AusBonsai

Hi Guys, I picked this Juni up from Bonsai sensation a couple of weeks ago. It had a straight section in the middle which could be an issue I took it along to a club work shop with Craig Wilson. After some advice (thanks Craig) it is looking much better, even hid the straight section What it should look like.. All comments welcome

Josh

Forgot the measurements.

Hey Mate.

Neat tree with lovely trunk movement. Personally, I'd reduce that low branch and rotate it a bit. Also reduce the bottom right branch or move it more to the back. Something like this . . . . scuse the shocking virt! You could even remove the entire bottom right hand foliage mass to show off the trunk it is hiding.
Cheers,

Andrew

Andrew Legg wrote:Hey Mate.

Neat tree with lovely trunk movement. Personally, I'd reduce that low branch and rotate it a bit. Also reduce the bottom right branch or move it more to the back. Something like this . . . . scuse the shocking virt! You could even remove the entire bottom right hand foliage mass to show off the trunk it is hiding.

1.jpg

Cheers,

Andrew

On the money Andy !!! otherwise well done ! to this point.

I think what we are noticing is that there are three strong areas competing for attention - the top, the right, and the long tail. Another way to focus attention might be to reduce the density of the top, and maybe the right. For me, the angle of the long tail going down is more or less the same as the angle on the trunk coming up out of the ground (except opposite - is that confusing?) - I'm wondering whether the tail could be lifted out a little, or funked up with some angles, so it's angle doesn't look as similar to the trunk. I guess I'm saying that the tail is the feature of the tree - cutting it off might make a tidier, denser tree, but it might also lose its character.

It's a good start - plenty to think about.

Gavin

Thanks guys for the comments. I like your virt Andrew but I'm not sure there is enough taper in it to acheive a good tree like that (especially without the taiol). Also there is a very straight section after the bend at the top of the trunk. The photo as usual doesn't really do it justice as some of the pads seem to blend together when in fact they are quite seperate. I do agree Gavin there seems to almost be to much competing for attention. My aim was to refine the crown and develope the tail into larger more pronounced pads. Might have to rethink it. The straight section is about an inch thick, what would it take to bend it??? Could it be bent or is it to thick.
I think it is a really good base tree but I need to find it's direction and go for it. MMMMMMMMMMM

Thanks
Josh

G'day Josh

Mate I think Andrew is pretty much on the money also. The biggest problem with keeping the long tail branch is it makes the tree too big and the trunk appear too thin.The lack of taper and straight sections is typical of these Juni's because of how they are grown. Definitely not too thick to bend mate, just need to strap with raffia and some guy wires and possibly a bar to assist with the bending for leverage. You could increase the bends at the top to make the tree more compact and keep the layers.

Tony

Just another worth. All I can say is what I would do with it if it were mine. I like the virt that Andrew did but I would tilt the tree about 45 deg to the right and increase the bend in the trunk until the foliage pads are horizontal again. At the moment it looks as though it is about to fall over to the left. In the first pics it is neither a cascade nor an informal upright, it needs to be decided which style it is. It has great potential though.

Hi Hack, I agree it is neither cascade or informal upright. What about this for a radical idea I'm not in a hurry so will sit and ponder some more before I do anything, maybe grow on for a bit and watch for that perfect tree hiding in there. Thanks for your comments everyone as it is giving me ideas and courage to do something with it.

Josh

reckon the apex needs to be a lot closer to trunk centre

Hi Josh
I have taken your marked up pic and virtually bent them where you suggested. Changed the potting angle to the right and removed a heap of foliage.
I think the apex was Regrown too

Ken

Bingo, Ken. Now all it needs are some virt roots to keep it alive. If only it were that easy in reality.

kcpoole wrote:Hi Josh
I have taken your marked up pic and virtually bent them where you suggested. Changed the potting angle to the right and removed a heap of foliage.
I think the apex was Regrown too

Ken

Are you sure that's my tree ken

After looking at the tree for the last 3 hours I think I found a new front and it fits well with your ideas. It needs 1 major bend and maybe a graft of a new branch but I think it works well. What do ya think

Josh

Hackimoto wrote:Bingo, Ken. Now all it needs are some virt roots to keep it alive. If only it were that easy in reality.

So easy to play with Virts and see what might be possible. As you allude, some aspects of the horticulture part of Bonsai may stop us doing things we want to with our trees , but we can only try.

Yes Kids and all, it is your tree I just rotated each of the branches to put the bends where you had them. Given enough wire and Wrapping ( and assuming I have not underestimated the size of the trunk), the bends should be doable.