Twisted shimpaku junipers

[Shibui]

After returning from an apprenticeship in Japan a friend suggested we should be starting more trees 'like the Japanese do' for better future bonsai. The concept is to bend and twist young trunks while they are still flexible to get more natural and convincing trunk shapes as they develop.
The process takes quite a few years but seems well worth the time and effort. You can't make trunks like this from older starters.
Here's a few I've been developing for anywhere from 5-15 years.

Start with some that have already graduated to bonsai pots:

 

[Shibui]

Also some that are still in grow pots:





I originally put this 15 cm pot into a larger pot of gravel to stop it blowing over. That worked but a side effect was the roots growing out through the drain holes into the gravel. I've left it to see if the extra root run would increase trunk growth compared to a single 15 cm pot. With only 2 samples it does seem to be a viable technique.


You can find the earlier stages of this process: Here

 

[AmellLeo]

Looking awesome! By the way, the root tricks show some real patience and skill.

 

[Michael P]

I originally put this 15 cm pot into a larger pot of gravel to stop it blowing over. That worked but a side effect was the roots growing out through the drain holes into the gravel.

During the winter I keep my tropicals on gravel-filled drip trays. By spring most of them will have grown roots through the drain holes and into the gravel. I think this helps to keep them in good condition through the winter.