Juniper Issues

[Jash]

Hello everyone I have a questions of Juniper given to me as gift. I currently live in New Jersey and have it outside in un heated sunroom in a east facing window. I noticed the rocks on top of soil seemed to be glued on so removed and added plastic to protect from cold in winter. My issue is with the soil it stays wet forever. Also seems to be ported very deep and a lot of trunk is in soil. I’m trying to stay ahead of it have bonsai soil ready and going to put in new pot for faster root growth. However it’s mid December and don’t know if should just ride out till spring and repot then or repot now. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks !

 

[Paradox]

Take the plastic off it and wait until spring.
Dont water it every day. Water when it needs it, meaning when the soil is almost dry

 

[Jash]

Take the plastic off it and wait until spring.
Dont water it every day. Water when it needs it, meaning when the soil is almost dry

Ughh I was afraid of that. I’m itching to wire / repot but I’ll practice patience instead and will remove plastic. thank you!

 

[Paradox]

Ughh I was afraid of that. I’m itching to wire / repot but I’ll practice patience instead and will remove plastic. thank you!

You can wire it now but now is the wrong time of year to repot.
Yes, lack of patience/control is the biggest killer of trees for those new and some not so new to the hobby.

 

[Jash]

You can wire it now but now is the wrong time of year to repot.
Yes, lack of patience/control is the biggest killer of trees for those new and some not so new to the hobby.

Wooooh that’s exciting. Get to have a little fun atleast. Appreciate insight and will use this time to learn. Thanks again!

 

[sorce]

Welcome to Crazy!

Go ham on it, what else are you gonna do?

Sorce

 

[Jash]

Welcome to Crazy!

Go ham on it, what else are you gonna do?

Sorce

Trying to figure out what want to do wiring wise. Don’t want to do a cascade which seems like how shaped for currently. Looking to do something upright. Any suggestions?

 

[sorce]

Any suggestions?

Read around and get a good idea of what type and size wire you need to wire everything and do it, the trunk, and everything else that could take a wire, and maybe some that can't for s&g!

Bend it all and break something, but note how it feels.

Let this be your sacrificial Laaaaaaamb!

Later you will realize it wasn't even a lamb, maybe just a lamb's toenail or something!

Keep your eyes peeled on the regular nursery junipers at the store, you can find em between $2-$10 to replace this one if you kill it!

$2, you know what that means!

Mad Sheep!

Sorce

 

[caffeinated]

That one can definitely become a nice upright. Bonsai Empire and Eastern Leaf I think had some super easy to follow, beginner YouTube videos for wiring up a small juniper.

 

[Shibui]

Trying to figure out what want to do wiring wise. Don’t want to do a cascade which seems like how shaped for currently. Looking to do something upright. Any suggestions?

It is only cascading because that's the natural habit of this species. J. procumbens is normally a prostrate plant but they can be trained to grow more upright. That's why we have wire.
Millions of these are wired into terrible boring s shaped curves every year. The world does not need another S shaped juniper so try to make some random bends and curves - forward and back as well as left to right.
At this early stage of its life there is no features to work with so the trunk is a blank slate. You can make whatever you like with it. I would suggest some quite tight bends as well as a few more open ones to add interest just to make this one a bit different from the rest.

 

[Jash]

That one can definitely become a nice upright. Bonsai Empire and Eastern Leaf I think had some super easy to follow, beginner YouTube videos for wiring up a small juniper.

Awesome will check out. Thanks!

 

[Jash]

It is only cascading because that's the natural habit of this species. J. procumbens is normally a prostrate plant but they can be trained to grow more upright. That's why we have wire.
Millions of these are wired into terrible boring s shaped curves every year. The world does not need another S shaped juniper so try to make some random bends and curves - forward and back as well as left to right.
At this early stage of its life there is no features to work with so the trunk is a blank slate. You can make whatever you like with it. I would suggest some quite tight bends as well as a few more open ones to add interest just to make this one a bit different from the rest.

Nice I’ll try my best. Stay tuned