Need feedback/guidance with my Juniperus Procumbens

[shirtandtieler]

So my parents got me this Juniperus Procumbens for my birthday. My mom admitted that she was going to go to a nursery to get one for me but forgot and then ended up buying one from Home Depot. At the moment, it looks pretty bad and, with my lack of experience with bonsais, I'm lost where to go from here.

Description of the current status of the plant: It has a wooden block going parallel with the plant (to guide it) along with the upper 1/3 bent 90 degrees and tied to keep it that way. In addition, the roots are very much exposed and the majority of the plant's base is either moss or stones. I tried watering it but I have to do so very slowly because the rocks block most of the water (so I've been using a spray bottle to keep the roots moist). Overall I have a bad feeling about the current status and would love some feedback on where to go from here.

I have made an imgur album with 3 shots - an overall picture, one of the roots and another of the bend. I'd be glad to provide more images, if requested.
Here's the link: http://m.imgur.com/a/b0GJC

Thanks in advance

 

[Redwood Ryan]

I won't comment on the styling, but where are you keeping this tree? Hopefully it was brought in just for pictures. The rocks and moss need to come off as, like you mentioned, they will make watering difficult.

Also, welcome to the Nut house

 

[DougB]

Learning to keep your trees alive over many years is the first objective. And a very close second is demonstrating great patience. You also need to read, study and ask specific questions. This is best done in person at a local bonsai club where you can find a mentor. Boards such as this are also great if you accept that there are many different experiences, views and opinions that will be expressed. All is all welcome to an intoxicating lifelong adventure.

 

[drew33998]

There are some really great threads here. Read as much as you can. There are also some very knowledgeable people with great experience. I am sure they will chime in but here are some thoughts/questions
When did you re-pot it into the current pot?
What type of soil is it in?

If it has been in its current pot for several months by winter time, perhaps think about buying some wire and trying your hand at an initial styling. If you haven't had any experience with wiring, read as much as you can about it and take your time.

If you don't feel comfortable about wiring it then, just spend the next year keeping it alive and learning. I would also remove the rocks and moss.

Cheers

 

[shirtandtieler]

I won't comment on the styling, but where are you keeping this tree? Hopefully it was brought in just for pictures. The rocks and moss need to come off as, like you mentioned, they will make watering difficult.

Also, welcome to the Nut house

Thanks! Currently I'm keeping it outside in my screen porch (Living in Chicago, IL) where it gets about about 5 hours of afternoon sun.
I'll be taking off the rocks and the moss, so thanks for that suggestion. Somehow I didn't think to do that....
But I want comments on the styling! The fact that the whole top is bent 90 degrees seems weird to me and I'm not sure how to adjust it. Maybe that's perfectly fine for it, I just am not sure what to do.

 

[shirtandtieler]

There are some really great threads here. Read as much as you can. There are also some very knowledgeable people with great experience. I am sure they will chime in but here are some thoughts/questions
When did you re-pot it into the current pot?
What type of soil is it in?

If it has been in its current pot for several months by winter time, perhaps think about buying some wire and trying your hand at an initial styling. If you haven't had any experience with wiring, read as much as you can about it and take your time.

If you don't feel comfortable about wiring it then, just spend the next year keeping it alive and learning. I would also remove the rocks and moss.

Cheers

First off, thanks for your response.

My parents recently bought this for me, so I don't know its past and I have not repotted it. Also not sure what kind of soil that it's in (which I'm guessing is an indication of it needing to be repotted).

I'm willing to try wiring it, but not sure what to do about fixing what Home Depot has already done to it (if it even needs any major fixing). So any tips on that would be helpful.

 

[Redwood Ryan]

I'm willing to try wiring it, but not sure what to do about fixing what Home Depot has already done to it (if it even needs any major fixing). So any tips on that would be helpful.

I don't think Home Depot really did anything. It's more likely the place where the tree came from. Home Depot doesn't make mallsai, they just sell it

 

[Paradox]

Ok, first of all, relax, take a deep breath and slow down.

This little guy is not ready for any styling right now. It looks like its healthy so far.

First you need to take the rocks and moss off as others suggested. Fill in the exposed area with some coarse sand if you can get it. If you're concerned about exposed roots, you can slip pot it into a bigger container without disturbing the roots. Don't use potting soil. Use a well draining soil instead so the tree doesn't sit in soaking wet soil. They like to dry out a bit between waterings
Second, you can untie the tree from the top. It looks like this was a rather bad attempt at an upright juniper. These do not generally grow upright, but rather in a cascading or creeping manner most of the time.
I would remove the stick if it were mine and see what it wants to do on its own.

Read and learn about Juniperus procumbens nana. Learn to keep it alive. Dead trees can't be made into bonsai. Consider what you are going to do to overwinter this tree. You can't bring it into the house and if you leave it out on a deck/balcony/step all winter, it will die. An unheated shed or garage would work if you have one. Otherwise mulching in against the foundation should work. Once you learn how to keep it alive and you see what its normal growth habit wants to be, then you can figure out how to style it.

 

[jk_lewis]

There are some really great threads here. Read as much as you can. There are also some very knowledgeable people with great experience. I am sure they will chime in but here are some thoughts/questions

But you will get more -- and possibly better-- responses if you post your pictures here on B-nut, rather than making people go off site to see the tree. I didn't go, but it appears from some comments thet it's pretty small and young.

 

[shirtandtieler]

Ok, first of all, relax, take a deep breath and slow down.

This little guy is not ready for any styling right now. It looks like its healthy so far.

Haha, I guess my franticness was showing through my posts because I really do need to slow down.

And you said it's not ready for styling and then went on to say how I should possibly remove the stick and untie it at the top - so I'm a bit confused. Are you suggesting that I remove the stick/untie it and then leave it however it ends up? (If it sounds like I'm doubting you, I'm not haha. I'm just trying to make sure I understand everything).

But you will get more -- and possibly better-- responses if you post your pictures here on B-nut, rather than making people go off site to see the tree.

That's good and important to know, so thank you. Pictures of the roots, the bend, and the plant overall are below

 

[Paradox]

And you said it's not ready for styling and then went on to say how I should possibly remove the stick and untie it at the top - so I'm a bit confused. Are you suggesting that I remove the stick/untie it and then leave it however it ends up? (If it sounds like I'm doubting you, I'm not haha. I'm just trying to make sure I understand
View attachment 40222View attachment 40223View attachment 40224

That is what I would do if it were mine. It was staked and tied up. It obviously doesn't want to grow that way or it would not have to be tied and staked up. Its a suggestion, others may have a different opinion. Its your tree, and its ultimately your decision.