Advise needed for a Noobie Bonsai Enthusiast

[Totti]

Hi guys,

Was recently given 2 bonsai for my birthday, both Junipers. I chose the bigger one on a whim (Took me 2 weeks to find one that I liked); and have only got into lots of reading/research now after having obtained them both.

Both a pictured, but one is a little seedling behind the centre of the main one (Behind, i will pot this up in 3 weeks when I have more time - Also after suggestions on what you'd do to get it trained up)

I just want to know what you guys think of this plant and any suggestions you can point me to as to what you would do with it.
Hope i picked a decent one.
Cheers

Stef

[paddles]

first thing I would do, in your situation is join your nearest club.. melbourne has several. then you can take your tree along and get accurate, hands on advice. it is very hard to tell with photos in some cases.

[kcpoole]

Hi Stef and welcome.
Nice base on that there Juniper
I think after a while that is going to be much smaller . the old adage, find the smallest tree within will apply to this one.

Specifically, the long curved trunk has not much taper, and is quite a different shape than the bottom part of the tree. I reckon you can lose the top from just above the low branche on the right.

Joing one of the many clubs there and get some opinions and ideas and some hands on work before you decide.

Ken

[cuwire]

Hi Stef

Great to get your first Bonsai -- to enjoy you need to keep it alive and for the time being it means water every day at this time of year .. water around the whole area of the pot.
Your tree looks to be from a Bonsai nursery so it will drain and not get soggy.

This type of tree -- Lots of Sun and Water and they wont let you down.

A bonsai club as Paddles suggests is so worthwhile and scan back on Ausbonsai for lots of important stuff.

Cheers

[bodhidharma]

any suggestions you can point me to as to what you would do with it.

Hi Totti, i certainly think it has potential if you are prepared to do a little work on it. If you follow the trunk line to the three branches in the middle of the tree, i would suggest pulling the large right hand one down to fill the negative space, pull the next left hand one down also and use the one above it for your new leader. This means cutting off the rest of the top but will turn it into a nice tree.

[Andrew Legg]

Welcome Stef - lotsa great advice from people so far. Join a club, and don't rush into designing this tree as it is good material. It would be a pity to allow youthful exuberance to spoil it.

This is the immediate starting point I see in this tree, but you'll have to play with the branch position and you may want to bend the trunk a bit to avoid the constant curve.

juni.jpg

Pretty much what I think Bodhi means.

Cheers,

Andrew

[The Hacker]

Hi Stef

I like what Andrew has done in his vert, But & this is only my opinion if it was mine,I would do an air layer just above that main bend & turn the lower part into a very nice litte semi cascade & with the rest of the tree you would have a very nice informal upright I think that would balance it out very nicely

Regard's The Hacker

[Andrew Legg]

Hi Stef

I like what Andrew has done in his vert, But & this is only my opinion if it was mine,I would do an air layer just above that main bend & turn the lower part into a very nice litte semi cascade & with the rest of the tree you would have a very nice informal upright I think that would balance it out very nicely

Regard's The Hacker

Which just goes to show Stef - you have options. I think Hacker is onto a good one there as well. This is where the value comes in getting advice from people in person. It is just that much easier to work out the best (which is always personal opinion) option when one has the material in front of you. Hacker - is this what you mean?

IMG00007-20120417-1645.jpg

PS: Fiveofive - this bonsai was created in 5 Minutes! (Probably shows though huh! )

[anttal63]

Hi Stef heres my

juni.jpg

[Totti]

Thanks for the fantastic responses guys. Good to know I have a solid platform; I certainly won't be rushing into making any permanent changes now that I know I have a bright future ahead of it.

The seedling also poses a good new challenge. I am a massive fan of informal uprights so will probably train it up to be the same.

I never knew at 25 my obsession would develop so quickly! When you lop the canopy of the tree using secateurs , is it just a straight cut above the branches followed with some cut sealer? Im working my way through various literature but it only seems to cover basic trimming.

I will definitely join a class next month when I'm back from overseas. Anything close to inner eastern suburbs that you can recommend?

Cheers

Stef

[anttal63]

Bonsai Vic Society in Kew !!! Best trees and artists in the land !!!

http://www.bonsaisocietyvictoria.com/

[Totti]

Faboulous! That is my suburb too

[kcpoole]

Hi Stef heres my

juni.jpg

That was pretty much what i was thinking Ant
Ken

[The Hacker]

Hi Stef

I like what Andrew has done in his vert, But & this is only my opinion if it was mine,I would do an air layer just above that main bend & turn the lower part into a very nice litte semi cascade & with the rest of the tree you would have a very nice informal upright I think that would balance it out very nicely

Regard's The Hacker

Which just goes to show Stef - you have options. I think Hacker is onto a good one there as well. This is where the value comes in getting advice from people in person. It is just that much easier to work out the best (which is always personal opinion) option when one has the material in front of you. Hacker - is this what you mean?

IMG00007-20120417-1645.jpg

PS: Fiveofive - this bonsai was created in 5 Minutes! (Probably shows though huh! )

Yep Andrew that's what I was thinking nice work

[The Hacker]

Hi Stef heres my

juni.jpg

Hi Ant

That's a great design This is Stef once you have done that air layer you can use Ant's drawing for the lower part & Andrew's drawing for the top half & now you have two very nice tree's

Regard's The Hacker