Help with Shimpaku

[buddhamonk]

What would you do with this tree. It's time to repot but I wonder if I should keep the current semi cascade/slant style vs a more upright style...

The current front

 

[fourteener]

Different front

I like the other front much better. The colors on the trunk are great. I would get rid of some foliage to get a better view of the trunk. The tree is very healthy. Less foliage would create more movement, therefore more interest. Keep up the good work.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

I like the current movement and planting angle. The base seems to be pretty well established as is too...

 

[buddhamonk]

my issue with the current planting angle is the horizontal line formed by the lower trunk and vertical line formed by the upper trunk which is why i thought maybe a different angle would work better...

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Do you have any shots in the proposed angle?

 

[buddhamonk]

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

It could work. Then would you pull the apex further left?

 

[buddhamonk]

I typically have the apex follow the character branch. Before first branch goes of the right, I would have the apex lean right...

 

[A Random User]

Why don't you split the difference, and go in between the two...
Seeing that you are only trying to eliminate the trunk running
parallel to the ground. This way only slight modifications need
be made.

Also, you need to go down a pot size if able...
Pot is too big.

 

[tmmason10]

I vote for a more traditional moyogi angle like the flipped picture. Nice trunk and Shari, it could probably look good either way.

 

[KennedyMarx]

I like the current angle better than the proposed more upright one. I think the current back looks better than the front from what I can see in the pictures. A little wiring so we could see more of the trunk line and have a little more defined foliage would a better effect than changing the angle, I think. Also cleaning up the bark on the trunk a little bit.

 

[Lancaster]

With the current angle you can see the nebari and shari very well, but the foliage looks a little too overgrown for the tree. (IMO)

If you change the angle too much, I think you may lose some of the root base. It seems to be all on one side of the tree, also....

If it were mine, I would keep the current planting angle as much as possible. Maybe a SLIGHT change would be an improvement.? Just to keep the trunk from running parrallel to the soil line?

I think I would concentrate my efforts on re working the shari, jin, and thinning the foliage a bit. Heck, it might even benefit from a total restyling.

So, my 2 cents....

1.) Jin and shari work
2.) Thin out and possible restyle
3.) Change pot to accentuate the trunk
4.) Slightly change potting angle to enhance eye appeal.

-Troy

 

[Paulpash]

I'd keep the current angle. If you're growing it out to invigorate the tree then fine. If not then the undersides of the branches need cleaning so we can see better pad definition. I'd also consider thinning & pulling the apex back to create some stability if you're going semi cascade, something like this: