Neglected and overgrown Juniper

Discussions and pictures relating to bonsai under 25cm in height.
iliya
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 108
Joined: March 5th, 2012, 9:20 pm
Bonsai Age: 7
Bonsai Club: Contemporary Bonsai Group
Location: Sydney

Re: Neglected and overgrown Juniper

Post by iliya »

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.
shibui
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 7653
Joined: August 22nd, 2009, 8:41 pm
Favorite Species: trident maple
Bonsai Age: 41
Bonsai Club: Albury/Wodonga; BSV; Canberra; VNBC
Location: Yackandandah
Has thanked: 65 times
Been thanked: 1399 times
Contact:

Re: Neglected and overgrown Juniper

Post by shibui »

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.
http://shibuibonsai.com.au/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
User avatar
MJL
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 2840
Joined: October 26th, 2014, 8:47 pm
Favorite Species: Maples, Elms, Cedars and Pines
Bonsai Age: 7
Bonsai Club: Waverley Bonsai Group & Yarra Valley Bonsai Society
Location: Melbourne
Has thanked: 424 times
Been thanked: 643 times

Re: Neglected and overgrown Juniper

Post by MJL »

Thanks for the response Shibui - much appreciated.
Tending bonsai teaches me patience.
User avatar
Rolf
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 92
Joined: November 16th, 2011, 3:38 pm
Favorite Species: Pines, Junipers, Natives, Elms
Bonsai Age: 32
Bonsai Club: Bonsai Workshop Inc Perth WA, BSWA Perth WA
Location: Perth, WA
Has thanked: 2 times
Been thanked: 16 times

Re: Neglected and overgrown Juniper

Post by Rolf »

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!! :tu:
Nature does always better! ;)
shibui
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 7653
Joined: August 22nd, 2009, 8:41 pm
Favorite Species: trident maple
Bonsai Age: 41
Bonsai Club: Albury/Wodonga; BSV; Canberra; VNBC
Location: Yackandandah
Has thanked: 65 times
Been thanked: 1399 times
Contact:

Re: Neglected and overgrown Juniper

Post by shibui »

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.
http://shibuibonsai.com.au/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
iliya
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 108
Joined: March 5th, 2012, 9:20 pm
Bonsai Age: 7
Bonsai Club: Contemporary Bonsai Group
Location: Sydney

Re: Neglected and overgrown Juniper

Post by iliya »

I cut this one back a little more to further encourage backbudding,
Lets see what the next 12 months brings for this little guy.
31961572_10214263492294698_5605559442339790848_n.jpg
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
User avatar
benbonsai
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 438
Joined: October 2nd, 2016, 5:13 pm
Favorite Species: Juniper
Bonsai Age: 7
Location: Lake Macquarie, Newcastle NSW
Has thanked: 4 times
Been thanked: 25 times

Re: Neglected and overgrown Juniper

Post by benbonsai »

The tree is definitely in better health now, well done.
Should turn out to be a nice bonsai with that trunk!
Slow and steady wins the race
User avatar
BB Brian
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 232
Joined: April 3rd, 2017, 9:32 am
Favorite Species: Chinese Elm
Bonsai Age: 3
Bonsai Club: School of Bonsai
Location: Sydney
Has thanked: 5 times
Been thanked: 5 times
Contact:

Re: Neglected and overgrown Juniper

Post by BB Brian »

good progress mate! :clap: wire on the cards this year?
"Ambition without knowledge, is like boat on dry land" - Miyagi
IG: @bonsaibuzz #bonsaibuzz
The other Ryan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 38
Joined: January 5th, 2021, 4:29 pm
Bonsai Age: 0
Location: Canberra
Has thanked: 43 times
Been thanked: 4 times

Re: Neglected and overgrown Juniper

Post by The other Ryan »

Any update on this one??
The other Ryan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 38
Joined: January 5th, 2021, 4:29 pm
Bonsai Age: 0
Location: Canberra
Has thanked: 43 times
Been thanked: 4 times

Re: Neglected and overgrown Juniper

Post by The other Ryan »

iliya wrote: May 10th, 2018, 3:54 pm I cut this one back a little more to further encourage backbudding,
Lets see what the next 12 months brings for this little guy.
31961572_10214263492294698_5605559442339790848_n.jpg
Any updates mate?
Post Reply

Return to “Shohin”