper. Not sure how fast that happens with Picea though.

 

[JPH]

Trunks tend to thicken faster where branches join. Where 2 branches join on opposite sides the trunk thickens twice as fast and can develop inverse taper. Not sure how fast that happens with Picea though.

I think I might have miscommunicated. I didn't leave any "barbell" branches for that very reason. What I meant about "pairs" was that I simply cleaned and wired two branches at a time, wiring them with a single piece of wire. Does that make sense?

 

[Shibui]

I think I might have miscommunicated. I didn't leave any "barbell" branches for that very reason. What I meant about "pairs" was that I simply cleaned and wired two branches at a time, wiring them with a single piece of wire. Does that make sense?

Apologies. With just a quick glance at the photo it appears there are several spots where branches are opposite but I now assume that is just camera angle.
Wiring 2 branches with a single wire is good.

 

[Ininaatigoons]

Very very nice. If anything I would chase the branches back a bit to make a little denser ramification, but it looks great and I for one can't wait to see what you do with a pot. Maybe some rocks?
They say orientalis has the shortest needles, but IDK, my Mariana has needles more like a 5 O'clock shadow

 

[JPH]

With just a quick glance at the photo it appears there are several spots where branches are opposite but I now assume that is just camera angle.

That's still something for me to think about. Thanks. I might adjust it a bit in order to minimize that effect.

 

[JPH]

Very very nice. If anything I would chase the branches back a bit to make a little denser ramification, but it looks great and I for one can't wait to see what you do with a pot. Maybe some rocks?
They say orientalis has the shortest needles, but IDK, my Mariana has needles more like a 5 O'clock shadow

I have another tree that's still recovering with needles 1/8" long. I wonder how small they can get with a decade in a pot?

 

[MSU JBoots]

I've been dreaming of bonsai since I was a teenager. This is my first attempt at actualizing it. I know it's not great but this is a huge step for me. Critique is welcome of course. I wanted to convey the feeling of spruces in the Taiga. Was I successful?
I tried my best to let the tree guide the design. I'm fairly happy with it. I didn't plan a lot in advance. Just cleaned out most of the dead/weak growth and moved my way up the tree working branches in pairs.
View attachment 503631

Very nice work on your first attempt ever! Typically someone’s first attempt at wiring is a disaster but this is quite well done from what I can see. When did you collect it?

 

[JPH]

This one was collected last year. It put on good growth this season. About 1" of new growth all over the place. Lots of buds set for next spring.

I appreciate the kind words about the wiring! I tried my best to use minimal wire and to keep things clean.

 

[MSU JBoots]

This one was collected last year. It put on good growth this season. About 1" of new growth all over the place. Lots of buds set for next spring.

I appreciate the kind words about the wiring! I tried my best to use minimal wire and to keep things clean.

Awesome! I think I recall seeing posts about your collection of the tree now that I think about it. Glad it’s doing well. I hope in the coming years to collect some yamadori myself. I’m always impressed when is see @mattspinniken work with Michigan natives.

 

[JPH]

Awesome! I think I recall seeing posts about your collection of the tree now that I think about it

Not this tree, but a few others. If you look around my posts you'll see that a good number of them died the following summer. I've since been trying to learn from those mistakes. I currently have 3 trees, and this one is the only one that's been styled so far.