Advice Needed

[Nos72]

hey guys,

would love to hear feedback and or advice on making this bonsai a better example..

thanks
Jas

[astroboy76]

In my opinion, and you may want to research this a little by googleing images of cascade junipers, but i would select either the left or right trunk and remove the other trunk. keep thtrunk that is most felxible and has the best brach placment. I woudl then train it in a cascade style with the branches spread outwards. Juni's thicken up quite quickyl and you coudl quite easily turn this into an awesome little tree.

Of cos, to train ti as cascade you will need a different pot.

[kcpoole]

a couple of things
The foliage needs to be pinched back to get it under control. This will hel with the other major problem of the foliage out on the ends of the branches. By pinching back you will most likely get back shooting and you can then make it mor compact.

The other big issue to me is the 2 main trunks / branches fight each other and go different directions.
Bonsai must be harmonious, and the multiple branches need to complement each other in the movement and style. On this one they seem to want to get as far away from each other sa they can.

Possibly Jin one of them, the make the other into a nice shape and style, or Change the potting angle and branch placement so they Complemet each other

Ken

[GavinG]

Normally I'd agree with astroboy and Ken - a cascade goes one way, a trunk goes one way, and two trunks go basically one way, in harmony. That's the principle, The Rule, and let's be frank, it makes sense.

BUT. I like it as it is. The trunks both move upwards together just enough, and then when they diverge they are so mad they aren't fighting each other any more than they're fighting themselves. Before you cut, take all advice on board, and then LOOK VERY HARD FOR A LONG TIME. See whether the trunks fight or dance, to your mind. You may lose something mad, to get something a bit ordinary.

See the first two small foliage pads as you come up the trunks? One on the left, one on the right. That is how small and slight the foliage needs to be. Little clouds of it, dancing around the trunk lines.

I could easily change my mind tomorrow - it's such a challenging tree. Take your time, get the foliage as elegantly distributed as you can, and see whether the trunks survive extended examination.

I'm not sure about the amount of shade - from the greenery on the shelf, it might be a bit dank?

Have fun! Have a beer or two one evening with it (but don't prune when you're pissed!)

Gavin

[Mitchell]

Normally I'd agree with astroboy and Ken - a cascade goes one way, a trunk goes one way, and two trunks go basically one way, in harmony. That's the principle, The Rule, and let's be frank, it makes sense.

Gavin

HuH??! Sorry, not making fun, just don't understand and would like too. edit- I think I get what you mean, but before we think about the trunks "working together", we need to establish a definitive style.


Nos, can you give us a shot from the back and the sides? I want to see the rest of the tree before giving advice. For the moment you need to like Ken said, pinch it back and I would be thinning it out also. If you don't it will keep dieing back.


Can I ask also Nos, what style/thoughts you had about it. It is one thing to analyze a plant, but that is useless unless it conforms some what to how you see it. Tel us what you want, and we will tell you how to achieve it. IN the end it is your plant.

Cheers mate.

[Nos72]

thanks Guys, i will grab some more photos later today and get them up for you.. i like the idea of having both trunks still there and i dont think the photos do it justice

[GavinG]

Mitchell, sorry to have caused consternation. I made the point that the stylistic "rules" are quite clear, and make sense.

However. I think this could be a tree which does not conform to a "definitive style" but may end up being exciting, if handled very well. If you cut according to rules, rather than what you can see, you end up with same-old same-old, S bend, left/right/back do it in your sleep stuff. I think if it was my tree it would drive me mad for years.

Jas, have fun, don't hurry! Trim the foliage back, wire the fine branches and see what you can make.

Gavin

[Pup]

Hey 72 is that your age or nome de plume. Enough of that, Steven has just Bumped one of my posts that I did last year, with a Juniper, maybe you can get some info for yours.
The post is what can be achieved quick time. At the moment it is on the front page, tomorrow I will up date to show progress.
Cheers Pup

Edit typo

[stymie]

If you are immoveable about keeping both trunks, imagine the right hand one being twisted gradually round until it faces in nearly the same direction as the other but higher and offset by a few degrees so as not to rob all the light. This could be done in stages through the season. Whatever you decide, the pinching back already mentioned is going to be part of the equation. Shorter trunks is another option.
Bringing the two trunks to fuse together might also bring an attractive if more upright design to mind. Oh boy, so many ways and so many decisions to make. Don't be in a hurry no matter what direction you go. There's going to be a lot of interest in your project.

[Gerard]

Hi Nos,
If you are determined to keep both trunks, I feel you could tilt a bit left, lower the left trunk and use some serious bending methods to raise the right trunk (and get rid of the very straight part) the top of the right trunk eventually moving left.
Personally I prefer the single trunk semi cascade option.
Some sketches for you.

002.jpg

Branch structure is hard to tell from your photo's so I guessed a bit.

[Nos72]

im definately not 72 yet, i have some more pics attached and plan to pinch out the tips this weekend, and see from there.
i like the look of the second scetch Gerard.

thanks Pup, im not even close to 72 and i will check out your thread.

im in no hurry with this guy, ive had it for about 6 years now and keep looking at it differently. glad there is a bit of interest in this and happy to take all suggestions onboard.

[Guy]

cant really see from the photos- but is this definitely one tree or two separate but 'fused'-?-both trunks have interest ,I suppose dividing the two is just not possible?

[Nos72]

im believe it only one tree, wouldnt want to risk dividing them.

[astroboy76]

Gerard, that bottom virt is awesome. great gesign for this tree!