Had its first repot in my care yesterday, Found even more trunk under the akadama
View attachment 177435
Had it been my tree, I would have potted it more to the right, and a little more upright.
There’s not much room for soil on the left side of the trunk. So, there’s room for roots. Roots on the left side support the branches on the left side. So, the tree may start to get unbalanced.
As gor the lower branch on the right: it needs it. But it should be much, much heavier. So don’t pinch it back, let it grow out, then cut back. Doing this repeatedly will build girth and taper.
This tree is of the “pine tree” style. Nothing wrong with that. But the stage of development is where the major structural branches need to be grown. NOT ramification. Too soon for that. Building this style of tree has 3 stages: 1) trunk and nebari; 2) structure branches; 3) ramification. You’re in stage 2, the early part of stage 2. Stage 2A: Building primary branches with girth and taper. Stage 2B is building secondary branches with girth and taper. Stage3 doesn’t start until 2B is complete.
Please read @MarkyScott’s most excellent thread “Ebihara Maples”. There’s tons of good info in there!