I really would like some suggestions on a style for this tree too. Thanks

Where do you live? It matters in relation to what you'd do now vs early spring, especially about the leaves.

I live in hernando county, central Florida

I was wondering the same thing actually...if something say only had one main leader...lower branching started but in the wrong area. Thinking of creating a weeping style I seen awhile back on a bonsai. I want it more up at the top. It so needs an apex created.

Here's mine, since we're both attempting to create an apex. Hopefully you don't mind my also asking for advice since it's the same question basically. I currently have one leader branch up top...how do I go about accomplishing a weeping form from that!?!

...Recently acquired not nearly as massive a trunk as the posters.

It is approx 10+ years old. It is 15" tall from soil line. The aged trunk is 1 and 1/4" in diameter. The nebari is 7 1/2". It gets a lovely red in fall and gets black/blue berries. It is potted in a round 10x4 inch blue ceramic pot which is included.

This post was edited by cadillactaste on Sat, Oct 25, 14 at 20:39

You let the top branches get long and then train them a la willows. Weeping that is :-). But if they don't get long, and that trunk line is quite nice now, do a diff. style and get another that you can train for weeping.

This post was edited by moochinka on Sat, Oct 25, 14 at 21:33

Yes you are going to have to get some more branching at the top. Let it grow,cut it back, create ramification.In the future you can try partial or full defoliation to get 2 growing seasons in 1 season. Tree must be healthy well established. They seem to be vigorous growers so keep cutting them back to produce more branching..Weeping cascading would be good style for these.

Thanks...letting it grow and cutting it back. Seems pretty basic but I couldn't get my head wrapped around the procedure for this one. Not much information on ramification either.

To the original poster of thread...have you decided on what direction you wish to take your tree? I find google imagines of the desired bonsai I am working on brings lots of inspiration. Might not find much information on these other than I read they needed a deeper pot for water purposes. Which explains why the one I have is in a 4" deep pot.

Cadillac - where you live (vs FL for Gwade) your trees are dormant now and deciduous ones (leaves vs needles) should not be pruned or trimmed til all threat of frost is gone in late spring or new growth will be started up, only to die from the cooling and warming cycles in early spring.

Thanks Moochinka! Good point...this thing is coming from California so it's been warmer than my area. I am curious if I should treat it as I did my wisteria last year. The bonsai nursery suggested I keep it indoors and allow it to adjust to my temps the following fall season going into it from summer verses shocking it. For it might not be fully prepared for dormancy. So I did that...and it's thriving...it will be wintered in a cold greenhouse this winter. But, I didn't have that cold greenhouse last winter with temps kept around 30F on our cold winter -20F nights last year. Thinking this one might be okay in the cold greenhouse...cool enough to go dormant yet not taking the brunt of the winter we get tossed at us. I hesitate bringing it indoors...for it does need it's dormancy I would imagine.

Building ramification should be done during the growing season.let it grow out cut back to the last 2 or so pairs depending on species and your desired shape. I linked a nice article with pics that shows the process

Here is a link that might be useful: creating ramification

Qwade...what a great link. One that totally helped me grasp the ramification process! The photos helped put the words better into my thinker. Much appreciated...

SpongeMann I was online looking at bonsai books on eBay and thought of your tree's shape when I seen this auction listing. And had to share...not sure where your going with your "finished" look. But thought it might be something to consider.

Here is an actual creeper...with a similar style thick trunk as yours. Some inspiration. Sadly...the site didn't credit anyone to this bonsai.

Hi everyone I am sorry I've been busy. And I forgot about the thread too. But I am glad too see a conversation sparked up. Well my creepers are dormant at the moment central florida get chilly . I will post some old pics . The tree from this post didn't grow much but it has been chugging along. Cadillac your trees roots are awesome. What I am going to do this year is let my creepers grow unchecked and start the cut and grow technique . Owen Reich commented on another forum I mess around with. He told me to cut back each branch to two nodes . I will get more pics up soon.

Here is one i really like. I found it last year

It is only an 1/2 inch think.

SM - I would let your tree (the one in the OP) grow w/o pruning all of next year, or, if it was very healthy as it went into fall of '14, I would: Look it over carefully, bare root, and start sorting out those roots so you can change the planting angle to better suit a cascade, then reduce the ht to about 1/3-1/2 of its present ht and start developing your branches after it recovers and puts some energy reserves in the bank.

It was a good find!

Al

Hi Al(tapla) I think I am going to let it grow out the roots. It doesn't have good roots yet. It was bare rooted. Do you have any experiance with Muscadine Grape vines? There is one in the woods were I find Yamadori.It is a monster. It has 4to6 inch side shoots going to differant trees. It covers roughly12 trees in grapes.

Thanks SpongeMann! Mine as well is dormant. It's in the cold greenhouse currently. Pondering to see what's beneath the substrate...or...bury it and let it continue to develop. If exposed roots are possible...or not. It's a blank slate...not sure if I plan on doing a chop or what my intentions are currently.

Love the little mound of moss in the pot along with your creeper. It's rather a nice display how you have it.

How s it going Caddilac . I was checking my Creepers a few are starting to break buds I will take a few pics when I get home. And the Creeper I started the thread on is barely going it only has a main vein going up to its branch. The rest of the trunk is dead. I wrapped it in a paper towel and a bag to try to keep it alive. I have a few more that look exactly like it. I grab the part at the base of trees. We're it curves from the soil onto a tree. So I can get that cascade trunk.