if you really want to preserve he deadwood you can use very thin cyanoacrylate glue (super glue) but it has to be as thin a water. Not the regular stuff. Woodwokers use it regularly. it hardens the wood soaking in due to its very thin consistency. Doesn't change the color much tho can get glossy for a bit if you overdo it.
I really like your tree. Its very beautiful and has so much character. I personally like Front #2 a bit more but they both are great. I look forward to its development hope you continue to update this thread over time. if it were mine I might try a different pot.. Perhaps a bit shallower and my preference would be for colored glazed pot?
Its kinda similar in some ways to a tree I just brought home about a month Ago. But yours is much further along and has more going for it overall I think... Mine is a Pomegranate and still needs some corrections for the main trunks and lots of branch development. I like how yours is completely molded to the deadwood mine is connected and is part of the original dead stump but doesn't look like it grew out of the deadwood like yours does.
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