First Bonsai

[Sev]

Hi All,

I'm brand new to this, and I've done a little research, so please correct any assumptions. I picked up the below plant today from a nursery as I thought it had some characteristics that might make an interesting pre-bonsai training plant. It didnt cost me an arm or a leg, so I figured it was a good place to start.

I've included a link as I had some issues linking to Imgur directly - the images appear massive and cut off - here's the link to the album. (http://imgur.com/a/P3QUq )

Questions / Thoughts / Plans:

1) I'm thinking about doing a semi-cascade as a style with this. The plant seems to have a slight angle on the trunk, and a nicely exposed root which looks like it might thicken well. The weight of the foliage is starting to pull all four branches down as well which seems to lend well to that style. The plant seems slight "loose" in the soil, and I think this comes from the nursery owner saying he's chopped the root ball back to make it easier to bonsai. Given that (I think) the best thing I can potentially do for this plant is get it into a slightly larger pot, and get a year on it to strengthen the root system up again and (hopefully) get some thickness into the trunk.

2) The plant doesn't have real dominant trunk and all the branches come out horizontally from the top of the main trunk. This makes me think that I need to decide which will be the front of the tree, and then potentially take the offending branch off that comes directly out from that angle to help the lines of the tree. Would I do this now or wait till it settles into a larger pot (which is what I'd generally do with other plants. Re-pot, wait till it had settled in and then aggressively prune).

3) I'm also thinking all the wiry roots coming off that main root ball (barring the one individual root going back into the ground) should just be cleaned off given they are above the soil line.

4) Given that this is technically a pre-bonsai, do I start wiring straight away, or do that maybe next year once it's established and getting a bit of extra health. I do think, given the weight of the foliage at the end of each branch, I'm probably going to be best doing some pruning to try and encourage some back growth on the plant (or at least thinning it out for better air flow and health).

Really appreciate any perspective and thoughts that you can offer to help me begin this journey.

Cheers,

Brad

[KIRKY]

Hi Brad, welcome.
I know you are new to gardening and growing things, but there are some basics you have to find out before you can start
Ok, re the "PLANT" the first thing you need to do is identify it. Do you know what it is?
Once you know what it is, then you can decide what you want to do to it. Each plant has its own growing season and growing style. The growing season of the plant will dictate when to repot, when not to repot, prune, wire etc... Hard to say from the photo. I can only see a partial of one photo so difficult to judge but to me it looks like its a weeping plant. Not sure if it has been grafted to grow this way.
It is December now, apart from Ficus and Natives not too many plants will take kindly to being potted at this time of year.
You mentioned it is loose in the pot due the roots being pruned by the nursery man? You need to know roughly when that was done as some plants can't handle both roots and top being working in the same year.
if it was mine, first I would find out what it is.
Then at this time of year, I would put more soil in the top of pot to firm it up and look after it thru summer. After some research, in Autumn I would think about styling etc...
Cheers
Kirky

[Pearcy001]

Hi Sev and welcome to the forum.

To add to Kirky's post if you don't know what it is try searching Juniper lutchuensis and see if that's it? They are an extremely prostrate juniper normally used for ground cover. It will continue attempting to grow toward the floor, but remember we have wire to change this if that's what you desire

If my guess is right then it would be one of those types that dont particularly appreciate both work above and below soil level at the same time as Kirky explained. Most Junipers are slow growing so it may take a little while for the roots to grow and stabilise the tree.

Don't forget not all plants can have all the foliage chopped off, conifers are one of them. If it is a Juniper then the branch will die if all the green is cut off that branch. If the seller said he recently cut the root ball then a second repot on a Juniper this quick could turn ugly, you may be best letting this one recover before doing too much to it. I believe Junipers are best repotted at the beginning of spring when you observe New foliage extending.

Goodluck with the ID, that will dictate your next move.

Cheers,
Pearcy.

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk

[KIRKY]

Do you think its a Juniper Pearcy? Everytime I log in to look at it I'm timed out. The growth looks a bit soft for a Juniper to me but like I said hard to tell in a flash. Sort of looked more Spruce like to me. ?
Cheers
Kirky

[Pearcy001]

Do you think its a Juniper Pearcy? Everytime I log in to look at it I'm timed out. The growth looks a bit soft for a Juniper to me but like I said hard to tell in a flash. Sort of looked more Spruce like to me. ?
Cheers
Kirky

Hey Kirky hope your well.

I agree the foliage looks soft, that is partly why I thought that species. I think the foliage on Juniperus lutchuensis is soft unlike most other varieties. Actually I think Ken may have used this species for one of his Comp tree's, hopefully he can shed some light.

Alas I am definitely not great at ID's. Hopefully the more informed can get the photos to load, as I have a working computer but minimal knowledge hahaha. Your knowledge is much greater than mine Kirky, if you can get it to load I'll trust what you say.

Cheers,
Pearcy.

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk

[Sev]

Thanks both,

I did ask the nursery staff what the tree was, but they weren't 100% sure - not a great indictment of their nursery I guess. I'll work on securing an iD, but if someone can tell m ho to post images in a post I should be able to get some very clean photos up.

Again, appreciate the welcome and information!

Cheers,

Brad

[Ryceman3]

I think this link might help mate
viewtopic.php?f=97&t=54#p165
More people will no doubt look at the images when they are part of your post too.
Good luck with the ID and welcome to the forum.

[kcpoole]

Check the howto in the wiki on posting and resizing images.

Easy peasy and then we can all see 'em


Sent from my SM-G800Y using Tapatalk

[Daluke]

Juniperus communis?

[Sev]

Test Upload using attachments.

I think we have success!

Thanks for the help getting these up!

[Pup]

Juniperus conferta ( shore juniper) one of the needle group.

Cheers Pup

[Sev]

Juniperus conferta ( shore juniper) one of the needle group.

Cheers Pup

Cheers Pup, really appreciate your help with the ID.

So, given a summarisation of all the tips on this page, In conjunction with the new photos, top up the soil to provide some extra stability, keep the plant well cared for until autumn, and the best begin to shape and style the plant. Maybe a slight thinning of needles as I found some matted together with webs.

On the shape of the plant, I'm thinking I would remove one of the branches (front branch) and then angle from left to right, a branch up and down to try and capture the appropriate 45 degree angle of a semi-cascade.

Does the actual plant itself look alright? I like the weathered look and the large root, but the flat top of it looks a bit off...I'm assuming wiring will help get a better shape for it.

Again, thanks for the tips.

Cheers,

Brad

[Boics]

Personally I think that only 1 (MAYBE) 2 trunks can be used effectively.
Sometimes less is more

[kcpoole]

Not sure about shore Juniper ( no idea what they are like as I do not remember seeing one in the fleash)
Is the foliage small and soft?

looks alot like my comp tree here in this thread - Juniper lutchuensis
viewtopic.php?f=158&t=22374

Ken

[Daluke]

Firstly, welcome!

As has been said, let the tree rest. Assume it just got root pruned - if it has just been root pruned, to REMOVE any leaf, branch, repot etc will stress the tree. Give it a season to rejuvinate and you will maximise its growth and protect its health.

Every piece of material needs improvement. No tree is an instant bonsai.

There are four branches coming from one spot - thats a fault, and overtime, it'll swell even more.

i like the idea of a semi cascade. If you remove two branches you will be left with a top and a tail.With some heavy fertiliser and TLC, the tail should extend and give you something more to work with.

Read up on semi cascades - they are difficult to pull off. i read an articlewhich helped me get my head around the style - basically aim for a tree that is an i formal upright tree, but on the side.

Have a plan for the next few years:

Year 1 - maintain and improve growth

Year 2 - remove branches and wire

Year 3 - trim roots (from bottom 30%)

Year 4 - work on defining pads

year xyz etc

The temptation for many a beginner is to buy a tree, trim it and whack it in a bonsai pot. Its to get a Miyagi style Bonsai as quickly as possible. Many beginners fail because they overwork the tree.

I failed... and wish id have listened to others.

Good luck




id be too hard