First Bonsai In Training

[Pals_id]

Hello,

I picked up this juniper a few weeks back and I did some fairly drastic things to it over the weekend. It had already went through some wiring/training before I purchased it, but from the looks of it, it had been on its own for some time. I wish I had taken a picture before I did anything to it, but it slipped my mind. I left it in the pot it was purchased in but I removed it, pruned the root system a bit, and put it back in the same pot using the soil mix I made. I then put a very thin layer of topsoil with moss spores for cover. I then pruned the rest of the tree and wired accordingly. I can now start to see the shape it is going to take on, but still have some work to do over time to get the thicker branches exactly how I want and the pads nice and uniform. Within the next couple years I would like to repot it in a shorter pot once the root system can be further pruned back to accommodate this. This is my first attempt. Hopefully I did not do too much too soon.

 

[Pals_id]

Oh, I forgot. Feel free to let me know "yea or nay". Constructive criticism is welcome and appreciated. I am still deciding what direction to take this tree and am considering if I should lose a couple more branches toward the top.

Thank You

 

[Vance Wood]

Hello,

I picked up this juniper a few weeks back and I did some fairly drastic things to it over the weekend. It had already went through some wiring/training before I purchased it, but from the looks of it, it had been on its own for some time. I wish I had taken a picture before I did anything to it, but it slipped my mind. I left it in the pot it was purchased in but I removed it, pruned the root system a bit, and put it back in the same pot using the soil mix I made. I then put a very thin layer of topsoil with moss spores for cover. I then pruned the rest of the tree and wired accordingly. I can now start to see the shape it is going to take on, but still have some work to do over time to get the thicker branches exactly how I want and the pads nice and uniform. Within the next couple years I would like to repot it in a shorter pot once the root system can be further pruned back to accommodate this. This is my first attempt. Hopefully I did not do too much too soon.

It's pretty difficult to kill a Juniper, and what you did was not too much. In fact you might what to consider cutting the top down a bit. Just consider it, see what you think.

 

[Pals_id]

Thanks Vance, I will definitely consider chopping the top. There is a spot below the current apex where there are 5 branches growing around the tree. I'm sure I could get one of those to cooperate for the new apex. If that doesn't look right, I may also consider giving it that "windswept" look or even cascade by removing everything above the second branch on the left in the top picture, but I will try the first option first. Thanks for your input, I think it will improve the tree.

 

[Paulsur]

Good material, great start. If you were taking lessons, your instructor would likely have you wire out to the tips on every branch. I know mine did. And so I still do. Its a good habit to get into. Plus you get pretty good at wiring as well.

 

[Eric Group]

That is a fine start for your first try! Much better than most of the "first Bonsai" posts we see!

I think the tree would look better over all with more dramatic movement in the trunk... Hard tot ell how thick it is but Junipers are pretty pliable and I bet you could find some ways to accentuate those bends... One day... If you want to.

 

[Pals_id]

Good material, great start. If you were taking lessons, your instructor would likely have you wire out to the tips on every branch. I know mine did. And so I still do. Its a good habit to get into. Plus you get pretty good at wiring as well.

Thanks for the reply. I took a break after potting, pruning and wiring the trunk and main branches on Sunday evening. My intention was to use very fine wire and get them all. I got successfully wired a couple in the morning and then broke a couple and decided to put it off. It is so difficult to get between all the needles while still wiring tight without breaking a branch as big around as a typical pencil lead! Maybe over the weekend when I don't feel rushed would be the best time. I know the end result would look much cleaner.

That is a fine start for your first try! Much better than most of the "first Bonsai" posts we see!

I think the tree would look better over all with more dramatic movement in the trunk... Hard tot ell how thick it is but Junipers are pretty pliable and I bet you could find some ways to accentuate those bends... One day... If you want to.

Thanks Eric. I haven't measured the trunk diameter, but I was able to bend the top half a little until a slight crackle was heard. I will continue working with it, but the lower portion will need a different technique I think. I appreciate your words of encouragement.

 

[kirk@localbonsai.com]

Off to a great start.... once that lower bend codifies, your tree will have nice character. Personally, I would plant the thing in the ground to thicken up as it doesn't have much of a base.

 

[kirk@localbonsai.com]

Off to a great start.... once that lower bend codifies, your tree will have nice character. I would consider planting it in the ground for awhile to develop a trunk base.

 

[Pals_id]

Well, I considered all my options and removed a few more branches. I think I will keep the top for now and give it a season to see how things are going. This is shaping up to be an interesting tree.



Thank you for all the great input

 

[Lazylightningny]

Nice start! Now you have to work on pushing some of the growth back in towards the trunk. That will take some time.

 

[jkd2572]

It's pretty difficult to kill a Juniper, and what you did was not too much. In fact you might what to consider cutting the top down a bit. Just consider it, see what you think.

Actually it's pretty easy. I tested a nana this year. Tired of moving tree in and out of my garage I left a nana juniper out one night that it got down to 13 degrees. It's not completely brown yet, but it's not pushing growth like all the rest of my junipers.

And the junipers worst night mare. Spider mites. The invisible killer.... My worst enemy. I'm now and will always be on a once a month go nuclear pesticide regimen from now on.

 

[Lazylightningny]

I've killed plenty of junis. It's kind of my specialty.

 

[Paradox]

Actually it's pretty easy. I tested a nana this year. Tired of moving tree in and out of my garage I left a nana juniper out one night that it got down to 13 degrees. It's not completely brown yet, but it's not pushing growth like all the rest of my junipers.

I did this with 3 nanas a couple of winters ago. All were dead by spring. All my nanas come inside for the winter now.
2 San Jose left out during the same winter never missed a beat and are still happily alive and growing.