|
Japanese black pine... any ideas?
So I have this Japanese black pine that I just got from a bonsai nursery. I don't really know where to begin as far as form goes as it is my first one I have worked on. I included a number of pictures the front, side, base and top.
I haven't really done much with it as I am afraid it is not late enough in the year to wire, prune, or pinch the buds. From what I have read, it is better to do this more in the fall.
Lots of long needles, but a few spots where they have come in shorter. All the branches have really healthy candles. There are a lot of branches at the base, which I am leaving for growing a wider base. Half way up, a new leader was used for the trunk so there is this funky bend in trunk which I'm not sure what to do with.
I have included a picture of what I am thinking about doing with it. I was recommended by some to go with the literati style and to take the shorter branch at the bend as the new apex. I have wired that up, added some bend in the lower trunk and moved the old apex out of the way so the new one can get more sun.
Mainly my questions are these: Does this makes sense? Any other ideas? Branch pruning - should I remove any of them? Candles, where would it be good to leave them and where remove them? and should I do anything with the old apex or let it grow for trunk thickening?
|