Juniper tree newbie

Jun2x258

Yamadori
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Hi everyone. I just started getting interested in bonsai this summer. I’ve just found a juniper with root in a bit a bad condition so for now i just did so trimming. I just wanted to know how could one develop or style the tree i have. D6B61DF7-F897-4AFF-9A64-4B4C5499C307.jpegD6B61DF7-F897-4AFF-9A64-4B4C5499C307.jpeg
 

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smilezzz

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Hi.

That's a fantastic piece of material you've got there. A lot of newbies pitch up here with, to put it mildly, rubbish. They then seek validation and pats on the backs for rooted cuttings.

That is, in comparison, a majestic tree with great potential. Lovely movement.

My advice, when you're ready, is to layer off the branches marked in yellow. They really pry attention away from the movement of the main trunk. I say air layer because some effort went into growing those out, and the branches on either end look as if they could have some potential as trees in their own right some time in the future.

From my experience, some posters on here are stuffy old farts that will not sugar coat what you need to do to improve your skills and your trees, and have provided noobs like us with invaluable and amazing advice, free of charge. I think they're partially like this because 99 times out of 100 people pop in, ask for advice, don't take it, kill their trees and lose interest in bonsai, and are never seen again.

My 2nd bit of advice, take their criticism to heart. It's in your trees best interest.

Peace out
 

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Housguy

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Jun, what kinda of juniper is it? looks like a shimpaku, hard to tell unless you can give us a close up of the foliage. Nice material to work with and you will need to figure out a way to get the canopy closer to your trunk, branches seem a little far away from the main trunk. Options are big branch bending if possible, grafting material closer to the main trunk and working with any foliage close to many trunk now, but it doesn't look there is much close to main trunk. Good luck, looks like a fun project.
 

sorce

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I agree with smilezz except, don't do it when you are ready, do it when the tree is ready.

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce
 

sorce

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New York?

Sorce
 

Jun2x258

Yamadori
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Hi, thank you for everything. I am fairly new to horticulture in general. How long would it take me to air layer a branch? I have been watching lots of bonsai vids on youtube( herons bonsai, bonsai mirai) and some here. Should i wait ‘till next spring to start? Maybe some branches would grow.
Btw i’m from Italy. The tree was kind of a harvested plant(yamadori). I think i should wait until it becomes healthy.
i know that this might be a long project so I’m honing a bit of my skill with a little pine tree and some maple seedlings. Yeah not much of styling done yet. Still learning a bit how to wire.
jun. Thanks you so much.
 

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Jun2x258

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To anyone out there too, I would much prefer get all those harsh of advice you’ve than sugar coated compliments. As smilezz have said, better hearing some harsh words, than killing the trees.
 

ShadyStump

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Newb, so brought you some salt myself. Sprinkle liberally.

I saw a very different product when I looked at this.

I would continue to cultivate the foliage until each pad eventually expanded together into one large pad in almost a cascade style effect, but leave and even improve the empty space between the trunk and the foliage that would only be broken by the branches.
I cannot tell you how to go about it, or how long it will take, or how well it will maintain that look, but it would look cool.
 

smilezzz

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Newb, so brought you some salt myself. Sprinkle liberally.

I saw a very different product when I looked at this.

I would continue to cultivate the foliage until each pad eventually expanded together into one large pad in almost a cascade style effect, but leave and even improve the empty space between the trunk and the foliage that would only be broken by the branches.
I cannot tell you how to go about it, or how long it will take, or how well it will maintain that look, but it would look cool.

Nothing wrong with a different opinion man, this is living art, and everyone can have a different vision.

I looked at this tree and saw the beauty in the starkness of the trunk, winding it's way up to the Apex. You just saw something very different. Can you do a quick mock up on your photo editor? It sounds interesting, but all I see is that potential literati.
 

Leo in N E Illinois

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@Jun2x258
Nice tree. I like it as starter material. Nice choice. Think about what future you see for this juniper. I suggest pondering for at least 3 to 6 months, or longer before beginning to style this tree.

I like the amount of movement in all your branches, and the branches are no young wispy branches, these branches have some wood. For this reason I would do my best to come up with a design that used all your existing branches. I would try to come up with a design that cut off zero, or at most one branch. I would like to see you keep them all.

Your photos are all of the same side of the tree. Before planning a style, take a look at this tree, and photograph it from 4 or 8 sides.
4 sides, rotated 90 degrees,
or
8 sides, rotated 45 degrees.

Just seeing it in photos from all 8 sides 45 degrees apart, may give you better ideas for a front, and a design.

In general, in part to create the illusion of height, most bonsai the trunk tilts or leans toward the viewer. The photos you show all the branches are moving away from the viewer, I really think your possible front is what is the back side of the tree from the 2 photos you posted. This is common in bonsai design. Front & back are related and often can be interchanged. But the "leaning toward the viewer" is a key feature to keep in mind. Though this can be corrected by repotting and changing the angle the tree inserts into the soil.

So my advice would be cut nothing. Take your time to contemplate several options for a while. I often keep a tree on my bench a year or more before styling. Contemplating designs during the time I take to get to "know" a tree.

Make drawings, take photos and do photoshop, paint or other editing tools on the photos.

This is a nice enough juniper that I would like to see you go slow, rather than rush.
 

Jun2x258

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Thank you for your advices.
@Leo in N E Illinois
This was the only photo i had from 3days ago. It kinda got dark now so i couldn’t take more and was finishing my online uni classes. Tomorrow I’ll post some more.
In a bonsai page I asked for some advice. They suggested doing it this was. What is everyone’s thought about them?
 

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Jun2x258

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Here are some more photos of the tree
 

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ShadyStump

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Wow, looking at this in all dimensions really does change the whole game with this tree. There are allot of angles you can play with there. I would actually let the thing go for year or so and see what it does on it's own. Let it give you a hint what it wants to be.
 

Jun2x258

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@ShadyStump
I guess this tree does have a lot of potential. This is why I have a bit of fear touching making moves with it. I might listen to you and let it grow for another year and in the meanwhile learn more about the craft. Thanks
 

sorce

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I have been staring at a couple Junipers for years pondering similar removals.

You have at least 4 years before any tuft interferes with another.

Style them all, and keep them separate and together in your minds eye.

The "cover with a rag" trick works well to see them separate.

@Walter Pall can you post the links to your "Bonsai Inspirations" video? I can't seem to find it. I believe it was translated.

Sorce
 
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