Blue Rug Juniper

[thumblessprimate1]

When I got this juniper a year ago in a nursery 3 gal pot, it had really ugly foliage. A lot of the foliage was dead and yellowish. I threw it in a 10 gal pot with just pine bark mulch.

This year it looks better so I decided to try some stuff out. I didn't cut any roots when repotting it. I did some light pruning while wiring. Placement of branches was primarily to allow light to hit it all over. I'm hoping I could get it more compact.

Being a Blue rug juniper, I don't expect a lot of girth from it. To remedy that, I'm trying out an approach graft using a fast large growing juniper at the base. If that fails, I think this piece will look decent if I could get the foliage to tighten up. I'd like to know if a Blue Rug juniper could attain the manicured look.

As always I welcome advice and comments.

 

[Eric Schrader]

I'm not completely positive that this is the same variety, but this image was from the 2004 Bay Island Bonsai show. It's a blue carpet juniper. At one point I recall seeing a blog post about this being styled down from what was originally a 15 gallon plant or something like that, but that was a long time ago and I can't find it now. I've not seen the tree in years.

 

[thumblessprimate1]

I appreciate your reply. That looks great!

The Blue Carpet and Blue Rug are different although both are low growing varieties. The Blue Rug grows less upright. The Blue Carpet grows about 4 to 6 inches taller. That's about double the height of the Blue Rug, thus it wouldn't surprise me that it has a thicker trunk and grows faster.

Either way I'm still up for the challenge, and this juniper doesn't seem too overwhelming.

 

[Dav4]

I'm not completely positive that this is the same variety, but this image was from the 2004 Bay Island Bonsai show. It's a blue carpet juniper. At one point I recall seeing a blog post about this being styled down from what was originally a 15 gallon plant or something like that, but that was a long time ago and I can't find it now. I've not seen the tree in years.

I'm pretty sure Michael Hagedorn was the artist who styled this one. We should all be so lucky to find nursery stock with that kind of potential.

 

[Neli]

I see the same mistake over and over...People cut off small branches low on the trunk and leave lots of growth at the end.

 

[thumblessprimate1]

'Tis true Nelli, but I've not made any cuts on low on the trunk. This was origainlly nursery stock abandoned amongst stronger taller growing stock. Pretty much all the growth was at the ends. I'll try to post a close image of a few branches for you to see what I'm talking about.

I did make some cuts closer and lower on the trunk, but they were all dead matter. I should've disclosed that. Mea culpa.

I did some light pruning on the outside to keep it from getting too leggy as it is super leggy. Also, it's wired and placed in a full sun spot so that it may get fuller and bud out as much as possible. I hope the plan works.

 

[Neli]

This tree is young. I am sure it will back bud down on the trunk.

 

[Nwaite]

I got one of these this summer and I'm wonder how yours was doing ? Any updates.or new pictures?

Here's mine.

 

[thumblessprimate1]

Mine is dead

 

[Nwaite]

Ooohhh sorry ....

Well I see them at Lowes , homedepot and wall mart for super cheap. I don't know much being a beginner in all but they seem like a fun little tree to play around with.