the tree that gave me the bug, needs some love

[micka01]

this is the first "bonsai" i ever owned the culprit for countless hours of reading and reaserch, and the reason i now have virtually no backyard for entertaining, only any good for entertaining myself...u understand no doubt.

it lived in a 15cm oval pot for the first few weeks( as it was bought as a pressie 4 a birthday) was potted on to the grow on pot soon after, where it has stayed for the last at least 6 years!!

i'm thinking of re-potting her when the time is right, obviously not now.

i would like to lighten it up a little and let more light in to promote some new usable growth, however i feel i'm to attached to the tree to be harsh enough to do it justice.

could some 1 do a quick virt on 1 of the pics with some red lines that u think should go, dont want to completly chop the tree at this stage just a quick tidy up

any comments or advice happily taken with no offence.
my juniper knowledge is very limited

i can take mor specific pic's if u would like, just ask

TY MICKA

[parabola]

So much potential for a nice cascade there!

[micka01]

i doubt it will ever be a full cascade.

a nice semi definate possability, but full highly unlikely. i havent got the time/patience to let it grow enough but u never know.

[cuwire]

Hi Mika

Must be great to have a piece like this with personal history.

Long tooth bonsaiers may smile but for me 6 years would be a joy.

This will be interesting - hope you can post as you proceed.

Cheers
David

[micka01]

yeah i realise it's far from a bonsai but as u say its got history which makes her important to me.

i thought i'd get more of a response than i have so far but i guess it is a bit of a noob piece

realy just want to thin out the tail more than anything, establish some open space and allow the remaining branches 2 fill out a little. more of a pe-initial styling something that leaves me options for the future. not a cut here and re-grow. which has been tempting from day 1 with the first branch or 2( the person who bought it 4 me checks in on it from time 2 time and would b shattered if gave it a REAL chop) slow and steady for this 1 maybe then they wont notice over time its shrunk dramaticly.

[bodhidharma]

Here you go mick, this one started out exactly like yours.

[micka01]

wow now thats insperational.

and it started out like mine u say, if only i could pull it off, at least iv'e got plenty of time to learn/train.

[Ozmad]

hi Mick
here's a ruff virtual for you, as i'm not that good at virtual's. The picture which bodhidharma has post is the way i was thinking of going. I left the 2 branches on the right side, as these will be your sacrifice branches. They will help to get the main trunk to thicken. Once the main trunk has thickened so it has a good taper then remove them. This will also keep your friend happy for the fact you haven't chopped the tree majorly

[kcpoole]

Hey Mick nice start

I was looking at this earlier and was going to suggest something like bodhi has posted

Get some Wire on the tail and put some movement in it.
Pick a branch on the outside of the bends and remove the rest. Wire those branches so the move out rather than up to start the foliage pads forming. Pinch them back to develop denser growth.

Remove the branches and foliage on the RHS side of the top as they all flow the wrong way


Not hard and you can aave a decent looking tree like bodhis' on a shortish time too

ps, When I say yours, i thought it was the "Last Mohicans" scalp

Ken

[micka01]

thanks for ur time ozmad

after seeing bodhi's tree i cant think of anything else..truly insperational

i like your rough virt and the explanations that go with it...cheers

ive been looking at this tree for 5+ years and couldn't work it out....i've been trying 2 retain the first 2 right hand branches.

makes damn good sence what u say.

TODAYS NEW WORDS: SACRIFICE BRANCHES.....hardly a new concept 2 me but couldnt come up with it maybe its a juni thing....still scared of them in a way.

hindsight is a marvelous thing. and experiance is even better (thanks guys)

KC: i'll wire the tail like u say and prob just reduce the offending RHS branches 4 now

[kcpoole]

No worries and a good plan
The other branches down the tail will help thicken and age it while the grow so can be done anytime when you are ready

The other possibility will be to use the branches on the right, and chop the tail off to make an informal upright tree.

Either way you cannot have both the tail and the branches on the right as they "fight" with each other

Ken

[bodhidharma]

And do not forget your tip finger pruning. A must for a Juni to develop. Mine is tip pruned every 4-6 weeks.

[Mojo Moyogi]

Hi Mick, she is a blank canvas, there are dozens of options in there.

The trees below were all similar young material to yours (although a lot smaller) before thinning, wiring and a quick refinement.

shohin-juniper-cascade-01-large.jpg

shohin juniper cascade 02.jpg

Mini-Juniper-cascade-01-large.jpg

Cheers,
Mojo

[Mitchell]

"i guess it is a bit of a noob piece"

Bah!! No such thing.
If you were within' arms reach I'd smack you ova the back of your head. Just lightly that is...


Your patience is astounding, I wish I had that quality. Continue with it and you shall achieve the tree you desire.

Keep us posted.


Oh, forgot. Your tree is identical to the first tree, I ever posted here. I'll try and find the link.

[micka01]

awesome my first virtual slap across the back of the head

starting 2 feel at home

thanks 2 all who have posted, i truly appreciate the knowledge and exp....

spent an hour or so wiring a few branches into better posies...opend it up heaps for light

attempted 2 wire the tail with the largest wire i had.....fail.....wouldnt hold.....conclusion i need bigger wire simple

thinned down the 2 branches on the RHS a little, so they are not incroaching on any of the more permanent foilage/branches development

looks a little funny at the mo, guess i'm just so used to it looking the way it did, will take after shots if i can find said bigger wire 2morro, after a little bending naturally.

all in all what i have done will greatly increase the amount of light it gets internaly which has 2 b a good thing and what i set out to achieve 2day

keep u posted

cheers Micka