Would you have made this shorter?
- Thread starter kiwimaple
- Start date
Shibui
Imperial Masterpiece
I would most certainly have made it shorter but that doesn't mean that's the only way to do it.
I prefer to develop trunks with good thickness and good taper and chopping hard initially seems to be the best way to develop that taper. I've also seen some great bonsai with taller, slender trunks. I even have a few myself so it's all about what you want from your trees.
I prefer to develop trunks with good thickness and good taper and chopping hard initially seems to be the best way to develop that taper. I've also seen some great bonsai with taller, slender trunks. I even have a few myself so it's all about what you want from your trees.
Cadillactaste
Neagari Gal
It's all up to what you want the finished tree to look..these are on the tall side. My Trident clump.
The only thing I may suggest...if possible while still young. Is to try and put a spacer between the crossing trunks to correct that if possible. The first image you can see where I placed one.
The only thing I may suggest...if possible while still young. Is to try and put a spacer between the crossing trunks to correct that if possible. The first image you can see where I placed one.
Nybonsai12
Masterpiece
If this were mine i would have likely made it shorter and also taken appropriate action to ensure there are no crossing trunks.
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
I would work on uncrossing those trunks, because if you can't, you will want to get rid of one of them.
The Warm Canuck
Chumono
Ya, I'd deal with those crossing trunk first.
As folks seem to have said, it all depends on what you want for the finished tree. I will say that you can always chop further down in the future, but you can't put the cut pieces back on. So better safe than sorry. I have too many trees that I wish I would have gone slower with and maybe just appreciated it's growth and habits before making permanent decisions.
kiwimaple
Sapling
If I yank the trunks I might pull apart the fused base
Is there any way for you to simply pull the two crossing trunks in different directions with guy wire? I think you could make the required space this way and maintain the clump you've been developing. The height of the trunks could be a benefit in this regard as you could get more leverage pulling higher up (and you won't necessarily need the top part that will get scarred from this).
leatherback
The Treedeemer
I would seriously consider pruning back.
It will allow you to redevelop the crossing trunk, make better taper. If you so, also look at the nebari and build thas as you develop the trunks.
It will set you back to where you were a few years ago size-wise. But in 10 years you will not know, and might have better trunklines.
But, your development horizon is leading.
It will allow you to redevelop the crossing trunk, make better taper. If you so, also look at the nebari and build thas as you develop the trunks.
It will set you back to where you were a few years ago size-wise. But in 10 years you will not know, and might have better trunklines.
But, your development horizon is leading.
Cadillactaste
Neagari Gal
Agreed...cut it back and correct the crossing trunks. I tend to stray off the beaten path. But...not for crossing trunks. You'll later regret it wasn't corrected.
kiwimaple
Sapling
Thanks everyone for your constructive opinions, i really appreciate it, I'll consider the above advice and let you know the outcome, I have many of these to develop into pre bonsai and sell for good affordable prices to locals who want to get into bonsai, I work at a large Japanese maple nursery so I can get the materials for cheap. Only dabbled in bonsai for a couple of years now, we make many large specimens for gardens across the country budded and grafted, I am trying to get the grafts near the root flare which is a challenge when they're planted in the fields.
Shibui
Imperial Masterpiece
Another option may be to simply change the viewing angle. Sometimes just a few degrees turn changes the whole look of a multi trunk.
Sometimes the view form the back is better.
Try rotating the tree slowly and look at the way the trunk angles change in relation to each other. There may already be a better 'front'. There may be a front where you'll need less bending to overcome those crossing trunks.
Darth Masiah
Chumono
just from looking at this picture, the two largest trunks are just a kiss away from being intertwined like those big box store braided trees. the base will probably crack trying to separate these two lovers 
this tree looks young, like it could take a monster cutback on all branches and grow out new trunks. the scars would be closed by the time the new trunks fatten up, and you'd have more movement in the trunk lines when wired young. looks like it could use a lot more ramification in the nebari, so it should probably be planted a little deeper to promote root growth higher up the main roots.
this tree looks young, like it could take a monster cutback on all branches and grow out new trunks. the scars would be closed by the time the new trunks fatten up, and you'd have more movement in the trunk lines when wired young. looks like it could use a lot more ramification in the nebari, so it should probably be planted a little deeper to promote root growth higher up the main roots.
