I have 6 Bald Cypress that are 4-4.5' tall in 3 gallon pots. I bound them to some bamboo yesterday to straighten them before planting them this fall. They are fairly straight already with some bends. I used a stretchy film that will stretch as the tree grows but will maitain its tightness.

One tree is fairly crooked and not a candidate for planting so I am going to try Bonsai for the first time. I read to let the trunk grow and lop off the top at an angle(this will be the new top) later in life.

What should I be doing now in preparation for the first cut? How many years before the first cut are we talking about? I guess that is determined by trunk diameter.