Wires_Guy_wires
Imperial Masterpiece
So I got these bad boys for free. Or actually, they did cost me my entire stock of bonsai soil in one single go. The mailman that delivers the stuff wasn't happy. And I wasn't happy because that amount of wood would have gotten me at least 6 pine grow boxes.
But here we are. With a hurt back and some muddy skateboards and two enormous junipers.
Wrong season, I know. But they were going to be dumped otherwise. I managed to sneak in before the chainsaw did and the guy declined my monetary offer.
"Make sure you dig them all up and don't ruin the tulips."
They're either sabina junipers or a pfitzer variety, which I both own and know how to work. Just not as yardadori's and especially not at this size.
Honestly, I have never collected junipers of this age and this size. The foliage on the right one is at least 21 square feet (2m2). I'm not that worried about the left one. It's the right one that has the most awesome trunk, and I put all my effort in collecting it as complete as possible.
They both have rootballs (in sandy soil, as collected, backfilled with bonsai soil) that are about 50x50 cm. The left grow box is made to fit that rootball exactly. The right one is a bit (15%) bigger, to accommodate all that foliage.
What would be my next logical step? Reduce the foliage? Do nothing and see whatever makes it? I know junipers don't handle reduction very well after these procedures.
They are completely dormant, but I think that as soon as they wake up, there will be a giant water shortage. Weather is starting to lean towards spring, so I want to know how to act accordingly. Some branches were removed on location because it simply didn't fit in our car.
I'm admitting right here and now, I'm in over my head. But I couldn't pass up on these because I believe they'll force me to raise my skill level to new heights.
I have every hormone available at home, as well as most other plant-tech related material. I was thinking to just treat them as in vitro cuttings and dose their juices accordingly, but that doesn't help me get over the fact that there's so much foliage evaporating water, with just relatively few roots supporting it.
Any advice?