So, even with LEDs falling off, it getting a really cool look to it.

Still shaped like balls glued to a stick, and a little too grainy and fragile. Per Jason Welsh I can fix this by lowering voltage. I'm just too impatient, I had driven the voltage up to 3.5 

India ink not working great. Need something more conductive than that.

Also, interestingly, the buildup is on the sharp points like you see when arcs form in the air on Tesla coils.  Im not sure I'm going to get anything like bark on the smooth trunk. Perhaps if I left solder blobs with sharp points every inch or less?

Crystal formations radiating from ends down the branches.

I'm starting to get the effect I was looking for. Back into solution for a couple days.