BC Flat-top Project

[JoeR]

This bald cypress is one of my very first trees I bought on my Bonsai journey, originally from a 4” pot. That was a few years ago, and since it has been grown in a colander and then a Tera pot. I kind of feel like the nebari is perfectly imperfect, it’s somehow suiting for the species IMO. It’s also got a little bend at the bottom and taper even though it doesn’t look like it in pics. So I’m going to continue this natural style with a flat-top design and I’ve also added a few examples of inspiration, I don’t know who the second one belongs to. This is one tree I was very close to just letting die because I had felt there was no real potential but I’m glad I gave it a chance. Still nothing close to amazing but good enough to put forth some effort.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

It is a nice tree, Joe, in time that nebari will improve, not that it is bad now, but as the bottom flares, it will improve with it. I think you have a good piece of material for the project you chose.

 

[JosephCooper]

I see good bones, just give it time and you'll see a better tree.

 

[JoeR]

Gnarly roots and ready for an angle change. I didnt get good growth last year due to the poor choice in container selection, so it will be repotted into a nice oval. Not sure I like the right apical branch, so I'll probably let them all grow this spring and cut back hard in summer

 

[JoeR]

Left the branches long for now, I didnt have time to make any final edits. The main top branch on the right has nice shape, but no taper. Debating removing it entirely, but I could also let an escape grow (hopefully) on that branch. Long bottom left branch was also intentionally left long as another flat top main branch, but I may end up chopping that too. Lower branching is in general too heavy