Sargent Juniper

[nickkesa]

Hi all,

My first post on this site and would like to share a new addition to my collection - a Sargent Juniper. Couldn't resist it, had to buy it.
Any suggestions on the deadwood? I king of like it as is, but may neaten it up a little.
Now it's time for some wiring...

Cheers,
Nick.

[ozzy]

You don't wanna know what I think about it

[rowan]

Hi, and welcome to Ausbonsai. I would like to see some more of your collection when you get some photos.
This tree has some potential. I would make a lot more deadwood out of it if it were mine. A bit of wiring and a more 'uneven' style would do wonders.
Don't mind me, if you like it how it is don't let anyone change your mind, it is an ok tree - but there are other styles that might suit it better.

Rowan

[nickkesa]

You don't wanna know what I think about it

Sure I do.

[alpineart]

Hi nickkesa , i don't critique but if your after styles or ideas , pop a few pics into the Critique /Virtual design section .This will give a good selection of ideas for possible outcomes for your tree.Cheers Alpineart

[Steven]

G'day Nick and welcome to AusBonsai!

Your Juni has nice movement, good shape and a pleasing overall appearance. I'm sure you will enjoy maintaining it and learning while you work on it.
In time you may find that it looks too much like a bonsai (if you know what I mean) and might consider a restyle.

You don't wanna know what I think about it

Sure I do.

As his Avatar depicts, Ozzy like to chop things down to find the smallest tree within.

Regards,
Steven

[kcpoole]

Your Juni looks a lot like my first one, tho it is a Procumbens.

Too tall and skinny .
I learnt to keep it alive and how to wire, trim and pinch it while in a bonsai pot, and then realised it's faults were many. I put it back in a large pot, and are currently grafting new roots to improve its nebari and thickening up the trunk.

It hopefully will be a nice tree one day but I have learnt heaps from it as you will on yours. Enjoy it as it is while learning what you need to do to maintain it and in a few years it will look much different I think

Ken

[NathanM]

If it were mine I would reduce it height by quite a lot. And change planting angle, put in a large pot/box and let it grow for a while

[Scott Roxburgh]

At least it looks healthy!

In my opinion it has little value as a show tree, but definitely has great value to you as a tree that you can learn sound technique on.

Apply some wire and bring the branches down as much as you can, maybe try to get a bit of back and front movement in the trunk as it seems to have plenty of side to side.

Keep feeding it and let it grow a bit out of control during spring then you can work it back to a 'bonsai shape'.

Take it along to your local club where they can show you the ins and outs of bonsai!

[nickkesa]

Thanks for all of the feedback
I think I will focus on some wiring for now and see if I can get a bit more movement in the branches.
I'll look at repotting in the next couple of months, into a larger training pot as suggested.

[Andrew Legg]

Hey Nick,

If this were my tree, I'd do the following. Cut it back down as indicated on the photo.

2011-05-27 10-16-18 AM.jpg

This will get rid of the tuft up top and give the trunk beter taper and thickness relative to its height. Try to wire the main trunk to avoid the repetativity of the current curving, plant it out and feed feed feed the tree. Allow for a sacrifice branch on each foliage pad (preferably one growing to the back and relatively close to the trunk so the scar is not obvious when you cut it off), but continue to nip and trim and wire the foliage pads to get some shape. Personally, I'd make the two bottom branches a bit less wide. You could do this by either trimming them or wiring more shape into them.

If you want to get really daring, graft a bud low down on the back of the tree and if you get it right, you can grow it out as a sacrifice branch to thicken up the base some more, improving taper even more. If you get it wrong, it does not really matter as it is on the back.

As far as the jin is concerned, I reckon you might take it right down in time, but don't rush that decision just yet. For now, just preserve it well.

I'd pot it into a grey oval pot (a reclangular one may also work, but time will tell. Found this nice one at: http://www.bonsai-shop.com/Bonsai-Wendd ... ert-Oval-E

And this is what it could look like if you do all this. I think it looks cool if I may say so myself!

Juniper Virt.jpg