Juniper - In need of thickening

[Tija]

Hi

I bought this bonsai in October 2009:

bonsai-front.jpg

It was only 3 years old then and I haven't really done anything to it since... but, at the moment, it's trunk is hardly more than 3/4" - a stick in a pot. It's getting rather top-heavy in its pot, and is in need of a lot of styling (I am hoping to achieve a semi-cascade).

Now, I'm not very familiar with the methods used to thicken bonsai trunks, as this is my first tree, so is it safe to repot it into a larger container to do so? If so, how do I go about the shape of the tree - do I attempt to get a look similar to what I want to end up with before letting it grow, or do I leave it as is and style once it's finished thickening out?

Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Tija

[Scott Roxburgh]

Best advice I can give is to fertilise it and get some growth into it, that'll fatten it up. In spring pot it into a bigger pot and feeeeeed it!

[Tony Bebb]

Hi Tija

I would pot it up now so it can settle before winter and then grow strong in spring. I would also definitely wire and shape the trunk as you want it as you will get more shape with better bends while it is still thin and supple, and this will set quiker and achieve a better result.

Best Regards

Tony

[Magzy]

Hi Tija, i think that most people on here will tell you to put in larger pot, i have just put a few plants into large plastic garden pots and they are really powering now with very noticeable trunk cracks. I also just put a juniper into a bigger pot about 2 weeks ago and it has new shoots coming out already. If you decide to repot be very careful not to disturb the roots and they will be tangled up in the mesh so careful there, i haven't put any fertilizer on mine yet and they are all looking good. As for styling i would wire as Tony has said and just let it grow. keep looking at it, don't touch and when its ready you will see something. I had one of those pots and now its a little moss and rock planting. I'm only a beginner also but i had a few of those little so called sticks in pots and they have all been put into garden pots or grow box and they are so healthy now and growing strong and i haven't lost any. I live in QLD down near the border so hopes this helps in some way.

[Tija]

Best advice I can give is to fertilise it and get some growth into it, that'll fatten it up. In spring pot it into a bigger pot and feeeeeed it!

I have been fertilising monthly, using a seaweed fertiliser. Is this enough/too much do you think?

Alright, so I should wait until Spring before repotting? I have read that repotting junipers is OK to do in Autumn.

Also, you didn't mention anything about pruning - I imagine, after repotting to a larger pot, I should just leave it to grow wild and take care of shape later?

ETA: Just saw your posts Tony & Magzy.

OK - seems that repotting now would be better. I'll make sure to be careful of the roots Magzy
Should I wait a while before fertilising?

As regards wiring... I shall shape the trunk then - what about the branches? I realise they're still very small. Should these be wired now or at a later date?

Thanks heaps for your input

- Tija

[Tony Bebb]

Hi Tija

Leave it settle after potting up and let it start shooting before feeding. Most soils have built in slow release fert and this takes a little while to activate anyway. Monthly feeding is fine. You can do it fortnightly and some even do it weekly, but I would leave these till spring.

Just shape the trunk for now and let all the branches grow freely. They can be selected and shaped later.Letting them all grow will fatten the trunk quicker without making the branches you want to use too fat.

Tony

[Tija]

Just shape the trunk for now and let all the branches grow freely. They can be selected and shaped later.Letting them all grow will fatten the trunk quicker without making the branches you want to use too fat.

So obviously pruning it will come later then? Just leave it to grow?

Sorry if I seem a little naive - I just haven't been able to get hold of much information in this regard.

Tija