In the spring of 96, I considered the basic growth strategy to be done. I made a coarse pruning and re potted the tree into a rather big bonsai pot. (Should I have waited another year?) The pictures are taken before (from the back) and after this operation. Up to now, I have feed as much as I dared and re potted every year.

A fast growing Larch develops a massively dense root mat in a short time and towards late summer, one notice the surface rising in the container. I have re potted early in the spring and without problems been removing ¾ of the old roots. From now on, I will fertilize and water more carefully.

In the autumn of 96 and spring of 97, I shaped the tree with wire and by making thinner jins of some of the old stumps. In total, I probably removed 60% of the branches.