Coonara Japanese Maple

[Johnnyd]

Last year a friend practically gave me this Coonara pygmy jm. I was extreamly pleased when I was told it was a cutting grown cultivar similar to Sharps pygmy. They are a vigorous JM with lots of internodes. I removed a large branch from the top and a bud popped on the opposite side. I also did a repot with a few root grafts.
I had been thinking about changing the design from a windswept to a slanting or informal upright design. This bud pop may be an opportunity to develop a new leader. I have been doing bonsai for a few years and design is still a challenge for me. What is your vote?
1. Windswept
2 Slanting
3. Informal upright

 

[thumblessprimate1]

I like the start、but wouldn't go windswept. Nice surface roots、but needs improvement.

 

[Johnnyd]

Update photos and progress.
The nature of this cultivar produces a lot of ramification. Unfortunately mostly at the end of the branches. I'm going to move forward with another round a hard pruning and two more thread grafts.
The 3 root grafts (thread underneath the tree) worked well. Thanks @markyscott, excellent grafting thread. One of the two approach grafts succeeded.

 

[Johnnyd]

Did a little more work on the nebari. Four approach root grafts and screwed to a pine board. Also I'm trying the steel stick epoxy to fix a camel toe.

 

[Velodog2]

Surface roots appear great, but too symmetrical to really tell a good slanted tree story. And please no windswept, especially not a maple. Vote for informal if you can do it.

 

[AlainK]

Coonara pygmy jm

... so it's only a little contagious, right?

 

[Johnnyd]

Patient zero is still alive.

 

[AlainK]

I haven't for some time and the shops are closed now, but first thing tomorrow morning.

Seriously now, I had never heard of this cultivar before and I've just heard about the first case of corona virus in my region, so when I saw the name, it made me laugh. OK, my sense of humour is not the kind everyone enjoys and anyway what can you do but laugh at what is out of your control ?...

Back to your tree now : I don't have much to say about it. It's undergone so much pruning that I think it will take a couple of years before you can really think of a design.