Juniper Shohin

[benbonsai]

Hi all.

Would just like to share some photos of the first bonsai I purchased to get some feedback (positive or negative) on the way in which I have styled the tree.
First I didn't really know what I was doing and recently I have been doing some research and decided to bend it and reduce its height.
As you can see from the photos it now looks more compact and the pads are closer together with a more traditional bowing style.

I would to know what people think and if anyone has any suggestions I would love to hear them.

Thanks

[benbonsai]

any ideas or thoughts would help. Am I on the right track?

[Mbunro]

hi ben,

im definitely just a newbie myself, but i think what you have done does look better

Your wiring definitely needs some work though,
another member sent me this link in response to a similar tree of mine that i posted awhile back, definitely worth having a read.
http://www.bonsaiexperience.com/BonsaiStyle3.html
i dont think your wiring would be doing any harm though but one small suggestion i have is to rewire that bottom right branch the way it is shown in the link and try bring the branch down fair bit more. id probably also try choose one of the top left branches and tilt upwards to become the new leader.
other than that just let it recover and get healthy, and it should be fine

Like i said though im just a newbie so it could be best to ignore this.

Good luck
Bryce,

[benbonsai]

Thanks for your reply and suggestions Bryce.
I do acknowledge that I need to work on my wiring technique, it can be quite tricky haha.
And as for the top branch becoming a leader... I have already done this, so I can get a kind of canopy going on the top rather that just foliage pads sticking out.

[kcpoole]

Nothing wrong with what you have achieved and much better than what you started with.
Wiring is OK as it work and no need to worry too much. It will improve with practice. Do not fret over it, as you see more trees in wire, look closely and you will learn heaps.

I actually like to refer people to the wiki here rather than offsite as most info is already covered and the links never go bad
https://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... onsai_wire
back to yor tree, just define the pads as they grow and wire them if needed.

Ken

[benbonsai]

Thanks for your reply ken
Not too worried about wiring. Like you said it will improve with practice.
Thanks for your thoughts

[bodhidharma]

I reckon this has potential for Literati style B.B. My suggestion would be to study the mentioned style and head into that direction. I would not cut off any branches that are too low but learn how to deadwood (Jin) them. Source a smaller round pot and repot it in a few years.

[benbonsai]

Okay thanks for the advice.
Will definitely do some research.

[Mbunro]

Thanks for your reply and suggestions Bryce.
I do acknowledge that I need to work on my wiring technique, it can be quite tricky haha.
And as for the top branch becoming a leader... I have already done this, so I can get a kind of canopy going on the top rather that just foliage pads sticking out.

Ha no worries Ben...
i bought a few sacrificial junipers on the edge of death, think it was 5 for 20 dollars or something, for the sole purpose of wiring practice...
didn't expect any to live but 1 did and its become one of my favorite little trees..

[benbonsai]

If I could find a bargain like that I would use them for practice for sure.

[benbonsai]

Update

I have decided to squash it some more and really work the trunk.
Just need to let the leader grow out and provide some more branches to fill out the top.
It now sits at 190mm tall from the soil.

[Watto]

It is better now and on track. It does need some time to rest and grow for a season or two as part of its journey. Fertilizer, water and TLC over the next 12 months and then evaluate it then.

[benbonsai]

Yep, im happy with it now so its time to let it settle and grow some more.

[adge0001]

Hi Ben,

You've really given it a good smashing. When you take that much foliage off, you're really prolonging the often painfully slow growing rates. I say painfully slow, because when you're starting out in bonsai, you want to trim it every weekend.

Foliage feeds the roots which feed the growth of more foliage. Just remember that every time you take something off you are slowing it down. Junipers don't take too kindly to massive foliage removal.... they take a while to catch up.

Having said that, you made a good move compressing the trunk. Junipers are vary rarely straight in their natural environment. Although I can't see the curving as well as I'd like, it looks a little unnatural. A spiral-like curve isn't desired in a high quality trunk. Try to move it in different directions as it moves up. Remember to view it from the front when you style it. [CLINKING BEER MUGS]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bonsaeen]

I am complete noob and can't really add anything useful to the conversation but just wanted to say you have inspired me. I have a juniper which according to the nursery i bought it from, is about 3 years of age. I thought once the tree is that old you can't wire and train it but i was wrong and now after seeing what you have achieved, I am going to start on my juniper. I want to achieve a windswept style with it so let's see.

How long did it take from the initial phase to the current form? Also did you use copper or aluminium wire? Thanks