Itoigawa Juniper Shohin Progression

[Colorado]

This is a shohin itoigawa juniper that I’ve been working on for about a year and a half now. Feel free to offer any advice or critiques as I document this tree’s progression.

Here’s the tree basically as purchased; in March 2020 I repotted from a nursery container to this round Sam Miller. Over potted a bit for development.



In 2020 I allowed the tree to grow freely to recover from the repot. I wired it in summer 2020, light prune spring 2021, and then let it grow freely until this weekend - July 2021. Here’s the tree before the work:


And after wire removal and significant pruning, and re-wiring on just a few branches:


This is a true shohin at 7” from the rim of the pot. I’m planning to repot spring 2022 into something more suitable. Open to suggestions…

I was getting a little frustrated with this tree because I’m finding it really challenging to create a good image with such a small tree. But after seeing the photos, maybe it’s not doing so bad for just 18 months. Open to any critiques on how to improve!

 

[Hartinez]

This is a shohin itoigawa juniper that I’ve been working on for about a year and a half now. Feel free to offer any advice or critiques as I document this tree’s progression.

Here’s the tree basically as purchased; in March 2020 I repotted from a nursery container to this round Sam Miller. Over potted a bit for development.
View attachment 388190
View attachment 388191

In 2020 I allowed the tree to grow freely to recover from the repot. I wired it in summer 2020, light prune spring 2021, and then let it grow freely until this weekend - July 2021. Here’s the tree before the work:
View attachment 388192

And after wire removal and significant pruning, and re-wiring on just a few branches:
View attachment 388193

This is a true shohin at 7” from the rim of the pot. I’m planning to repot spring 2022 into something more suitable. Open to suggestions…

I was getting a little frustrated with this tree because I’m finding it really challenging to create a good image with such a small tree. But after seeing the photos, maybe it’s not doing so bad for just 18 months. Open to any critiques on how to improve!

It’s hard to see where the branches are laid out. Will you snap some photos from eye level? Maybe from several fronts?

 

[Shogun610]

Love Sam Miller pots,is that your future angle for last image? My itoigawa track record isn’t so hot so I can’t critique other than nice tree , looking forward to its progression

 

[Colorado]

It’s hard to see where the branches are laid out. Will you snap some photos from eye level? Maybe from several fronts?

Yeah, I think that might be part of the problem. Too much going on in a such a small little package. I’ll snap some more photos from the other angles.

 

[Colorado]

Love Sam Miller pots,is that your future angle for last image? My itoigawa track record isn’t so hot so I can’t critique other than nice tree , looking forward to its progression

Thanks! I love Sam’s pots too. I have collected a few of them and they are some of my favorites!

I think that is a rough estimate of the angle, but I also think it needs to lean more to the right.

 

[Colorado]

@Hartinez Here are a few more from more angles.

Front:


Left:


Back:


Right:

 

[Colorado]

Maybe the “front” is somewhere more toward the left…

 

[LanceMac10]

"Left" looks like a pretty nice front.

 

[Ruddigger]

"Left" looks like a pretty nice front.

Agreed.

 

[Hartinez]

TJ! This is a great tree. It’s right there it just needs some serious wiring. Here’s how I’d handle it if it were mine. @Ruddigger and @LanceMac10 are spot on in my opinion with the front. Best movement in trunk and branch placement. I’d Jin that top left branch section and have the movement of the tree go to the right. Wire everything down and out and make sure it all comes off the trunk and about the same angle. I would also recommend you go through and detail wire all the little stuff. Like everything. It’ll really make for a pleasing image and set those little tertiary branches up to harden off in the optimal position. This is all just my 2 cents but I’m sure you’ll make something dope of it regardless!

 

[weetree3]

This is a shohin itoigawa juniper that I’ve been working on for about a year and a half now. Feel free to offer any advice or critiques as I document this tree’s progression.

Here’s the tree basically as purchased; in March 2020 I repotted from a nursery container to this round Sam Miller. Over potted a bit for development.
View attachment 388190
View attachment 388191

In 2020 I allowed the tree to grow freely to recover from the repot. I wired it in summer 2020, light prune spring 2021, and then let it grow freely until this weekend - July 2021. Here’s the tree before the work:
View attachment 388192

And after wire removal and significant pruning, and re-wiring on just a few branches:
View attachment 388193

This is a true shohin at 7” from the rim of the pot. I’m planning to repot spring 2022 into something more suitable. Open to suggestions…

I was getting a little frustrated with this tree because I’m finding it really challenging to create a good image with such a small tree. But after seeing the photos, maybe it’s not doing so bad for just 18 months. Open to any critiques on how to improve!

Where did you find such a great tree? Outstanding potential.

 

[Pitoon]

Wow that tree is killer! I wish I had trees like that to play with.

 

[Colorado]

TJ! This is a great tree. It’s right there it just needs some serious wiring. Here’s how I’d handle it if it were mine. @Ruddigger and @LanceMac10 are spot on in my opinion with the front. Best movement in trunk and branch placement. I’d Jin that top left branch section and have the movement of the tree go to the right. Wire everything down and out and make sure it all comes off the trunk and about the same angle. I would also recommend you go through and detail wire all the little stuff. Like everything. It’ll really make for a pleasing image and set those little tertiary branches up to harden off in the optimal position. This is all just my 2 cents but I’m sure you’ll make something dope of it regardless!
View attachment 388304

Thanks a ton, Danny! This is super helpful! I had been staring at it so much and so often that I just hadn’t really seen it this way, but now I see it clearly!

So glad I posted this.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Colorado]

Where did you find such a great tree? Outstanding potential.

Tree originally came from Frank Mihalic from Facebook. I believe his business is called Wildwood Gardens. He has some great stuff!

 

[Hartinez]

Thanks a ton, Danny! This is super helpful! I had been staring at it so much and so often that I just hadn’t really seen it this way, but now I see it clearly!

So glad I posted this.

Thanks everyone!

Sweet! Only other thing I’d say is the foliage in the apex looks very young. You may not be able to achieve the image or shape you’d like with those little shoots at the moment. In another year though, I bet they are fully ready. Everything else looks primed for success though. I typically use 1mm aluminum for super soft juniper foliage as it’s is so easy to wrk with and will hold that stuff just fine. It can be tedious but it is such good practice as great care has to be taken with the soft stuff.

these ones.

 

[Colorado]

Version 2.0…thanks @Hartinez …appreciate you bro!!

 

[Hartinez]

Version 2.0…thanks @Hartinez …appreciate you bro!!

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Oh snap!!! That’s what I’m talking about!!! Your def setup. I’m really glad it worked out buddy.

 

[LanceMac10]

Swank! Looks the s#&t!!

Maybe time for some pot shopping?

 

[Colorado]

View attachment 388726

Swank! Looks the s#&t!!

Maybe time for some pot shopping?
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Yes! I was just thinking about pots for this yesterday. What would you recommend, Lance?

I have another Sam Miller round that is about the same width, but about 1/3 shallower. And it is unglazed grey.

Also have a couple production Japanese unglazed ovals that should be about the right size, but they’re nothing special…

 

[Ruddigger]

Personally I don’t like round for that tree. I’d go with a shallower oval.