AusBonsai

I don't really get in to Junipers and this is the only one I have. It was bought for me two years ago and I've probably cut 50% of it's branches off since then. I've considered many things for this one but I've been too timid to try them, any ideas?

(and it's been re-potted since this photo, same pot but now it sits lower and the soil isn't so mounded)

I just styled one almost exactly the same. My friend died a year ago and I have been looking after it for his wife for a bit. Been waiting for the right time to re-pot it. I felt it would be best to do early in the season to get it out of the crap soil. When i got it to the bench I thought I better give it a style as well.
I am not very advanced with junipers so I was thinking I had stuffed it a few times even at the end but now I look at it I am really starting to like it.
It is very important to find an interesting feature and work towards showing that off as best as possible. I have no idea what mine will look like in a picture but I will get one up soon for you to consider.

It is very important to find an interesting feature and work towards showing that off as best as possible. I have no idea what mine will look like in a picture but I will get one up soon for you to consider.

I just can't identify any key feature on this one. Informal upright junipers are a dime a dozen though so I wouldn't mind doing something to add a little wowness to it.

The photo's the real test isn't it, potentially heartbreaking.

Sorry to hear about your friend Brett.

Cheers.

The foliage is a bit dull I hope that will improve in the new soil. This was about the only enduring feature I could find on the tree to utilise. I did not think it appropriate to put this through fine wiring it is a bit hard to see what is going on so I did a quick virt to show the branch lines. Not a show stopper but I do feel this tree will become a worthwhile tree to care for now as it develops. Oh and sorry no before pics but it was very similar to yours!

teejay wrote: I just can't identify any key feature on this one. Informal upright junipers are a dime a dozen though so I wouldn't mind doing something to add a little wowness to it.


Cheers.

Try splitting the trunk, running wire up the split wrap it up, wire and bend the thing to hell and back....

Bring it in to the next meet or workshop mate, we will sort it out

Jarrod

Both trees in my opinion are way to tall. If you were to consider trunk ratio to height you are both wayyy off.
I would be inclined to lower them by at least half even two thirds. Then start working them for Shohin. As stated in the beginning JMHO pup

I would expect mine to be at the dainty end of the width to height ratio and at 12-15:1 that is about right.

Thank you Pup. I am glad it is not just me who sees excessive height in these trees. I think you can get away with it in a formal upright but the tree seems to have gotten away from the stylist. However, all that extra growth has thickened the trunk and once it is removed the lower foliage pads will develop nicely. Start flashing the sidecutters. Me, who could be nicknamed 'The Slasher' would reduce the tree by half and start styling from there.

Good luck and happy styling and look at this exercise as 'reducing the size of your collection'.

I agree that both shodu be shortened, Having said that, I have one that looks quite similar

It was the first tree I styled by myself, so a bit reluctant to do what needs to be done, but it haws been in a big pot for a couple of years and is thickening up quite a bit so I might just leave be

Ken

I have found people often notice what the future of a tree can look like when it has great taper but often fail to see a delicate trees future in the early stages. It can be the detail that gives the wow factor.
There are plenty of good examples of trees with this hieght ratio. When it comes to the mona lisa I think this is the style that compares.
Now mine is no mona lisa but it is not the hieght that is holding it back.

Hmmm ya reckon

If ya reckon otherwise you might have to elaborate. Why is the 12-15:1 ratio ok on these trees but mine has to be cut down?
I would say it is more to do with the lack of asymetrical balance and too much symetrical balance.

Bretts wrote:If ya reckon otherwise you might have to elaborate. Why is the 12-15:1 ratio ok on these trees but mine has to be cut down?
I would say it is more to do with the lack of asymetrical balance and too much symetrical balance.

Did you say you were trying for a bunjingi. If you did I cant find it in your or Teejays post any where.
You need to lose some branches if that is what is planned. That pot is not for a bunjingi just for growing on EH!
I will post some Shohin if you want. You know those ones with trunk ratio to height to make them look more dynamic.

teejay, looks similar to my juniper. I wonder what the future of its style will be. I too have received as a gift,and wonder what isnt quite right on about it. If you twisted and bent down the top part it would look just like mine.
cheers petra!