New Juniper

dtreesj

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I got this little guy in the mail today and threw a couple wires on it to get it started in some kind of direction.
It was supposedly "windswept" but it was just a straight stick with a bit of a flip at the top. I only wired a couple branches because I'm afraid to damage the tiny needles.

20210626_174903.jpg
 

AZbonsai

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Looks like a great start! Not sure if you are in the repotting time zone in your area but that would be the next step. Windswept one of the hardest to pull off. Looks like a great start on an informal upright.
 

dtreesj

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Looks like a great start! Not sure if you are in the repotting time zone in your area but that would be the next step. Windswept one of the hardest to pull off. Looks like a great start on an informal upright.
Yeah summer just started and I'm sure we'll be in for hot sunny days, but it's supposed to be rainy all week. I was thinking of slip potting it.
 

QuantumSparky

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Looks like a great start! I have a few trash junipers that I'm working on but they're already quite big. It must be nice to be able to shape that one from such a small size!
 

HENDO

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Nice start! Looks healthy too.

Now just crank up the sunlight and fertilizer, and let it grooooow!
 

dtreesj

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So I was thinking, would it be better to flip the growing terminal upwards later on, or turn it into a branch and grow an apex from what is currently the top of the tree?
 

Shibui

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So I was thinking, would it be better to flip the growing terminal upwards later on, or turn it into a branch and grow an apex from what is currently the top of the tree?

I think your tree is far too young to be making such decisions. Pruning is a big part of developing bonsai and I'm pretty sure you will cut off a whole lot of what is there now as this tree develops.
One problem with leaving a large, strong section like the current leader as a branch is that it will grow much faster than any apex so you'll end up with a small top and a big branch which does not look so good.
This appears to be J. procumbens which normally grows horizontally as ground cover so that terminal will grow faster than most other parts and will grow out and downwards unless you stop it by pruning.

The little branches are way too thin and delicate for learning to wire. Most are likely to break off if you try so best to let them all grow for a year or 2 before thinking about any branch placement or shaping.

Do you have any idea how big you want this bonsai?
Trees can just be allowed to grow and develop haphazardly but I find it helps to have some sort of vague idea of what you are trying to achieve. Knowing what you want to achieve helps direct the techniques and processes you use while developing the bonsai.
Based on this little juniper I'm guessing you are quite new to bonsai so may not understand some key concepts yet.
Little trees in little pots tend to grow really slow so it takes many years to grow a really good looking bonsai.
Trees in larger pots grow bigger quicker. We can then cut off excess and downsize the results to a bonsai. This requires letting most parts grow long so the tree won't look 'bonsai for a few years. Not much point worrying about pruning some parts during this phase of development.
Starting with little trees or seed can be cheaper and fun but it is usually the slowest way to achieve a good bonsai.
 

dtreesj

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Do you have any idea how big you want this bonsai?
As small as I can manage, which is why I'm thinking about stuff early. I'm ok with slow, I'm currently growing a bristlecone from a seed actually.
 

Japonicus

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would it be better to flip the growing terminal upwards
Main issue with not going up with it, is that it will be a thicker branch higher up than 1st branches.
However, to reposition now would be too risky damaging the cambium layer, losing all above the bend point.
Let it go till Fall or even this time next year to reposition it.

If you were to make it a branch, would have to prune it and allow the lower branches to extend
and play catch up, losing momentum to gaining girth in the trunk at the expense of using the apical leader
as a branch, but you can do it yes, but the girth to be, would suffer.
Now just crank up the sunlight and fertilizer, and let it grooooow!
+1
 

dtreesj

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Main issue with not going up with it, is that it will be a thicker branch higher up than 1st branches.
However, to reposition now would be too risky damaging the cambium layer, losing all above the bend point.
Let it go till Fall or even this time next year to reposition it.

If you were to make it a branch, would have to prune it and allow the lower branches to extend
and play catch up, losing momentum to gaining girth in the trunk at the expense of using the apical leader
as a branch, but you can do it yes, but the girth to be, would suffer.

+1
Yup, I knew it would be months or even a year before I actually do it. I like knowing about things very early so I don't have to rush when I suddenly realize it's time to do it.
 

dtreesj

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You wont have to do that. Time to get it bushy which is basically doing nothing other than
fertilizing and proper watering in full Sun.
Yeah it's just a habit. Not such a big deal with this but I already missed repotting my black pines this year when I should have. I'm pretty good at not getting things done.
 

dtreesj

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My tree isn't vibrant green anymore. I kinda forgot about it for a few days. Have I already killed it?

20210704_200811.jpg
 

dtreesj

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I feel like I shouldn't worry because I have five JBPs that I've had for over a year and I just treat them like whatever and they're fine, behind the tree in the pic is a bristlecone that's also a year old. I forget about them all the time but I've had bad luck with junipers.
 

dtreesj

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So I lifted it and it has barely any roots and they were right at the surface. They look pretty cooked. Can it recover from this?
 

dtreesj

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I think it'll be ok. The soil never dried out 100% and I saw a living root tip after brushing aside some of the loose top soil. I didn't disturb the root ball so I think as long as it has water now it will recover. Sorry for all the posts, can't edit just one post for updates.
 
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