Just got my first Bonsai EVER
- Thread starter Jbell24
- Start date
Redwood Ryan
Masterpiece
Welcome to the Nut House!
Looks like you've got a Juniper, probably procumbens. These are outdoor trees and belong outdoors 24/7/365.
Looks like you've got a Juniper, probably procumbens. These are outdoor trees and belong outdoors 24/7/365.
mat
Chumono
Yes. Outside. I recommend that you concentrate on keeping it alive for now. For that, you'll need no special tools. Watering will be the first big step. I would try to keep it moist, not wet - in other words, try not to over- or under-water it. You've found a great resource; look around here, especially in the "New to Bonsai" section. Many questions have been asked before.
Welcome & have fun!
Welcome & have fun!
edprocoat
Masterpiece
Yup, looks like a Procumbens Greenmound, outside definetly, protect it from severe freezing weather so the roots do not get hurt. And oh yeah, turn it up straight its leaning to the left.
It needs to grow some before you do any styling on it though.
ed
It needs to grow some before you do any styling on it though.ed
Pretty sure you're wrong about that Ed
Kidding just kidding ,man that never gets old
all fixed
edprocoat
Masterpiece
Rock, yeah it never gets old, almost like retarded.
I have a greenmound that looks a lot like that, only its a tad bigger.
ed
milehigh_7
Mister 500,000
Welcome! You have had good advice so far. Another thing is to please update your profile with your location. We really can't help much if we don't know what climate you are dealing with.
OKAY NOW IT IS ON
YOU CALLED ME RETARDED- very insensitive
because I prefer...special
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edprocoat
Masterpiece
Rock, man I am sorry. I did not mean to imply you are retarded at all, that was just a dig at the joke. Yeah I get it but its a hard one to take, I guess I will never live it down as long as I post here though. So no offence meant man, just a bad worded comeback.
ed
ed
mat
Chumono
I don't think Jbell will be back. Guess (s)he wasn't planning on keeping it outside.
dick benbow
Omono
I think that most folks that get into bonsai love the artistic part of it and can't wait to get to focus on that part of the hobby. But my recommendation from experience would be to learn the horticultural needs of each tree first as being primary to being a sucessful designer. joining a club and getting a mentor is a great way to advance in both the artistic and horticultural aspects of the hobby.
for example here in the pacific NW, we had lots of wet springs,falls, winters. things potted need a mixture of more drainage then moisture retentive soil materials.
Pines around here never seem to get enough sun, so when your locating your trees, putting your benches where pines get full sun all day is important. My favorite quince, chojubai seems happiest with sun most of the day except the tremendously hot late westerly exposure in the afternoon. By joining a club and getting to know different folks sucessful with the varieties your attracted to ( you may change afterwards) you can really cut down on the learning time if trying to grasp all by yourself.
for example here in the pacific NW, we had lots of wet springs,falls, winters. things potted need a mixture of more drainage then moisture retentive soil materials.
Pines around here never seem to get enough sun, so when your locating your trees, putting your benches where pines get full sun all day is important. My favorite quince, chojubai seems happiest with sun most of the day except the tremendously hot late westerly exposure in the afternoon. By joining a club and getting to know different folks sucessful with the varieties your attracted to ( you may change
afterwards) you can really cut down on the learning time if trying to grasp all by yourself.
Jbell24
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Sorry I haven't responded Ive been busy. So I do have a tragic update. My tree has gotten very light and its little needle branches are crumpling right off. Im not sure if I did something wrong or not but any advice would be helpful. Or is it too late for the tree?
And Im a He.
I live in Los Angeles, CA so you can have an idea of the climate.
And Im a He.
I live in Los Angeles, CA so you can have an idea of the climate.
Redwood Ryan
Masterpiece
0soyoung
Imperial Masterpiece
That sounds like it died. You are learning faster than me - it took me 4 years to finally kill a cute little juniper like you had. Seriously, this is part of the game. In my case, it started to go downhill the year after I repotted it in Turface ProLeague Red. I thought its decline was because it was pot bound. But it was happening in mid-season, so I kept carefully watering it thinking it would be best not to disturb the roots (a correct assessment, as it turns out).
The following season I came to realize that Red had too high a saturation level and that I had been drowning the roots all the previous season. So I repotted in Turface MVP in the spring of its fourth year. It did well at first, but then began declining again. I presumed this was because of the cool rainy spring we had this year and everything seemed to align with this being the case. I put it under an eave where it wouldn't get any rain. Indeed, by mid-summer it seemed to be putting out a little bit of new growth, but that soon paled and went to brown.
I did and 'autopsy' and found basically no roots, so I believe:
1. I gave it a case of root rot when it was potted in Red
2. I was unable to subsequently stop the rot (maybe it became pathogenic)
3. It is possible to 'over water' with Turface
a. the tree must have enough roots and activity to sop up the water in the saturation layer
b. and/or the pot needs to be deeper (to lower the saturation level relative to the soil surface
c. and/or the soil needs to be larger grained.
c. and/or don't water if the soil is damp to wet at mid-depth
.b. and/or the pot needs to be deeper (to lower the saturation level relative to the soil surface
c. and/or the soil needs to be larger grained.
c. and/or don't water if the soil is damp to wet at mid-depth
I've also learned a number of very interesting things about soils and root growth, but that is another story.
I don't use Red any more, only MVP. I don't water everyday, just because .... I now check under the surface and water only if it is dry to the touch. I now have two 'new' junipers, potted in MVP, that I am trying to grow, following what (I think) I've learned.
My climate is very mild and tends to be cool. It rarely ever gets as hot as 80F and it is too often overcast. So I don't have problems with pots getting too hot in the sun (roots won't grow when the soil temperature is above 95F and begin dying above 105F even if wet). Only on rare days do I need to worry about watering more than once a day - in fact, I must resist the temptation to water every day. Your situation in LA is the opposite. Your pot should likely be shaded and maybe even covered with a wet towel. You likely need to water multiple times in a day all year long but for the winter - it is always hot and dry unless you are on the ocean side of of the coastal ridge.
So, get another one or two junipers and try again. If you've got room, get some other trees too.
Failure only says you are trying. Failing the same way a second time says you aren't learning (or are insane to expect different results). So try to do it differently and have fun!
Meanwhile I will work on not being so pedantic/overbearing.
Jbell24
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I did have it outside but I believe I underwater it. These past couple weeks have been crazy hot in LA and so I wasn't doing it everyday and I think the heat is what killed it. Thought its not brown yet so I'm hoping there might still be a chance but I'm not sure.
I was thinking of trying for a tree that does better indoors so I can keep a better control of the temperature.
Any recommendations?
I was thinking of trying for a tree that does better indoors so I can keep a better control of the temperature.
Any recommendations?
