I left the tree pretty much alone for some years but I did bend the main branches with guy wires and I also reduced the root ball during that time. This photo is from august 2008, 4 years after collection. It has grown well and I repotted the tree into a smaller wooden box ( I didn't have a large enough pot) Here you can see some earlier posts about this tree: http://norwegianbonsai.blogspot.com/2007/05/big-spruce-part-4.html
http://norwegianbonsai.blogspot.com/2007/05/big-spruce-part-3.html
http://norwegianbonsai.blogspot.com/2007/05/big-spruce-part-2.html
http://norwegianbonsai.blogspot.com/2007/05/big-spruce-part-1.html
This photo is from spring 2009. I removed more than 50 % of the foilage to prepare the tree for its first styling. (The tree is not in my garden so I only see it a few times every year)
Here is the tree in july 2009. I have just done the first styling. I have not shaped the small branches yet. The wire will have to stay on the big branches for several years before they settle in their new positions and spruces don't like too much disturbance at once so I will leave the rest of the shaping for next year. I will also have to thin out the foliage quite a bit more, especially in the back. It takes a long time to get good results with spruces, but if we are patient they will reward us with healthy growth and wonderful shapes!
