NEW BONSAI - Bought full grown and trimmed it up, how do I fix?

[DJ5505]

I just bought a full grown Juniper from Epcot in Florida, and got it shipped to me. It is the first bonsai I have ever owned so I am brand new to this, but I’ve been doing extensive research on how to properly maintain and take care of it. When I bought it I couldn’t see the branches clearly so I didn’t know how extensive the lack of maintenance was.

They cut the ends of each large branch off of the trunk so it can’t grow any larger. This makes it difficult to fix their mistakes.

Does anyone have any tips for fixing this juniper any further?

It was hard to fix but since they sold it with so much foliage everywhere, it was very difficult to clean up.

 

[Cable]

I don't think that's full grown...

Where do you live? That might seem irrelevant now but when the experts get in here they will want to know so they can customize advice.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Please fill out your profile so one can offer more direct advice...

I agree with above comment...this is far from fully grown.

 

[0soyoung]

They cut the ends of each large branch off of the trunk so it can’t grow any larger.

Glad you have an idea about apical meristems (branch tips). But with junipers, the tip of every little sprig of foliage is an apical meristem!!! So, not to worry; it will grow larger.

I was 'educated' about similar BS for pines. Not true.

Thimann and Skoog showed that if one removes the apical meristem (i.e., decapitates a branch) it removes the primary auxin source and releases buds below - more shoots (aka ramification). The remarkable thing is that roots behave the same way (but remarkably, not for the same reason) - cut the tips away and the roots will also branch! Very basic stuff for bonsai - you cannot make a bonsai without cutting it.

But, back to junipers ... Puzzle over it, think about it, read, think. It will make sense.op People say not to 'pinch' junipers, meaning don't remove all the foliage tips. Indeed, don't. But you've got to cut off tips to make a bonsai - how can that be? This sport is full of 'aha moments'.

Enjoy (of course, that is why you are participating).

btw, read everything you can on BNut about your interest. You'll find contradictions. Google/Google scholar can help you figure it out. If it is too much, try asking a stupid question. Most other people here are quite helpful.

 

[Adair M]

Glad you have an idea about apical meristems (branch tips). But with junipers, the tip of every little sprig of foliage is an apical meristem!!! So, not to worry; it will grow larger.

I was 'educated' about similar BS for pines. Not true.

Thimann and Skoog showed that if one removes the apical meristem (i.e., decapitates a branch) it removes the primary auxin source and releases buds below - more shoots (aka ramification). The remarkable thing is that roots behave the same way (but remarkably, not for the same reason) - cut the tips away and the roots will also branch! Very basic stuff for bonsai - you cannot make a bonsai without cutting it.

But, back to junipers ... Puzzle over it, think about it, read, think. It will make sense.op People say not to 'pinch' junipers, meaning don't remove all the foliage tips. Indeed, don't. But you've got to cut off tips to make a bonsai - how can that be? This sport is full of 'aha moments'.

Enjoy (of course, that is why you are participating).

btw, read everything you can on BNut about your interest. You'll find contradictions. Google/Google scholar can help you figure it out. If it is too much, try asking a stupid question. Most other people here are quite helpful.

Oso,

Apparently, you can’t understand the difference between “pinching”, and “cutting back”. And it has NOTHING to do with fingers vs scissors.

I’m not sure what BS you were educated about with pines. Some pines can be decandled, some can’t. Even those that can only need to be decandled once they reach refinement.

The OP doesn’t care a rats behind about auxin, and all that jumbo jumbo you go on about. What he needs is a little hand holding, with some one to educate him that all bonsai need to get cut back from time to time. That’s normal.

 

[0soyoung]

Oso,

Apparently, you can’t understand the difference between “pinching”, and “cutting back”. And it has NOTHING to do with fingers vs scissors.

Of course not. It has to do with continually removing all the apical meristems, which makes no sense until one understands some things that happen because of auxin signalling. There is a good reason to let the shoots extend and the foliage harden, regardless of the species.

I’m not sure what BS you were educated about with pines. Some pines can be decandled, some can’t. Even those that can only need to be decandled once they reach refinement.

The BS is that one cannot cut the tips from pines - the branch will die. It is BS and has nothing at all to do with decandling. The OPs lament about 'they cut the tips off and now it won't get any bigger' is very reminiscent of the BS I was fed long before I got interested in bonsai.

The OP doesn’t care a rats behind about auxin, and all that jumbo jumbo you go on about. What he needs is a little hand holding, with some one to educate him that all bonsai need to get cut back from time to time. That’s normal.

Actually he might. I know you don't.

How do you explain why one should let the shoots extend and the foliage harden? It is just 'a rule'?

As a great teacher, what do you do to arouse curiosity in your students? Or is your aim to just answer the question that was asked in the most rudimentary way?

 

[KiwiPlantGuy]

I just bought a full grown Juniper from Epcot in Florida, and got it shipped to me. It is the first bonsai I have ever owned so I am brand new to this, but I’ve been doing extensive research on how to properly maintain and take care of it. When I bought it I couldn’t see the branches clearly so I didn’t know how extensive the lack of maintenance was.

They cut the ends of each large branch off of the trunk so it can’t grow any larger. This makes it difficult to fix their mistakes.

Does anyone have any tips for fixing this juniper any further?

It was hard to fix but since they sold it with so much foliage everywhere, it was very difficult to clean up.

Hi DJ5505,
Welcome. I am no Bonsai expert, but I have a few of these Junipers about your size.
My opinion would be to plant your tree in some good potting (Bonsai ) soil in a nursery pot of say 3-5 litres. And leave it alone to grow roots and lots of growth for 1-3 years then after you have bought 10 more starters and more practice pruning and learning via research on this website, you will be ready to prune and style this one.
Why leave it alone? You learn how it grows, you learn how to water it and the other 10 without over or under watering. Then you have a bigger tree and maybe some design ideas too.

@Adair M , play fair man. I like your highly informative posts, but ....

Newbie post, NOT a post needing advice on advanced pruning strategies.

Good luck to the OP, as I hope you enjoy the ride as much as I have for the last year.
Charles

 

[leatherback]

They cut the ends of each large branch off of the trunk so it can’t grow any larger. This makes it difficult to fix their mistakes.

Nah, it is normal to do this. You let some branches grow really long. This will add thiickness to the trunk. Once the trunk has the size you want, you trim them back. You can create a yin our of the ends. But first make a plan. What is the image you have in mind. Take the actions from there. Just start pruning is a bad strategy and will eventualy lead to disappointment.

 

[sorce]

Gave You a like!

Now you are on your way to Stardom!

Back to Disneyworld? Land? Epcott, Florida, Sea World....blah blah....same shit. Could a had more fun for less money fishing!


You know what sucks about buying Bonsai on Vacation?

That's the last comfortable vacation you're ever going to take!

Now you're wife's going to have to drug you just to start planning for a vacation..
.
Let alone the daily handful of anti depressants you need every day, should you ever find yourself detached, and relying on an automated watering system.

Unless you start smoking God's Medicine of course.

Hopefully you live in Colorado....

Except then....you're going to fimd out the second worse thing about buying a Bonsai on vacation......

It going die!

Welcome to Crazy!

We're supposed to send Nana to Florida!
Not ship her back home!

Sorce