Arctic circle tree styling question

[RozendaalArts]

I just rewired my Boulevard cypress after pruning yesterday, very vigorous grower. Not the most original style of course but given the soft-looking and naturally curving icy blue foliage I had the idea of styling it like a tree in the arctic circle. Covered in meters of snow in winter and in thaw deer or other animals eat the lower branches bare. So I'm gonna grow out the lower branches to make the deadwood hopefully a little thicker than a toothpick at least. Then eventually only the top half or third will have foliage.
I was wondering though whether I should eventually, maybe on the next round of wiring, make the branches droop even more extremely, without an upturn at the tips but make everything hug the trunk almost? I think it could look good but just wondering if it could cause health problems or something. Of course I'd want to keep enough space between the branches to be able to see the structure.


Here's some reference photos I've gathered:

 

[Shibui]

Wiring branches down more won't cause problems but will slow growth. Upturned tips will help promote growth though. Upturned tips should not interfere with your plan because dead wood lower branches will only be the first section closer to the trunk.
BTW, be aware that dead wood is only a small part of a branch. Bark makes up 2-3 mm on all sides of a branch. For dead wood to be more than matchstick thick the branches need to be well over 3 times that before stripping the bark.
Also be aware that a vertical apex will attract most growth. Where the rest of the branches are wired down but apex is up and growing the branches may slow, stop completely or even die, especially if no upturned tips.

 

[RozendaalArts]

Wiring branches down more won't cause problems but will slow growth. Upturned tips will help promote growth though. Upturned tips should not interfere with your plan because dead wood lower branches will only be the first section closer to the trunk.
BTW, be aware that dead wood is only a small part of a branch. Bark makes up 2-3 mm on all sides of a branch. For dead wood to be more than matchstick thick the branches need to be well over 3 times that before stripping the bark.
Also be aware that a vertical apex will attract most growth. Where the rest of the branches are wired down but apex is up and growing the branches may slow, stop completely or even die, especially if no upturned tips.

Ok so there are some health considerations with wiring everything tightly down. Would tight and regular pruning on the apex not be enough to equalize growth without upturned tips? What if I also wire the apex and bend it down? That would still suit the design and a new apex would eventually grow in but slower

 

[Shibui]

Ok so there are some health considerations with wiring everything tightly down. Would tight and regular pruning on the apex not be enough to equalize growth without upturned tips? What if I also wire the apex and bend it down? That would still suit the design and a new apex would eventually grow in but slower

Retarding growth of the apex, and any other vertical growth, will help equalise growth but that will also slow thickening and development of both trunk and branches. That may just have to be accepted in order to develop the style of tree you're planning.
I like your vision. It's people who are willing to explore novel ideas like this that have potential to give the rest of us more info on how trees grow and develop and to introduce new styling into the art of bonsai.

 

[RozendaalArts]

Retarding growth of the apex, and any other vertical growth, will help equalise growth but that will also slow thickening and development of both trunk and branches. That may just have to be accepted in order to develop the style of tree you're planning.
I like your vision. It's people who are willing to explore novel ideas like this that have potential to give the rest of us more info on how trees grow and develop and to introduce new styling into the art of bonsai.

Thank you, glad to hear you like the idea. I'll hold off on more extreme wiring as I do want to grow it a little taller and thicker still