Completely messed my bonsai

[BonsaiScrubNoob]

I’ve been so proud of how large and healthy I’ve gotten my juniper bonsai in just a year. To start, it came as 3 tiny trunks(the first picture) and I trimmed it down to just one(the left trunk). From there, I let it grow for the last year and it was looking so great. Then today, I don’t know why I got the idea I needed to trim and wire it. Now I feel like I’ve completely messed it up. Why is it so ugly, where did I mess up, and what’s the best way to fix this. I feel sad

 

[Paradox]

A first styling often doesnt come out the way we invision.
You didnt mess it up, you got it started on its bonsai journey
It will fill out and it will be fine, just give it time and care and dont do anything else besides water and feed for at least a year

 

[*tree*]

I'm not sure if there is enough 3D movement, it looks a bit straigth on the side picture.

 

[Michigan Tree Murderer]

Sometimes things need to get messy before they get nice. We've all done the same thing. And we all have some frankenstein looking trees in progress. Final product is all that matters.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

A bonsai looks 100% for about 5% of its lifespan, even less while in development/grow out phases.

 

[nurvbonsai]

A bonsai looks 100% for about 5% of its lifespan, even less while in development/grow out phases.

A process of becoming and not being. Thank you for these words friend.

 

[AshleyMammal]

It’s not messed up at all! It’s taken another step in becoming a bonsai. You still have the opportunity to put in some more drastic movement in all directions (including in 3-dimensions backwards and forwards, as previously mentioned). Be very careful not to uproot or disturb the roots, and also take your time so not to snap the trunk.

The normal suggestion is ‘one insult per year’ but I reckon as you’ve only styled it today and it’s so young, you could add in more movement without causing any harm

 

[BonsaiScrubNoob]

It’s not messed up at all! It’s taken another step in becoming a bonsai. You still have the opportunity to put in some more drastic movement in all directions (including in 3-dimensions backwards and forwards, as previously mentioned). Be very careful not to uproot or disturb the roots, and also take your time so not to snap the trunk.

The normal suggestion is ‘one insult per year’ but I reckon as you’ve only styled it today and it’s so young, you could add in more movement without causing any harm

With that rule in mind, I tried to make a it a little more 3 dimensional- should I wait until next year to repot it? I want to put it back in the same pot, I just didn’t tie it in with wire last time so it’s not very still in the pot, and feel a soil with more drainage might be helpful

 

[bwaynef]

Now isn't a good time to repot, but you can tie it in above-ground so that it doesn't move, and that's what I'd recommend doing now. While you wait for this tree to respond, you should look at the craftsy wiring tutorial. While yours looks effective, you've got much more wire on than necessary, which will mean it needs to come off sooner than if it had been applied w/ less tight coils. (By that I mean with a wider pitch between coils.) Also, you've got time to learn to clean junipers, which is as important as knowing how to wire them ...but makes wiring them SO MUCH easier. Its also effective at keeping them vigorous.

 

[BonsaiScrubNoob]

Now isn't a good time to repot, but you can tie it in above-ground so that it doesn't move, and that's what I'd recommend doing now. While you wait for this tree to respond, you should look at the craftsy wiring tutorial. While yours looks effective, you've got much more wire on than necessary, which will mean it needs to come off sooner than if it had been applied w/ less tight coils. (By that I mean with a wider pitch between coils.) Also, you've got time to learn to clean junipers, which is as important as knowing how to wire them ...but makes wiring them SO MUCH easier. Its also effective at keeping them vigorous.

Can you explain what you mean by cleaning? Or link me to a resource for it?

 

[bwaynef]

Here are some examples that go over basics of cleaning, building branches, laying out branches, and one of the most succinct examples of how to wire.

 

[Nera]

You've been given great advice and encouragement here. To me, the latest wiring style you did looks better!

You are braver than I am, starting with a Juniper. I'm delaying getting one as I need to learn a lot more in general (and also about Junipers) before I get one.