Hi Japonicus,
Whew I wasn’t expecting that fantastic response !! ?. Thank you.
Firstly, yes you are correct, I pinched this 6-8 weeks ago (start of winter), dumb newbie move. Maybe should’ve tried experiment in the Summer. I guess I have learned the “impatient” hard way that repotting and wiring shouldn’t be done at the same time.
As I am writing this I am disgesting your design. I have 3-4 of these about this size and age. Best material I can find etc. I have about 1520 as 6 month cuttings so they are a few years away lol.
So this Juniper has only just been repotted etc, I can easily take the wire away, repot it to the new angle. Eg. No new roots to break.
And start the new design as per your drawing.
BUT, I think I should leave all growth on this for at least the next year to grow bushy (runners??) ?? Then be more selective re branching, design, and be better at wiring.
Am I understanding you and what I have written makes sense?
Charles
Good evening Charles.
I see no harm in wiring and potting at the same time.
Remember to always allow the soil to nearly dry out prior to wiring, as with watering, that's when you wire.
Think of it this way...how much easier is it to bend a garden hose with no water pressure?
Any foliar work in the dormant stage of, or near Winter...that's a problem.
Being how the foliage is torn, I would suggest a dose of systemic bactericide/fungicide monthly.
Also this would be a good time for a horticultural dormant oil to protect against mites/insects.
The oil will discolour the foliage for a good time, but well worth no foliage of any colour.
When this occurs (the torn look) you've pinched where trimming is the correct approach.
Yes Summer is the time to pinch/thin/snip areas to open up for breath and light.
Eh, I wouldn't repot it till next time. The roots will need to be leveled more close to the new angle as possible
when you tilt it, so that requires more root work. Let it rest and then grow.
Like I said, that jin doesn't have to happen next growing season, so your foliage will gather strength
from the current upper portion, jin to be. I would want crazy runners on the lower portion and especially, most especially
the new upper apex to be that is so weak right now, that it will take 3 good growing seasons to have any stout, brown wood.
Feed that baby, control the upper growth or it will get stronger there, and the weak will become weaker.
Zone 9a? You're at the top of the zone for this plant. Is it commonly sold there?
1520 cuttings? Oh boy, look out! We have a bonsai nut in NZ!!!