Hoping someone can point me in the right direction. This bonsai was a Christmas present this year, and I figured it's time to start pruning and wiring this thing into shape. First problem which maybe some kind of blessing unknown to me, is the thing is growing sideways. Second there is basically only one main trunk with a bunch of smaller branches coming off. Third the most prominent off shoot branch is at the 'Y' where the main branch decided to grow sideways (holding it one of the pictures). So here's the questions:
1. do just cut 25 out of the 30 smaller branches off and the 5 left will then turn into 5 main branches and then go from there.
2. Do I need to cut the end of the main branch to stop the horizontal growth and try to the other part of the 'Y' the main trunk.
3. Do I slowly start wrapping the end of this main trunk back and angled up and at some point I create a cork screw.
4. How much longer can this tree grow in this pot? Is it too deep?
Some other info, I live in South Florida so I keep it on the patio pretty much all the time and I haven't started any fertilizer yet but plan to.
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Is that a much more elusive way of saying that it is too young and I need to let it grow for another couple years before I do anything with it. While I wait a couple of years for my tree I should read every book and blog on bonsai, then visit Japan for a year to study the ancient art of the bonsai. Cause I wasnt planning to be a Bonsai Master.
No, you do not need to visit Japan and become a bonsai master.
If you want to have a small plant in a pot with whatever shape you like, suit yourself.
But considering it´s real bonsai potential, it is too young and need to be planted outside in the ground to grow for a few years.
You really cannot compare these two. Creating this will still take many, many years and lots of knowledge, practice and training.
It's just not realistic to expect that from someone who got his first cutting as a gift.
Mame, Shohin, Katade-Mochi (or Medium Bonsai if in the States), Chumono (or Large Bonsai if in the States), and Imperial
These are all the size classifications and what I was trying to say is that his material was closer to Mame then to Katade-Mochi or Medium Bonsai.
I also know I didn't list every single size classification. I just mentioned the popular ones.