Hi Everyone,
I wanted to show you the progression on a Malus Micromalus I Air-layered about 2 years ago. The basic structure is now complete. It's now ready to go on refinement. For the next few years I will work on proper ramification. It wont be easy considering this tree is only about 5.11" high.

Very well done mate, and welcome to bonsai empire !

The air layer worked very well, the tree has some great nebari. Nice general design with the wiring. Im looking forward to seeing further posts on the ramification. Good luck

Great tree, nice to see this tree that was first an air-layer! The begin is made, but one question, what are you going to do with the big wound at the front, making something with shari to cover?

Well done, and it will be a nice tree in the future!

As you can clearly see on the pictures, that wound is closing very rapidly, as all wounds on a Malus. I let it go for a few years to see if it will close completely brushing it regularly. If not a shari will probably be my best option, or I let the first branch cover it a bit.

By big wound do you mean the large open area? I think that sometimes large areas like that make a bonsai look more like an authentic older tree, because older trees are rife with openings like that one. I was out fishing with my dad the other day, and observing the trees around ( we were in an area with some very old trees), and noticing all of the wounds and openings that they have. I don't know a lot about bonsai, but I think that some bonsai look better with the openings, because actual full size trees have them.

Vnolan wrote: By big wound do you mean the large open area? I think that sometimes large areas like that make a bonsai look more like an authentic older tree, because older trees are rife with openings like that one. I was out fishing with my dad the other day, and observing the trees around ( we were in an area with some very old trees), and noticing all of the wounds and openings that they have. I don't know a lot about bonsai, but I think that some bonsai look better with the openings, because actual full size trees have them.

agree...but always remember proportion and significant is emportant.

You really got a nice start on this tree. Good nebari and good trunk, I'm jealous.

Thank you for al the positive feedback. Though the top-half of the tree is in an advanced stage of development. The bottom-part has great potential too. It has a great nebari and incredible taper.

I have a big decision to make now. I have two branches at exactly the same hight. One of them have to become the new trunk. On the pictures you see one possibility. This branch follows the curves of the trunk nicely and therefore the tree will feature a nice taper. The other possibility however would give me a better overall branch-layout.

Which branch should I make my new trunk?

oops, here are the other pictures

:ohmy: hey weres the drooling face cuz i need one... shohin size is my favorite and this is a great example.

as for which branch to pick what you have there looks good . first branch is thicker than the rest, nice lines on the proposed trunk . finer branching on the leader