Sam,
I love most of your trees.
I wanted to find out really how do you do your branch development. What is the best method you had good results with.
thank you neli
branch development technique differs depending on the specie, growth rate and sometimes from tree to tree within the same specie. there are many formidable bonsai growers on this site who have their own technique for successful branch development. Perhaps some of these folks will chime in. All I can speak about is my own limited experience. For premna, which has an leggy growth habit, not a lot of naturally occurring ramification and very brittle branches, clip and grow is the preferred method to create branch thickness, taper, movement and ramification. In reality, whether clip and grow works on any particular tree, depends on variables, some of which are beyond the growers control. for instance, if the material is collected without branches, only roots, will shoots develop in the right places on the trunk where branches are required? not all shoots grow at the same pace, some will thicken rapidly while others remain weak and puny. for clip and grow to work, there needs to be strong linear growth to create thickness and vigorous side branching to create changes in branch direction and taper as well as to create ramification. will you get this development tree wide? not likely; so one ends up challenged with making a believable branch structure with what the tree gives us ; often less than we'd like.
So, without too much discourse, the strategy is to proceed with best practice technique, accept that the tree will probably give less and be prepared to deal with the shortfall. I hope this helps.
best wishes, sam