My First Bonsai

[james.e.jackson]

Hey everyone,
I just registered for this forum today after much lurking around unregistered. I recently (maybe 3 weeks ago) bought my first bonsai, a sargent juniper of about 6 years old (or so I have been told). I bought it with my slight knowledge of what to look for when selecting a bonsai (good trunk movement, branches on outside of curves) but am beginning to doubt my decision.
anyway, it is coming into spring and im looking to get started on it, but I was hoping to get some opinions on what I should do.
firstly, I was hoping to get a guideline of what styles I can go for here. also, I was wondering about some pruning guidelines - real basic stuff.
also, if I could have a hand figuring out which should be the front view, it would be much appreciated!
here are some photos
gallery/image.php?album_id=328&image_id=2247
gallery/image.php?album_id=328&image_id=2246

[Beano]

Can't see the pics.

[james.e.jackson]

as in theyre too poor quality or you cannot actually see it at all? any ideas why that could be?

[Beano]

No, I just get a link and the pic says I'm not authorized to view it.

[Jason]

Firstly, welcome to the site! and the big wide world of bonsai I can't offer you any advice, being a newbie myself, but I can help with your images

The best way to add images is by attaching them, which you can learn how to do here: viewtopic.php?f=97&t=54&p=165&hilit=+images#p165

Not sure why you can't see them Beano, as I'm able to click on the link and see them

I'd help you out and upload them myself... but my work PC that I'm on is ancient and gives me errors when I try that link should help you though

[Gav]

That is strange The pics are working on mine. Quality is not too bad but I am not able to comment as I have not had enough experience with junipers... Plenty of other people on here have some amazing specimens so I have no doubt that you will receive the help you need.

Welcome to the forum...There is a wealth of knowledge from all ages, walks of life, and bonsai enthusiasts alike.

Regards,

Gav

[Beano]

It's probably because I'm on tapatalk. I'll try the laptop

[PAUL2229]

I can see the pics, not sure why others cant.

check out the wiki James it has a LOT of useful info, you can find it here: https://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... =Main_Page

[james.e.jackson]

Thank you all for welcoming me into the community!
paul, i have made myself quite acquainted with the wiki page here, its a great resource! im just hoping to get some direct guidance from people with experience of their own, and to squeeze as much information out of those people as possible haha.

heres what i think i should do with my limited understanding: i was thinking i should be pinching off the light green tips on the foliage, cutting back small branches that grow down or abnomally in order to open up the tree and give us a good look at the trunk movement, wire the tree toward a desired style.
HOWEVER i know that i probably have some fatal flaws in my plans, hence the need for guidance haha
cheers,
j

[MoGanic]

Can't see the pics.

I think your using tapatalk. If you are logged in to tapatalk and try to access the images they'll actually open in your phones web browser. Open your phones web browser and log in to the AusBonsai website, then either open the pics from there directly or go back to tapatalk and open them.

To the owner of the tree, a cute little tree to start with and it's not too difficult to maintain either.

-Mo

[MoGanic]

Thank you all for welcoming me into the community!
paul, i have made myself quite acquainted with the wiki page here, its a great resource! im just hoping to get some direct guidance from people with experience of their own, and to squeeze as much information out of those people as possible haha.

heres what i think i should do with my limited understanding: i was thinking i should be pinching off the light green tips on the foliage, cutting back small branches that grow down or abnomally in order to open up the tree and give us a good look at the trunk movement, wire the tree toward a desired style.
HOWEVER i know that i probably have some fatal flaws in my plans, hence the need for guidance haha
cheers,
j

Pinching the only part of the plant that is growing is going to weaken the tree significantly. It's a slow grower so just cut off the long shoots that will pop out, and do this mid to late summer.

[Beano]

I see it now! I'm on the actual website. I know nothing about junipers other than that they don't thrive in my care, so can't say what to do. I'm a big fan of sticking things in collanders at the moment, so if it were mine, I'd check what time of year you can disturb the roots and put it in a bigger pot or collander and grow it a bit fatter. But as I said, I don't know junipers. Have you joined a club?

[kcpoole]

Do not worry about pinching, a better method it to trim with scissors

Trimback and then let the tree backshoot and ramify rather than just pinching and letting it become a carpet .
any long lanky branches cut them back to a Node or junction and then wire.

Cut off or wire any foliage hanging below the branch.
Wire out any branching going up from your branch.
I would cut your apex back about 1/2 way and then, pick some branching to use and wire it out. Remove any other foliage from the trunk line so you can see it, and the structure of your branching. the big mass of foliage needs to be thinned out somewhat.

No point in Saying that the tree needs to thicken up and to plant into the ground, because that is not what you bought it for i assume?

Check out Nelis' Japan thread for a great example here viewtopic.php?f=23&t=16246&start=15#p166103
Ok you tree is nothing like the standard of the one she is working on, but it is a great example of how to trim wire a juniper with this type of foliage.

ps and welcome to AusBonsai.

Ken

[daiviet_nguyen]

Welcome James I cannot offer any comment, but to say that I like Ken's summary below :

...
Trimback and then let the tree backshoot and ramify rather than just pinching and letting it become a carpet .
......
Ken

Especially the "carpet" analogy.

[james.e.jackson]

awesome guys, thanks for all the help!
ken, I thought I might wanna cut it back, but before I chop the apex id like to get the trunk line a bit more opened up and post photos, get opinions and what not. youre right, I don't necessarily want to spend time on trunk thickening techniques, I got this bonsai as an introduction, something to mess around with and learn the skills involved. hell, I don't even know how to wire or prune properly.
I was wondering though, will a sharp pair of scissors suffice instead of bonsai secateurs?
and also, should I be staggering my work on my bonsai over a few weeks/months to avoid over stressing it? or do these all come under the umberella of 'pruning'?