fused juniper squamata, ispired by anntal :D

Post photo's of your bonsai under-construction for discussion and inspiration.
User avatar
Jamie
Bonsai passionardo
Bonsai passionardo
Posts: 6829
Joined: August 21st, 2009, 8:08 pm
Favorite Species: CLERO!!!,ficus, celtis, juniper, elms
Bonsai Age: 9
Bonsai Club: AUSBONSAI.COM
Location: queensland, Hervey Bay
Been thanked: 2 times
Contact:

fused juniper squamata, ispired by anntal :D

Post by Jamie »

hey guys, this is my mornings work, i picked up a small juniper today from a loacal standard nursery that is now starting to get into some bonsai stuff, mostly starters and such but the owner who i know quite well had one there waiting for me, he was gonna give me a call but i popped in before he had the chance :D
when i got there i walked straight past it not even knowing it was there for me bocause it had sold on it, i also picked up a couple of other trees but thats for another time.
when i got to the counter to pay for the others he asked me if i spotted the tree he had waiting for me with the sold sticker on it, as i took a quick glance over it i seen some potential then it hit me :idea: i had a couple of small juniper squamata seedlings at home and this was the time to use them as i was just waiting for them to grow on. the fusing technique that anntal posted a while back here is the link viewtopic.php?f=38&t=1154&hilit=juniper+squamata+3 this is what gave me the idea!

so my methods i used was reasonably simple although this technique i reccommend having some one to help as some parts can be quite awkward.

first was just looking at the trees to figure out which ones will go where and how to wrap them, after working it out i prepared everything so i wasnt rushing around trying to find everything as i went.
had my soil mix ready to go, grafting tape, zip ties, sprayer to keep the roots moist, tools, and the camera!

next was a bare rooting session, i bare rooted each one seperatly and misted the roots well to keep them moist.

now here is the trickier part, it was wrapping the trees around each other so they were close enough to touch and fuse, i did this by meself hence the awkwardness. getting all three together at the base then wrapping reasonably tight but not too tight with grafting tape slowly working my way up the tree, then a zip tie to hold them in well was used, getting a bit further up where the foliage started i had to trim some of the foliage where the trunks meet in order to get good fusing of the trunks!
trimming and then wrapping with graft tape, and a zip tie to hold it was the process, in all it took me about an hour to get them together nicely to where i was happy with it, i was constantly spraying the roots to keep them moist so they didnt dry out.(as you can see from the pics the root mas wasnt huge but had a fair amount of feeder roots, i didnt do any root pruning or removal, just raked them out and placed them so they are radiating from the trunk. and i placed a piece of tile under the tree so that they wouldnt grow down at first they have to grow out :D

using a soil mix that is free draining is quite important yet it still needs to hold moisture, i use a propagating mix that a local nursery sells in bulk, a mix of a potting type soil and sharp sand, i add into that peat moss and some slow release fert pellets, the peat moss works quite well in retaining moisture yet it still allows water to drain from the soil, the mix is about 60%pot soil, 20%sand, 20% peat. this has worked quite well for me with my junipers in the past :D

after potting up and using a chopstick to work soil between the roots and being happy with where it sat, a good water in and some seasol mix i am quite happy with the result for now. styling will take place later down the track as i want to leave the tree for now to get some nice strong growth.

using this proces it has increased the size of the trunk at the base from half an inch to well over an inch, i intend on this tree being of shohin size, i will most likely be airlayering the top section of or using it as jin :D or both

thanks for the inspiration Antonio :D :D

regards jamie :D
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
SHOHIN YAKUZA!!!
:twisted: taking the top half of trees of since 2005! :twisted:
and growing trees for the future generations! 50+ year plans :D
User avatar
Jamie
Bonsai passionardo
Bonsai passionardo
Posts: 6829
Joined: August 21st, 2009, 8:08 pm
Favorite Species: CLERO!!!,ficus, celtis, juniper, elms
Bonsai Age: 9
Bonsai Club: AUSBONSAI.COM
Location: queensland, Hervey Bay
Been thanked: 2 times
Contact:

Re: fused juniper squamata, ispired by anntal :D

Post by Jamie »

just to give you an idea of where i am thinking of going with this tree you first need to see where the trunk line is, i have do a quick virt to show you the details with coloured lines to show the trunks.

red-main trunk, biggest tree
blue-second biggest tree, the one in the middle of the three candidates picture
yellow-smallest tree, the one on the right of the candidates picture
purple- is my intended position to cut later down the track to bring the height of the tree down.

after the reduction is done down the track which will probly be an air layer (just because i havent done them before and i dont like wasting stuff) and i will try keep a bit of the trunk for the use of jin, the cut might be done up higher if needed:D

and i do intend on wiring the fused trees up a bit, one will probly be a new leader of sorts, the other will create branching, hopefully :D

well people. let me know what ya all think, comments, critisism, advice is always welcomed and appreciated :D

regards jamie:D
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Last edited by Jamie on October 10th, 2009, 3:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
SHOHIN YAKUZA!!!
:twisted: taking the top half of trees of since 2005! :twisted:
and growing trees for the future generations! 50+ year plans :D
MasonC
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 542
Joined: July 1st, 2009, 8:10 pm
Bonsai Age: 8
Bonsai Club: None

Re: fused juniper squamata, ispired by anntal :D

Post by MasonC »

nice stuff Jamie! Even if they were singular they would have been nice but this shoudl make an AWESOME! plant.
User avatar
Jamie
Bonsai passionardo
Bonsai passionardo
Posts: 6829
Joined: August 21st, 2009, 8:08 pm
Favorite Species: CLERO!!!,ficus, celtis, juniper, elms
Bonsai Age: 9
Bonsai Club: AUSBONSAI.COM
Location: queensland, Hervey Bay
Been thanked: 2 times
Contact:

Re: fused juniper squamata, ispired by anntal :D

Post by Jamie »

thanks mate :D

and yes originally i was going to grow them on and do them individually but i think this is a much better way of using them and it should make for some very interesting different material :D
SHOHIN YAKUZA!!!
:twisted: taking the top half of trees of since 2005! :twisted:
and growing trees for the future generations! 50+ year plans :D
User avatar
anttal63
Bend me twist me
Bend me twist me
Posts: 5325
Joined: November 11th, 2008, 12:32 pm
Bonsai Age: 14
Bonsai Club: MYCLUB
Been thanked: 2 times

Re: fused juniper squamata, ispired by anntal :D

Post by anttal63 »

good for you for having a go jamie well done. there's many ways to skin this cat, no right or wrong, just all will produce interesting and hopefully fantastic results. i look forward to it mate! ;) :D
Regards Antonio:
sreeve
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 421
Joined: November 14th, 2008, 11:28 pm
Favorite Species: Figs & Azaleas
Bonsai Age: 25
Bonsai Club: Central Coast Bonsai Club
Location: NSW
Has thanked: 20 times
Been thanked: 25 times

Re: fused juniper squamata, ispired by anntal :D

Post by sreeve »

Antonio, playing it right back at you......

YOU DA MAN :lol:
All jokes aside, you always provide good insipiration even if your pots sometimes are a bit funky :D :D
Regards
Steve
Last edited by sreeve on October 10th, 2009, 5:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
anttal63
Bend me twist me
Bend me twist me
Posts: 5325
Joined: November 11th, 2008, 12:32 pm
Bonsai Age: 14
Bonsai Club: MYCLUB
Been thanked: 2 times

Re: fused juniper squamata, ispired by anntal :D

Post by anttal63 »

sreeve wrote:Antonio, playing it right back at you......

YOU DA MAN :lol:
All jokes aside, you always provide good insipiration even if your pots sometimes are a bit funky :D :D
Regards
Steve

:oops: oh shucks thanks steve :D
Regards Antonio:
User avatar
Jamie
Bonsai passionardo
Bonsai passionardo
Posts: 6829
Joined: August 21st, 2009, 8:08 pm
Favorite Species: CLERO!!!,ficus, celtis, juniper, elms
Bonsai Age: 9
Bonsai Club: AUSBONSAI.COM
Location: queensland, Hervey Bay
Been thanked: 2 times
Contact:

Re: fused juniper squamata, ispired by anntal :D

Post by Jamie »

anttal63 wrote:good for you for having a go jamie well done. there's many ways to skin this cat, no right or wrong, just all will produce interesting and hopefully fantastic results. i look forward to it mate! ;) :D
thanks mate, it was your trees that inspired me to give it a crack, and im sure no matter what this one i have done will come out interesting.
it seems any tree done in this fashion seems to have a lot of options!
pretty happy with the results so far, not its time to feed feed feed!

regards jamie

ps. i cant wait to see it a bit later down the track too :D :D :D :roll: :D :D :D
SHOHIN YAKUZA!!!
:twisted: taking the top half of trees of since 2005! :twisted:
and growing trees for the future generations! 50+ year plans :D
sreeve
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 421
Joined: November 14th, 2008, 11:28 pm
Favorite Species: Figs & Azaleas
Bonsai Age: 25
Bonsai Club: Central Coast Bonsai Club
Location: NSW
Has thanked: 20 times
Been thanked: 25 times

Re: fused juniper squamata, ispired by anntal :D

Post by sreeve »

oh shucks thanks steve
Gee Whiz...how do I retract a post - I just realised you are a southern cousin :lol:
User avatar
Jamie
Bonsai passionardo
Bonsai passionardo
Posts: 6829
Joined: August 21st, 2009, 8:08 pm
Favorite Species: CLERO!!!,ficus, celtis, juniper, elms
Bonsai Age: 9
Bonsai Club: AUSBONSAI.COM
Location: queensland, Hervey Bay
Been thanked: 2 times
Contact:

Re: fused juniper squamata, ispired by anntal :D

Post by Jamie »

oh! the other thing i was gonna say- i know its a long way off a bonsai pot for now, but i was thinking some sort of free form pot, any ideas or advice would be great, even some pics of pots if you have some half moon, or half egg shapes maybe? might suit something a little bit more open but i am intending on having a fair bit of deadwood on top so it might suit being a little bit enclosed :D


regards jamie :D
SHOHIN YAKUZA!!!
:twisted: taking the top half of trees of since 2005! :twisted:
and growing trees for the future generations! 50+ year plans :D
User avatar
Jamie
Bonsai passionardo
Bonsai passionardo
Posts: 6829
Joined: August 21st, 2009, 8:08 pm
Favorite Species: CLERO!!!,ficus, celtis, juniper, elms
Bonsai Age: 9
Bonsai Club: AUSBONSAI.COM
Location: queensland, Hervey Bay
Been thanked: 2 times
Contact:

Re: fused juniper squamata, ispired by anntal :D

Post by Jamie »

this is the tree that i am matching up with the post of mine with cresent pots, i have drawn up a design where i will probly head with the tree as i have used the actual lines of the trunk and where the foliage will be :D, also for down the track, obviously a few years, i am trying to figure what sort of pot this one would suit, hence the post for cresent pots because i think something like that or freeform or a leaf shape would work well. so if the people interested in this thread could comment on my vision that would be greatly appreciated. advice and critique is always welcomed! :D

regards jamie :D
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
SHOHIN YAKUZA!!!
:twisted: taking the top half of trees of since 2005! :twisted:
and growing trees for the future generations! 50+ year plans :D
User avatar
NathanM
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1010
Joined: January 6th, 2009, 8:26 am
Favorite Species: ficus, taxodium, pinus
Bonsai Age: 0
Location: Brisbane
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: fused juniper squamata, ispired by anntal :D

Post by NathanM »

Nice drawing dude! I don't think i could sketch a design taht well!!
The only thing I'm not sure about with that design is the second branch (first one with foliage), how it crosses the frunk.
I really like the use of dead wood though, and if the nebari can look that good (cause it is a juni afterall!!), I'll be very happy!!
Nice work on it all dude, it's given me some inspiration to do something similar very soon ^_^
User avatar
bodhidharma
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 5007
Joined: August 13th, 2009, 1:14 pm
Favorite Species: English Elm
Bonsai Age: 24
Bonsai Club: goldfields
Location: Daylesford, Victoria....Central Highlands
Been thanked: 11 times
Contact:

Re: fused juniper squamata, ispired by anntal :D

Post by bodhidharma »

Nice work Jamie.i Have never tried what you are doing on junipers and i am looking forward to progress reports. If it survives, and hopefully it will, i will be the first to have a crack.
"Advice is rarely welcome, and the one's who need it the most welcome it the least"
User avatar
anttal63
Bend me twist me
Bend me twist me
Posts: 5325
Joined: November 11th, 2008, 12:32 pm
Bonsai Age: 14
Bonsai Club: MYCLUB
Been thanked: 2 times

Re: fused juniper squamata, ispired by anntal :D

Post by anttal63 »

hey bodhi my junis are testiment of survival so get crakn! :D
Regards Antonio:
User avatar
bodhidharma
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 5007
Joined: August 13th, 2009, 1:14 pm
Favorite Species: English Elm
Bonsai Age: 24
Bonsai Club: goldfields
Location: Daylesford, Victoria....Central Highlands
Been thanked: 11 times
Contact:

Re: fused juniper squamata, ispired by anntal :D

Post by bodhidharma »

Yep. Missed the view topic in Jamies thread. After reading your article i am more informed. Do you have any update pictures?
"Advice is rarely welcome, and the one's who need it the most welcome it the least"
Post Reply

Return to “Bonsai Progression Series”