Cedar Styling Advice

[stoverock]

Hi all,

I dug up a cedar that was dying in the shade and potted in the sun where it’s doing very well. I’m starting to think about styling it and would like to do a literati style. I’ve sketched up an idea but would love to hear others. It’s still very young and flexible so I’d like to wire it into an interesting shape.

 

[Japonicus]

Hi @stoverock it looks like a good time to wire up in my location, and generally thought the US.
However the site is frequented worldwide.
Best to edit your information details to give a general location for future timing specific responses.

How did you go ahead with the new bend you show in the lower trunk?
Overflexing can kill an entire branch or tree in this case, so best to bend once and leave it to repair

 

[stoverock]

Hi @Japonicus I'm Napa, California so I think zone 9b.

That bend was actually already there due to the tree reaching for the sun for years. I think it’s a cool feature with good movement. It’s almost a 90 degree bend right at the soil line. I could angle it in the pot to either accentuate or “straighten” the bend. I realize that I forgot the sketch I made, so I’ve included it here. I also sketched a cascade style it I don’t think it’s thick enough yet.

 

[Japonicus]

Hi @Japonicus I'm Napa, California so I think zone 9b.

That bend was actually already there due to the tree reaching for the sun for years. I think it’s a cool feature with good movement. It’s almost a 90 degree bend right at the soil line. I could angle it in the pot to either accentuate or “straighten” the bend. I realize that I forgot the sketch I made, so I’ve included it here. I also sketched a cascade style it I don’t think it’s thick enough yet. View attachment 333284

Not your 1st go at bonsai I see.
Either style is equally difficult. Either style requires a repotting to change the planting angle as well.
If I were going for a cascade I would repot 1st, so, after it repairs the roots, you'll be able to bend the trunk
where it would now be impossible to get that angle over through the rim of the pot...unless, you can control a break in the pots side
in a way that the pot remains in tact.
If going upright in any other style, now would be fine to wire up with no smaller than #8 possibly #6 annealed copper wire.
I have no literati style bonsai and cannot help you style that accurately. Once recovered from repotting a cascade, I would bend in Fall
if healthy, and vigour has returned, and not remove any foliage at all. Allow the low apex to become sacrificial for many years, extending beyond the desired
length, but keeping tight movement in the trunk, and developing the branches you plan to keep.

 

[sorce]

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

 

[stoverock]

I wired this tree into a more bonsai-like shape while I decide how to style it. I figure I’ll just let it grow for a while and try to get buds and branches where I need them. It’s got a pretty cool root base that I think might be good for root over rock. You can see how one sided it is from growing in the shade for so long.

 

[stoverock]

This cedar has put out a ton of growth so I removed the wire since it was starting to dig in. I’m still deciding on a design direction and have come up with two sketches. One is a new literati style keeping more of the foliage, and the other is a typical informal upright. I’m leaning towards the informal upright since the tree doesn’t have enough age to make a convincing literati, but I’m afraid to bend it too severely. I’m open to advice and suggestions for styling!