Bald Cypress Progression

[Barbells and bonsai]

It's never a good look for me to be a work staring at my monitor and drooling.

Great tree and great photos.

Do you have a vision for the tree? The base of this tree is complete. Anything that happens after now is gravy. Now is the time to really narrow the vision of what you want.

Thank you! I’ve watched all your YouTube videos multiple times, incredibly helpful.

I’m not the best artist but did draw up something a while back. I’m going for a flat top style but this is my first attempt so kind of figuring it out as I go.
Any advice?

 

[Barbells and bonsai]

Pruned the smaller BC into (undecided) upright today. Aside from 1 or 2 post clip regret branches I’m happy with it so far.

 

[Barbells and bonsai]

These are the leader branches I have left. They are already starting to bud but I’m still deciding on which to keep and at what length to chop them.
From the front of the tree both main leaders line up almost exactly which I don’t imagine is ideal. This has caused me to consider chopping the aligning front branch and keeping the two extending off to the right. (Seen best in 2nd and last picture)
After talking with the experts I’ve moved my goal for this tree from flat top to ‘storm damaged’.

Hard to find info on this style aside from natural local examples so looking for opinions

 

[Barbells and bonsai]

Update

 

[JoeR]

Looks like you anchored two branches together at the top, so when you bend one, the other will wiggle around too. I would consider taking that off, and using the main trunk as the anchor. Add more movement to the branches! As it is now, the small bends you have will grow into straight branches as they thicken. BC are sturdy so I would switch out for copper, aluminum especially that gage isn't great for this application. Super nice roots on this one.

 

[JoeR]

Forgot to mention. I have had bad luck wiring BC in winter, with branches dying off. So my advice might be better suited later in the year. When the sap starts flowing they are more malleable.

 

[Barbells and bonsai]

Looks like you anchored two branches together at the top, so when you bend one, the other will wiggle around too. I would consider taking that off, and using the main trunk as the anchor. Add more movement to the branches! As it is now, the small bends you have will grow into straight branches as they thicken. BC are sturdy so I would switch out for copper, aluminum especially that gage isn't great for this application. Super nice roots on this one.

Thanks for the advice!
I was told not to wrap the trunk after carving because if the wire bites into the scar it won’t heal.
I’m going for a flat top style so I think the relatively straight branches up top will be good to set structure and then I do plan to start adding more movement.
I made the mistake you described with the smaller BC I have a progression thread on and want to avoid doing the same here. Hoping I can still bend the branches but would be much easier if done earlier.

Agreed on the wire but I am just a bean in the bonsai world and I had a professional help me with this tree while they were in town. This wire was theirs, I use (poorly applied) copper usually but figure they know what will work

 

[JoeR]

Thanks for the advice!
I was told not to wrap the trunk after carving because if the wire bites into the scar it won’t heal.
I’m going for a flat top style so I think the relatively straight branches up top will be good to set structure and then I do plan to start adding more movement.
I made the mistake you described with the smaller BC I have a progression thread on and want to avoid doing the same here. Hoping I can still bend the branches but would be much easier if done earlier.

Agreed on the wire but I am just a bean in the bonsai world and I had a professional help me with this tree while they were in town. This wire was theirs, I use (poorly applied) copper usually but figure they know what will work

I agree I wouldn't wire to the deadwood part. But you have a few inches of trunk before the deadwood that you can use to anchor.


I think you can get away with the straight branches, especially using clip and grow, but my personal opinion is they would benefit from more character. See the below images for inspiration. The last image is most like the branch structure you have now. at the end of the day if youre happy its all good

 

[Barbells and bonsai]

I agree I wouldn't wire to the deadwood part. But you have a few inches of trunk before the deadwood that you can use to anchor.


I think you can get away with the straight branches, especially using clip and grow, but my personal opinion is they would benefit from more character. See the below images for inspiration. The last image is most like the branch structure you have now. at the end of the day if youre happy its all good

I think you’re right. I was envisioning adding movement on the secondary branching but like the design on the 2nd picture you posted far better than the 3rd.

Thank you! Going to take a look when I get home and see how I can make the recommended changes