Twisting pomegranate air layer and style

[maroun.c]

Will be taking off this airlayer on a large twisting pomegranate tree which will be bonsaid as well next spring. For the airlayer it's basically a big branch I dodnt need on the main tree so not really a shape I can see for it. Its my first air layer so very happy I can see good roots in the bag already.
As the branches from the now trunk are all straight and as the trunk is rather flat in the orientation that can have the branches go vertical I'm thinking raft style ???? Would u advise another style ?
Also as I'm detaching it in coming couple days do u advise to go in a regular pot with regular soil to culture more roots and then move to a bonsai pot abd soil or go directly in bonsai soil and large bonsai pot to get the roots shape for easier transition to final pot ?
If I go raft style believe a larger bonsai pot woth bonsai soil would be feasible as tree is basically laying flat abd easy to support without movement harming roots.... do I still wound the bottom side of the trunk to get more roots along it or would the base be enough ?
Do inwore before planting as I still can or better pot and let recover for a year to get more roots abmnd repot and wore after?




And here's the tree it's coming from

 

[Shibui]

Soil should not matter in the tree goes into a deeper training pot. Both regular potting soil and bonsai type soil will produce good roots in deeper pots but open bonsai type potting soil becomes more important when the pots are shallower.
If you can manage trees in shallower pots the tree can go straight into a bonsai pot. I usually get much better growth and development in larger and deeper pots so I prefer to use those in the intermediate stages then move to a shallower pot when developing the final branching and tertiary ramification.
For raft style the current roots will be enough to keep it alive but raft style will look much better with roots all along the trunk. Those roots should develop slowly by themselves but wounding the trunk allows us to develop those roots quicker and to have some control over where the roots grow. Personally, I would wound the trunk for raft style.
You can wire and bend the current trunks if you feel it necessary now while the trunk is held solidly on the parent tree. Avoid wiring and bending after potting it up as the inevitable movement may damage fragile roots.
Delaying the wiring and bending will probably allow the tree to focus more on re-establishing the roots in the new pot. If you think those branches/trunks will still be OK in a year I would wait but they do look fairly solid already so might be worth the extra risk to start now.

 

[maroun.c]

Thank u for your input

 

[maroun.c]

Tree was separated today and will be potting it in a large bonsai pot if going Raft style or else will pot into a round pot with some space for root growth and move next year to a bonsai pot.
Here's the cut branch, the branches (if I go raft are too straight. I can reposition them but doubt I can add good movement to them. Also ifni go vertical tree will require regrowing new branches which it seems to nit he an issue .
Believe tree shape is good for both styles and has good movement for an upright tree... Which style would u advise?

 

[maroun.c]

Decided to repot vertical for now in a deep pot as that would allow for better stability and more soil coverage for further root development.
Trunk was covered a bit too m7ch for.k9re stability, will correct this as roots grow more and tree self stabilizes.
I realize more that the branches are to straight and to be bent or shaped be it for a raft or for a vertical composition. So basically will have to grow new branches for any of the designs I decide to go with.

Roots rate is different on different sides of the trunk. I'm.hoping they'll be enough to support the tree.


I planted it in a mix of soil with a bit of pumice and clay balls and maintained the peat around the roots to avoid damaging them, it'll also stay a bit more humid this way which should help.
Reduced the branches a bit for easier placement of the pot as well as to reduce water demand. Should I reduce more?


As can be seen branches are all on one side but believe i should be able to grow new branches as it looks like an aggressive tree, appreciate any input on care for com8ng period and plan forward.