Collected Willow Bonsai

[Loumon]

This is it, sorry for the bad lighting. It is planted in a slanting style, but I plan for it to be upright;it's planted like that because that was the only way for the roots to fit in the pot. I'm not really sure what to do with it though;I don't have any solid idea of what I want it to become or anything, so I need a bit of help. I think I want to start styling in one or two years.

 

[Cypress187]

You ideally want some taper (fat base, small in top) and also you will need branches for a upright tree, you might want to make it informal upright and chop it like this (over the coming years):

 

[Cypress187]

I mean the coming decades.

 

[Loumon]

You ideally want some taper (fat base, small in top) and also you will need branches for a upright tree, you might want to make it informal upright and chop it like this (over the coming years):

Thanks. That picture is really helpful. And yeah, it's going to be a while.

 

[Zach Smith]

The trunk is too long and lacks taper. It needs to be chopped close to the base, a couple of trunk diameters above the root crown, and a new leader grown. This process will need to be repeated a couple more times. It would work best if the tree were in the ground, but willow grows fast so you may be able to do all of this in a pot. Just be sure to put it outside when the danger of freezing has passed.

Good luck!

Zach

 

[Loumon]

The trunk is too long and lacks taper. It needs to be chopped close to the base, a couple of trunk diameters above the root crown, and a new leader grown. This process will need to be repeated a couple more times. It would work best if the tree were in the ground, but willow grows fast so you may be able to do all of this in a pot. Just be sure to put it outside when the danger of freezing has passed.

Good luck!

Zach

Thanks. I'll start working on it in a year or two, when it's stable. How would I take care of the chopping wounds? As you can see, I've already cut off the crown and most of the branches. A lot of websites just say to keep it from drying out and make sure the cuts get sunlight. Is that the right way to go?

 

[Zach Smith]

All chops greater than 1/8" in diameter should be sealed when they're made. Use a paste type cut seal versus the putty type. Other than that, keep the tree from drying out and provide plenty of sun for the tree. The cuts don't need sunlight specifically, but if the tree's out there they'll get their share.

Zach