Itoigawa Juiper June 2017

[SantaFeBonsai]

My first Conifer. Nursery stock from NYC now residing north of Dallas Texas. I have my ideas on how to proceed but i'm curious to know what the experts think.

It sits in a large 22"x16"x6" pot with full sun from sun-up to 6pm. Soil has great percolation and won't be repotted until needed. Stands 26" tall, 30" wide, 16" deep. Trunk is 2.5" all the way around, nebari is 6" at the widest and 3" and the narrowest. Minimum cleanup, nothing but TLC till early spring '18.

Enjoy

 

[Johnathan]

Looks like a great start. Size wise.... I'm far from an expert so take this next comment with a grain of salt......

I think a shari/ jin combo would go a long way.

 

[SantaFeBonsai]

This tree is going to take a lot of work. I see major cut-bending, branch removal, root grafting, Shari, Jin and a whole lot of other things I have no idea about!

Where should I start? Would you do root grafting at the same time with major sculpting/styling? Should I do any styling now or wait til early spring?

You're NOT going to hurt my feelings with constructive criticism and advise.

 

[M. Frary]

Would you do root grafting

I would layer it if I were worried about the base.

 

[GrimLore]

Should I do any styling now or wait til early spring?

I would thin out the foliage a bit - NOT to much to get a better look inside and get some sun in there. Take out any dead or Limp foliage usually found in there and in this case on the undersides of branches. From there I would place it out in the Sun and maintain it for the season with an occasional LIGHT cleanup on the foliage. It is a bit late for any of the work you describe this year but because it is growing doing as I outlined will result in a nice healthy amount of foliage to work with next Spring.

Grimmy

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

This has good potential. The first 2 photos show the best front; from the base-upward. I wouldn't layer it if it was mine.

Keep it growing strong for the year while you consider options. Here are some things I see:

You should definitely consider converting the big left branch to Jin, only keeping the smaller shoot emerging from that branch close to the trunk. I'd wire that smaller shoot and Jin the rest of the big branch.

I'd also open up a Shari in the lower trunk. Carving an area that already has a recess removes the fault, by explaining its existence.

Later, you could connect the lower Shari to the jinned left branch.

I would also consider shortening the tree at the dashed red line. Don't chop, though, convert it to jin and leave it long until you have a final design. Aesthetically, the foliage should never be taller than the ten-Jin, so keep it high until you know where the final design places the apex.

Have fun; itoigawa juniper is my favorite bonsai material. Just go easy removing foliage because it will revert to juvenile really fast and stay juvenile for a year or two.

 

[SantaFeBonsai]

I like your direction, Brian.

The over all trunk shape is somewhat similar to your avatar which is what I'm basically seeing in the future of this tree although I think it needs a bend to the left just above the big left branch. The problem with that procredure is whether it will require a cut-bend which would be directly on the front view. Maybe a bit of bend to the rear to eliminate the scaring from being in your face?

Two previous cuts on past apexes have left some nasty looking branches at the top. I can see removing of those branches and creating a dead vein all the way to the bottom, similar to your avatar.

Thanks for your thoughtful reply!

 

[SantaFeBonsai]

Update

 

[SantaFeBonsai]

 

[Hartinez]

View attachment 263554

Beautiful. I very much like the height.

 

[SantaFeBonsai]

This has good potential. The first 2 photos show the best front; from the base-upward. I wouldn't layer it if it was mine.

Keep it growing strong for the year while you consider options. Here are some things I see:

You should definitely consider converting the big left branch to Jin, only keeping the smaller shoot emerging from that branch close to the trunk. I'd wire that smaller shoot and Jin the rest of the big branch.

I'd also open up a Shari in the lower trunk. Carving an area that already has a recess removes the fault, by explaining its existence.

Later, you could connect the lower Shari to the jinned left branch.

I would also consider shortening the tree at the dashed red line. Don't chop, though, convert it to jin and leave it long until you have a final design. Aesthetically, the foliage should never be taller than the ten-Jin, so keep it high until you know where the final design places the apex.

Have fun; itoigawa juniper is my favorite bonsai material. Just go easy removing foliage because it will revert to juvenile really fast and stay juvenile for a year or two.
View attachment 150045 View attachment 150046

@Brian Van Fleet,,, see, people do listen, i think i did everything you suggested other than the front but you would've agreed had you seen the tree in person. Thanks for your advise as this is now one of my fav trees.

Now if I can get @Smoke to help with my trident

 

[SantaFeBonsai]

Spring 2021



Spring ‘22





Fall ‘22



Up until a week ago I had been the only one to touch this tree from initial styling in ‘17 to early this spring but to be honest I’ve acquired too many big junipers to be able to keep up with everyone so I sent this one to first branch bonsai (Todd Schlafer). What a humbling experience to see what potential a tree has when under the eye of someone who makes a living at this.

What a f’n transformation!

June ‘23



Shocked for words.

6yrs from this

 

[thomas22]

Nice job developing this tree, even if you got a little help. Turned out better than I thought possible.

 

[casun]

What a transformation is right. Woah.