sorry the cypress is sideways, I rotated it.

Well, I have this Calliandra Schultzei (Dwarf Powder Puff) I am preparing to train as pre-bonsai and wanted to share with you.
It has a nice taper on the trunk, is very healthy and just finished flowering (mine has white flowers).
The plan is to raise the roots a little (to show more of the nebari hidden on the ground) AND clean the height up to the first branch (there are two branches low on the trunk I've been keeping to help on the taper). As for styling, the plan is to have an asymmetrical triangle such as the one in red on the picture below; I don't like the round "ball" topiary look some people always use on Calliandras.
What do you guys think, is there a better shape, or is this a good plan?

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Styling plan
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The trunk

TBolt wrote: some of my junk, Ilex Schilling, Pond Cypress and my little forest of Slash Pine seedlings...

Well, nice beginnings, thanks for sharing them!
Do you think the pond cypress will have thick branches in the near future?

Clicio wrote:

TBolt wrote: some of my junk, Ilex Schilling, Pond Cypress and my little forest of Slash Pine seedlings...

Well, nice beginnings, thanks for sharing them!
Do you think the pond cypress will have thick branches in the near future?

I think they will, Cypress trees are great to work with, easy to train branches. I am just letting it go nuts right now and bending branches more horizontal. I am starting to work one into sort of a pad. I think I will eventually get it in a triangle shape like a Cypress does in nature. When they get full size, they tend to get damaged from hurricanes and TStorms here so I will work the top like its been broken off eventually.

That Powder puff is really going to be something, nice trunk on it. I think your idea to be more triangular will be cool, more unique than most powderpuffs.

Well, time to show some successful misho and cuttings.
Collected the seeds of this royal poinciana flamboyant tree in Bahia. Just when I was preparing to sow, a root already started to show. After four weeks, this is how it looks:

Royal poinciana flamboyant tree (Flamboyant). Will be a bonsai someday.

My biggest win so far is this Mulberry (Morus Nigra) cutting.
I haven't been so lucky with cuttings, but this one is doing well, even being planted in the winter, and I hope it will also be a bonsai in the far future:

Black Mulberry (Morus Nigra) from a cutting.

Any comments welcome!

Nice. For this year however, remove the flowers of your mulbery. Do not pull, but use scissors. The plant has green, but that is not a guarantee is has rooted. And flowers take a lot of energy.

Leatherback, I've got some seeds specially for you; Flamboyant, Brazilian Rain Tree, and Pitanga (Eugénia Uniflora). Thanks for the tips!

Clicio wrote: Leatherback, I've got some seeds specially for you; Flamboyant, Brazilian Rain Tree, and Pitanga (Eugénia Uniflora). Thanks for the tips!

Wow, that's nice of you!
I might be in Sampa again in August, but only for a few hours Once I have def. plant I will let you know.

leatherback wrote: Nice. For this year however, remove the flowers of your mulbery. Do not pull, but use scissors. The plant has green, but that is not a guarantee is has rooted.

Well, I did as I was told, and...
Success!
The Mulberry (Morus Nigra) is doing great, and winter is over around here, so my hopes are high!
Take a look at the cutting today:

OK, I know, "the last thing to worry about is reducing the leaves".
Let it grow first and then we will see.