Dwarf Hinoki Cypress

[Bakersbullion92]

Dwarf Hinoki Cyprus
Nursery said 20+ years old
Where soil meets trunk it’s about 3-1/2”
Not messing with roots and/or repotting until spring as it’s severely root bound and needs serious root work. Not right time of year unfortunately as I’m in zone 7a. I’m wondering about refinement and styling???? I cut very minimal branches and all the dead, both we’re located primarily around crotches of branches. Some others definitely have to go. Expose more of structure? Slant style? I’m skeptical on removing foliage/branches because they will take forever for mistakes to be made up for. Does anyone have any ideas???First few photos are of the prominent front and then photos are rotated all around. Last photo is a possible informal upright ? But definitely want to keep the drastic slant. Upright was just a fleeting thought. Thank you in advance!!!! Can take further pictures if need be.

 

[pandacular]

I'm wondering if that line where the bark changes is a graft. If so, I would be considering a ground layer at that point.

Nice full looking tree! You could certainly do a bit of thinning (specifically, tops, bottoms, crotches) and see how it responds, but I'd be holding off on removing much foliage as there's not a whole lot of growing season left.

 

[jradics]

Just remember, these trees rarely back bud

 

[Bakersbullion92]

Just remember, these trees rarely back bud

That is definitely why I’m asking on here. Don’t want to regret decision. I’m thinking about leaving it, and then putting it in a beautiful bonsai pot in spring and then just maintaining. The full foliage look is awesome to me. I do want to open it up to expose more of the structure

 

[jradics]

On many species, you cut them back and they grow all sorts of new shoots. On these hinoki, if you cut it back, in my experience, it does not regrow and often just dies. I'm not an expert, just experienced

 

[Bakersbullion92]

This is one I picked up today. I’m 100% going to leave it alone. All I need is a repotting in spring and minimal wiring and I think I’ll have nice composition.

 

[jszg]

That guy does not seem to be a graft. Nice specimen, and probably will prove to be a good piece of material.

Be sure to check out Bjorn's video if you didn't already on the Hinoki (not the Sekka, iirc he works on a large Nana Gracilis)- he has some useful points on handling the whorls of fan growth when wiring.

 

[Bakersbullion92]

That guy does not seem to be a graft. Nice specimen, and probably will prove to be a good piece of material.

Be sure to check out Bjorn's video if you didn't already on the Hinoki (not the Sekka, iirc he works on a large Nana Gracilis)- he has some useful points on handling the whorls of fan growth when wiring.

You wouldn’t happen to have a link would ya?

 

[jszg]

You wouldn’t happen to have a link would ya?