Hi MJL,
I do not have much experience with Sargent/Shimpaku Junipers,
This is my first attempt at playing with one and have found it to back bud OK.
Now that it has been re-potted and showing good signs of health my plan is to let it grow freely until mid spring then cut it back again to try and further push back budding closer to the trunk.
Neglected and overgrown Juniper
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Re: Neglected and overgrown Juniper
MJL,
Shimpaku and many other junipers do bud on old wood when they are growing well but if you prune hard leaving only bare branches they don't seem to sprout new buds reliably. New shoots grow best when there's plenty of light. When I need new inner buds I usually prune the ends but leave a good amount of green foliage to keep the sap flowing but reduce the strongly growing tips then feed and water well so the tree is strong. Sooner or later you should get buds, usually at the base of smaller branches. When they have started to grow well you can prune the longer old branches and start to grow new pads from the fresh buds. It will take time but works quite well as you can see from the pictures in this thread.
Cedrus deodar is much more reluctant to bud on bare wood. Occasionally it will but don't prune to bare wood expecting new shoots.
I don't grow chamaecyparis so not really sure about how it back buds.
Shimpaku and many other junipers do bud on old wood when they are growing well but if you prune hard leaving only bare branches they don't seem to sprout new buds reliably. New shoots grow best when there's plenty of light. When I need new inner buds I usually prune the ends but leave a good amount of green foliage to keep the sap flowing but reduce the strongly growing tips then feed and water well so the tree is strong. Sooner or later you should get buds, usually at the base of smaller branches. When they have started to grow well you can prune the longer old branches and start to grow new pads from the fresh buds. It will take time but works quite well as you can see from the pictures in this thread.
Cedrus deodar is much more reluctant to bud on bare wood. Occasionally it will but don't prune to bare wood expecting new shoots.
I don't grow chamaecyparis so not really sure about how it back buds.
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- MJL
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Re: Neglected and overgrown Juniper
Thanks for the response Shibui - much appreciated.
Tending bonsai teaches me patience.
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Re: Neglected and overgrown Juniper
shibui wrote:MJL,
Shimpaku and many other junipers do bud on old wood when they are growing well but if you prune hard leaving only bare branches they don't seem to sprout new buds reliably. New shoots grow best when there's plenty of light. When I need new inner buds I usually prune the ends but leave a good amount of green foliage to keep the sap flowing but reduce the strongly growing tips then feed and water well so the tree is strong. Sooner or later you should get buds, usually at the base of smaller branches. When they have started to grow well you can prune the longer old branches and start to grow new pads from the fresh buds. It will take time but works quite well as you can see from the pictures in this thread.
Cedrus deodar is much more reluctant to bud on bare wood. Occasionally it will but don't prune to bare wood expecting new shoots.
I don't grow chamaecyparis so not really sure about how it back buds.
Hi Shibui,
What would you use for foliar feeding (shimpaku and junipers in general)
Thanks for your time!!
Nature does always better!
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Re: Neglected and overgrown Juniper
I don't actually aim for foliar feeding Rolf. I do water soluble fertiliser onto the plants and some does get on the foliage but I'm actually aiming to get it into the pot where the roots can take up the nutrients. I also use controlled release fert in the mix and occasionally solid fert pellets on the surface of the mix. All my trees get the same fertiliser at the same rate at the same time except for banksias which don't usually get the Thrive.
From that you can infer that I use a range of fertilisers. It does not matter which ones because the plants cannot read the labels. All they are interested in are the nutrients and all fertilisers have nutrients so it does not matter which ones you use as long as it is a 'complete' fertiliser meaning it has a wide range of all the nutrients. Most of the fertilisers sold these days have all the nutrients plants need so any will do. No need to overthink it
I do tend to use a range of different fertilisers in rotation just in case one is lacking in a particular element. I like a varied diet and I like to give the same to my plants.
If you are interested I use any or all of these: Osmocote, Powerfeed, Thrive, Chook poo pellets (dynamic lifter, rooster booster, organic life, etc) and occasional doses of the liquid from my worm farm. I use these, not because they are the best, rather because I can get them easily. I use these at the rates prescribed on the package and try to apply one or another every 2-3 weeks while plants have leaves.
From that you can infer that I use a range of fertilisers. It does not matter which ones because the plants cannot read the labels. All they are interested in are the nutrients and all fertilisers have nutrients so it does not matter which ones you use as long as it is a 'complete' fertiliser meaning it has a wide range of all the nutrients. Most of the fertilisers sold these days have all the nutrients plants need so any will do. No need to overthink it
I do tend to use a range of different fertilisers in rotation just in case one is lacking in a particular element. I like a varied diet and I like to give the same to my plants.
If you are interested I use any or all of these: Osmocote, Powerfeed, Thrive, Chook poo pellets (dynamic lifter, rooster booster, organic life, etc) and occasional doses of the liquid from my worm farm. I use these, not because they are the best, rather because I can get them easily. I use these at the rates prescribed on the package and try to apply one or another every 2-3 weeks while plants have leaves.
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Re: Neglected and overgrown Juniper
I cut this one back a little more to further encourage backbudding,
Lets see what the next 12 months brings for this little guy.
Lets see what the next 12 months brings for this little guy.
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Re: Neglected and overgrown Juniper
The tree is definitely in better health now, well done.
Should turn out to be a nice bonsai with that trunk!
Should turn out to be a nice bonsai with that trunk!
Slow and steady wins the race
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Re: Neglected and overgrown Juniper
good progress mate! wire on the cards this year?
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