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i can appreciate it will take years, I don't mind that, but ideally i was looking for pointer on where to start with the canopy.

The thing is: this is not really a bonsai or good bonsai starter material.
It is a finished product, the shape it has now, is the final shape. Changing that to make a real bonsai out of it will require massive growth and the correct techniques and knowledge.

Most beginners make the mistake of trying to report, prune, wire and style it - and kill it in no time.
Just keep this tree alive, learn how to take care of it and make it thrive.
There's no need to prune. Just prune branches that too long.

Aux thanks for the reply. I didn't pick the tree, i know it doesn't look the best compared to some, but i'm willing to learn.
That's why i was asking for some advice.

Mark001 wrote: Aux thanks for the reply. I didn't pick the tree, i know it doesn't look the best compared to some, but i'm willing to learn.

OK, since you asked:
The only way to make a good bonsai out of this is to completely forget its current shape, put it in full soil, and let it grow unrestricted for a couple of years. After that time, you can start selecting sacrifice branches to increase tapering. Then you can start selecting branches you will use for building up a canopy - after you have decided what style you are going to train it in.

Or you can accept that this will never become a real bonsai, and only prune away shoots that grow too long, to maintain its current shape.

Auk wrote:
Or you can accept that this will never become a real bonsai, and only prune away shoots that grow too long, to maintain its current shape.

Risky suggestion:

You could also maybe, next spring when it has built energy, and is in better soil chop of the canopy, or cut off all branches except big ones and grow the canopy again, in a neater way suited to bonsai or as an indoor plant.

This is risky, as it may not survive.


Auk: as it is a chinese privet (i think) would planting outside for a couple of years kill it as it has to go through winter? Or when you said "full soil" do you mean something like a biggish pot.

bob wrote:

Auk wrote:
Or you can accept that this will never become a real bonsai, and only prune away shoots that grow too long, to maintain its current shape.

Risky suggestion

Ah, the expert is talking. I'll be quiet now.

No, sorry, i mean my suggestion is risky.

I had one of these as part of a test for the bonsai empire store. Just as an example of another route to take..

When I got it:



I cut it back A LOT, and put it in the garden over summer:



then the next year it was put in a pot and I developed it as usual. This is almost 3 years after I got it originally:




I left it outside this winter, and it died back too mucch for me to keep it. As it was really an I decided to leave it, and dropped the plant into the compost bin, instead of trying to revive the last remaining living bud.

Bob and Leatherback thanks for the suggestions, that was really helpful. You have both given me a few ideas to think about. which was what i wanted

Leatherback that looked great - it was ashame it didn't survive the winter, it would of been fantastic to see it develop.

Good luck deciding. Just remember, in bonsai, less is more, and smaller looks bigger!