After consulting with a few other bonsai artist, in particular Mike Rogers. I found that the pot that this tree was potted in was too “Heavy” mass-wise for the tree. In Bonsai, everything is about perspectives and relationships. The overall height of a tree, is six times the width of the trunk at the base of the tree. The first branch should be located one third of the overall height of the tree. The width of the bonsai pot should be two thirds the height of the overall tree. The depth of the pot should be no more than then the thickness of the trunk.
I know that this seems to be a lot of math for such an artform. However the brain automatically makes these calculations and makes sure that all parts of the tree are in perspective as they relate the tree parts. It is that immediate feeling one gets when they look at art, a human face, or even a structure. If one aspect of the object are out of balance it can cause the viewer to see weakness, unbalance, or dislike for the object.
So with that said, the pot that I had this tree in before was too wide, and too deep. The color was good though, and that is why I used it in the first place. The tree is now potted into a new Tokoname pot that is with in scale and the color, although darker, is an accpetable finish and color for Junipers.
New Pot for Blue Alps Juniper
This tree still requires plenty of branch work, but it will come in time.
