Shishigashira branch selection/styling

[qwerty Bonsai]

More styling help is needed!

Please ignore the garbage in pot, squirrels digging hard without these garbage.

This shishigashira is pretty big, trunk is about/a little over 2inch.

Any suggestions regarding the pruning selection of the 4 main branches? I can either keep one branch or two branches. Prefers to keep two, but open to any suggestions. At this point, I really have no idea what to do with it.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

 

[SeanS]

How about layering off that thickest branch, then layering off the remaining clump for a 3 trunk clump?

 

[19Mateo83]

I like the clump idea.

 

[qwerty Bonsai]

How about layering off that thickest branch, then layering off the remaining clump for a 3 trunk clump?

Thanks Sean! That's a new idea that I have not thought about, definitely will give it some thoughts.

You suggestion indicates that the thickest branch needs to go. I agree totally.

I also start to think, maybe just let this tree be landscape tree, plant it on the ground and continue looking for better materials?

 

[19Mateo83]

Thanks Sean! That's a new idea that I have not thought about, definitely will give it some thoughts.

You suggestion indicates that the thickest branch needs to go. I agree totally.

I also start to think, maybe just let this tree be landscape tree, plant it on the ground and continue looking for better materials?

If you did choose to plant it in ground you would have a never ending supply of little shishigashira air layers for forest plantings. There was an awesome shishigashira forest posted on here a few weeks ago by @MACH5 i think? Defiantly food for thought for your shishi.

 

[johng]

To develop the nicest tree possible, you really want to try to avoid big scars as much as possible. If this tree were mine (and without seeing the surface roots) I would remove the largest branch (air layer) and then develop the tree with the remaining three branches (significantly shortened) in an Oak style with the scar in the back. I know it is sacrilege to leave three but I think it is the best solution in this situation....Large Oak trees almost always have some reverse taper. If the guidelines are going to leave an ugly scarred up trunk it is time to look past them...

If you are too chicken to break the rules...air layer all four branches

 

[qwerty Bonsai]

If you did choose to plant it in ground you would have a never ending supply of little shishigashira air layers for forest plantings. There was an awesome shishigashira forest posted on here a few weeks ago by @MACH5 i think? Defiantly food for thought for your shishi.

Thank you. I'll look it up.

 

[qwerty Bonsai]

To develop the nicest tree possible, you really want to try to avoid big scars as much as possible. If this tree were mine (and without seeing the surface roots) I would remove the largest branch (air layer) and then develop the tree with the remaining three branches (significantly shortened) in an Oak style with the scar in the back. I know it is sacrilege to leave three but I think it is the best solution in this situation....Large Oak trees almost always have some reverse taper. If the guidelines are going to leave an ugly scarred up trunk it is time to look past them...

If you are too chicken to break the rules...air layer all four branches

Thank you John. Obviously the large branch has to go, I'll start from there.
It's about one inch thick, so after removal there will be a quite big scar.

 

[Maiden69]

I don't know if you have a Mirai Live account, but Ryan separated a few shishigashira air layers on December 2021. I would concur with @19Mateo83 on planting the tree in the ground. There you can develop the end of the branches into bonsai shape and air layer them. Like what @Smoke has done before, I can't find his post but he showed a huge trident air layer he was working on that will definitely look fantastic once separated.

Also, look at this blog post from Jonas, here you can see an example of what I mean. Onuma says that throwing away a sacrifice is a waste, so he develops the end of the sacrifices into small bonsai trees, then air layer them into future shohin goodness.

 

[Ininaatigoons]

I would air layer the 3 straight ones. Save the one that goes to the right. Put in ground for more time and heal that scar while fixing the taper. Chop it another 3rd and now you hot a start. Of course that may take a life time, but that's another idea.

 

[qwerty Bonsai]

I don't know if you have a Mirai Live account, but Ryan separated a few shishigashira air layers on December 2021. I would concur with @19Mateo83 on planting the tree in the ground. There you can develop the end of the branches into bonsai shape and air layer them. Like what @Smoke has done before, I can't find his post but he showed a huge trident air layer he was working on that will definitely look fantastic once separated.

Also, look at this blog post from Jonas, here you can see an example of what I mean. Onuma says that throwing away a sacrifice is a waste, so he develops the end of the sacrifices into small bonsai trees, then air layer them into future shohin goodness.

Thanks, will look it up and read.
I think I will go with planting in the ground.

 

[qwerty Bonsai]

I would air layer the 3 straight ones. Save the one that goes to the right. Put in ground for more time and heal that scar while fixing the taper. Chop it another 3rd and now you hot a start. Of course that may take a life time, but that's another idea.

Thanks, looks like a good plan!