Tosho or no Tosho?

[Quince]

I collected this juniper growing about 200 feet from my back door. At first I assumed that it was a squirrel plant from J. Communis seed I collected a few years ago, but now that I have handled it the junipers looking and feeling more like J. rigida, the Japanese Needle Juniper. Either way it's going to take pretty intensive aftercare as it was growing inches off my neighbors foundation in very dry soil, so few feeder roots in the top 10". I'm planing to keep it in a sheltered spot, maybe 3 hours of sun, and misting twice per day. Anything else I should be doing to increase chances of survival?

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Sure looks like J. rigida to me; healthy too. They're thirsty trees. Lots of feed, sun & water. Don't prune for a while, let it get a good head of steam before you start working on it. Read Peter Tea's blog on tosho, lots of good stuff there.
https://peterteabonsai.wordpress.com/2011/08/08/tosho-part-1/
https://peterteabonsai.wordpress.com/2011/08/08/tosho-part-2/

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I am a big believer in humidity tents to protect from wind and reduce the pressure on the new/weak roots. Another "trick" I have use to good effect is that when transplanting large landscape junipers in the wrong season, you can cover the foliage in burlap (single layer) and it accomplishes more or less the same thing - wind protection / sun protection. When you water, the burlap will stay moist for a couple of hours and (at least I believe) keep the relative humidity a little higher by the foliage.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

I definitely wouldn't tent it. It looks fine.

 

[Quince]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I had a small needle juniper up until last summer. Never remember it setting seed though. I will deffinitly try the burlap humidity tent thing. I have access to a spot with more sun, but I hesitate to place a burlap covered juniper out were I could offend someone.

 

[Quince]

I definitely wouldn't tent it. It looks fine.

Just saw your post. Do you think wrapping it could be harmful. I ask because the photo was taken within 12 hours of collection and may be a reflection of it's pre-collection health.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Just keep it well misted. Timing is good, tosho are repotted last in Japan.