Juniper nursery stock in training (Newb)

[stick]

Hey

Im new to the forum but have been doing my own training and bonsai work for about 3 years now, just wanted to show you guys my newest creation i made today, i was bored and got it a week ago in not bad shape, abit on the dry side from being in constant sun i think, i also done some major pruning and the wiring i just wanted to see what everyones thoughts were on my results as ive only just started really, i dont have a before shot i totally forgot to take one as i was thinking i wouldnt do all of it

i was also wondering how long i should keep it in training? im not really after a fat trunk but all the advice would be great thanks again

[Mellenoire]

It's a bit hard to see in the pic but is that a bar branch at the top? I'd be hesitant to retain both branches as the tree develops. Perhaps if the topmost left branch was removed you would get better taper? This is from one newb to another though

[stick]

its tricky cause the tree wasnt being taken care of as well as normal, there was a previous big cut on the main branch going to the ones up the top
this is from the top

[stick]

im pretty happy with it, i want to get a nice green hat on her and then keep the side branches all in flow together

[The Hacker]

Hi Stick,

Well here we go & this is only my opinion BUT if it was mine & I won'ted a big fat trunk I'd take all the wire of & then take it out of that pot & put it into the ground for two 2 three year's & feed it like crazy other wise it will take you forever to get some size on that trunk the way it is & in the forth year you will have something that is much better to work on!! But that's only my worth

Regard's The Hacker

[Akamatsu]

Hi Stick,
You have made a good start on a tree with limited options. I think if you lower all the branches a little this will improve the design. Don’t be too fussy with branch placement. Just give each a nice sweeping graceful curve rising up a little at the tips. This will make a big difference and for now focus on the health of the tree. Even plant is in the grown like Hacker says.

[Trent McKenzie]

By "in training" I guess you mean the wire, (bonsai is lifelong training on all our trees) Take it off at the start of spring so it doesn't bite in, reapply in Autumn if it needs to be reworked.

Trent.

[stick]

By "in training" I guess you mean the wire, (bonsai is lifelong training on all our trees) Take it off at the start of spring so it doesn't bite in, reapply in Autumn if it needs to be reworked.

Trent.

Hey Trent and everyone,
Sorry yeah thats what a meant, and choosing the branches i wanted to keep, it had no decent sized branches on the bottom besides the left one which is what im kind of trying to figure out.

Hacker i cant do that unfortunatly mate as the house im in is a share house, or i might be able to find some spot in the corner somewhere i took it out of the pot and repotted it with good bonsai soil so i thought that would do till i figure out the shaping, btw this is my first personal juni i got on special, i have another one completely of too the side which is the one i really intend on doing something swish with, ill put some pictures of that one up tomorrow, this one was abit hard to figure out and i thought i would challenge myself, go straight to the hard bit so to speak

[The Hacker]

Hi Stick

Ok if that the case then get yourself a large polystyrene box from the supermarket & in the bottom put 50mm of 10mm minus then something a bit smaller & on top of that a 10mm layer of dynamic lifter then your bonsai mix then plant your tree cover the root's & then put 10mm of dynamic lifter on top & water twice a day & then stand back & watch it take of just make sure your soil is very open so that it drain's freely this will give you the same result as popping it in the ground, good luck & enjoy the journey as This bonsai thing is the best thing next to

Regard'sThe Hacker

[Pup]

I am sorry Stick, but what you have done is a classic example of taking off far to much foliage.
This tree is going to struggle to grow for sometime now. As foliage is the factory that supplies the nutrients to the tree.

You need to do what has been suggested, by putting it in a grow box.

It needs to be more compact to look like a tree, the branches need some tight curves to bring what little foliage you do have closer to the trunk. Next time try wiring the tree before you cut off the foliage, it is cheaper to waste wire than foliage. Wire you can buy tomorrow, branches and foliage take a lot lot longer to replace.

So time wasted in regrowing what was there is false economy. By the way I agree with Hacker, the next best thing too is Bonsai.
When I was a smoker I use to say the two best things in the world was a cigarette afterwards was one
Remember this is just my

Cheers Pup

[stick]

I am sorry Stick, but what you have done is a classic example of taking off far to much foliage.
This tree is going to struggle to grow for sometime now. As foliage is the factory that supplies the nutrients to the tree.

You need to do what has been suggested, by putting it in a grow box.

It needs to be more compact to look like a tree, the branches need some tight curves to bring what little foliage you do have closer to the trunk. Next time try wiring the tree before you cut off the foliage, it is cheaper to waste wire than foliage. Wire you can buy tomorrow, branches and foliage take a lot lot longer to replace.

So time wasted in regrowing what was there is false economy. By the way I agree with Hacker, the next best thing too is Bonsai.
When I was a smoker I use to say the two best things in the world was a cigarette afterwards was one
Remember this is just my

Cheers Pup

Hey Pup, you starting to scare me.. By compact im guessing your meaning branches need to be in more contact with the trunk?? these pics are really crap on my iphone, i did trim it but i left a fair bit of foliage, i did trim it back and cut some but only the dead looking and some branches (there were a few).. i left plenty of fresh new foliage there to grow back that you cant see as the pics are all dark, i took another pic of the second i received, they were both in roughly the same condition, i might leave this one until next year to wire it up and get it to strengthen up more, and im going to do what you said hacker thanks for all your help, advice on this second one would be more than great, it looks like its got some potential for the future but every time i look at it my face goes

that slight red mark indicates the main branch

[stick]

i also felt like it was a good idea to trim it back as the foliage on the inside was looking as if it wasnt getting anough energy and drying and the outer foilage was in fair condition, sorry if im sounding like a newb

[Pup]

i also felt like it was a good idea to trim it back as the foliage on the inside was looking as if it wasnt getting anough energy and drying and the outer foilage was in fair condition, sorry if im sounding like a newb

Again sorry, but even crappy pictures aside there is less than 50 percent foliage on those branches that are left. Which will take for ever to regrow, then you are young so it will be OK.


Also again my which appears not to be worth much.

[stick]

i also felt like it was a good idea to trim it back as the foliage on the inside was looking as if it wasnt getting anough energy and drying and the outer foilage was in fair condition, sorry if im sounding like a newb

Again sorry, but even crappy pictures aside there is less than 50 percent foliage on those branches that are left. Which will take for ever to regrow, then you are young so it will be OK.


Also again my which appears not to be worth much.

im listerning! i looked at the foliage again and your right, i guess ill have to just see how it goes now, i tried to wire it without pruning at the start also but it was messy, how long is forever judging by the pics i have on here pup
i might turn that weed into a bonsai aswell

[Pup]

i also felt like it was a good idea to trim it back as the foliage on the inside was looking as if it wasnt getting anough energy and drying and the outer foilage was in fair condition, sorry if im sounding like a newb

Again sorry, but even crappy pictures aside there is less than 50 percent foliage on those branches that are left. Which will take for ever to regrow, then you are young so it will be OK.


Also again my which appears not to be worth much.

im listerning! i looked at the foliage again and your right, i guess ill have to just see how it goes now, i tried to wire it without pruning at the start also but it was messy, how long is forever judging by the pics i have on here pup
i might turn that weed into a bonsai aswell

How old is the stock? at least that again, 10 years.