My Junipers

[Bretts]

Jarryd I mentioned the rock was not brilliant. George actually stated that he would not go ahead with resetting the tree on the rock if it was toooo boring. I think it just passed. I love root over rock. I have heaps of tridents waiting but can't find rocks good enough yet
I wish this was a better rock. Never thought of carving it I don't know much about rocks but this rock seems too hard to carve to me. My mate Pol does some rock carving I will ask him what he thinks of it after I have uncovered it.
The roots going over the top of the rock are not developing as I would like I am considering putting it in a new pot with the rock laying down to develop them better. How many more years

Thinned out the foliage on this. Next up I think I will at least strip the bark from the jins so I can differentiate from the branches. Then I should wire agian I guess. After the demo with Tony I thought the tial needed some more movement but figured had time after I uncovered the rock now I think I better get it dome before it stiffens too much We where undecided how long to leave the tial and left it for later consideration. I am also now unsure witch way to take the top movement. Back over the rock or also cascading away so I just trimmed all the branches back to decide later as well.

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Now should I help Bailey on the Wii or get back out side and keep working

[Bretts]

After a play on the Wii I got stuck into wiring.

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Pretty happy but think the tail movement needs refining as with a few other bits but that's enough for today. Still not sure where I like the front exactly but guess I can leave that until I uncover it. I think once it shows new growth I am going to slip pot it into a pot that will encourage the roots at the top of the rock more

[Bretts]

Decided to slip pot it on it's side now as I had uncovered the roots a little more during work and did not want them roasted by the sun.

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[bodhidharma]

Dont they take forever Bretts. Root over rock are what you call ..LONG TERM PROJECTS..I think you have inspired me to do a Juni. I have quite a few deciduous on the go for that ramified winter look but the juni looks excellent. Mine are completely buried up to the trunk base at the moment to fatten the roots.

[Tony Bebb]

Lookin good Brett

It sure is progressing well. Roots are going pretty well for a Juniper. Bodhi sure is right with the long term project comment. Junipers take a fair while in general to fatten roots, especially for root over rock. I think I would have left it in the upright pot and just covered the roots for protection if you were worried. It is true they are best left fully covered while developing, but the position on the rock makes this one a little more dificult. Even just putting some shade cloth over them would help.

The tail length I believe was mostly left at the time to let grow and fatten the trunk, and then could be cut back to final position later. The trunk is looking good at the moment, but it could always be fatter, so it would be your call as to when you were happy as to when and how long to cut. I would aim for a little shorter for the finished length, maybe up to about 1/4 off, and don't let the crown get any longer. If you strap the trunk you could get some more movement there also.

Good job on the wiring. The branches look good in proportion to the trunk so I would keep up the tip pruning so they don't get much fatter. If you want the trunk fatter, let the tip grow, but try to pick one or two sacrificial branches along the trunk line to let grow so it doesn't ruin the taper. You can always jin the end later also. The branches look a little flat with the trunk, ie forward and back, in the first pic which looks like a good front, and whare we were looking on the day. Remember the two views for cascade are 'face' or 'profile' with 'face view' looking at the cliff with branches to the left and right, and 'profile view' looking along the cliff with the branches to one side, left in this case. With your tree 'face' would have the longest branches on the left, and 'profile' would have the longest branches behind the trunk to the left. A good front looks like half way between 1st and 2nd pics.

Looks like you are enjoying this tree and I look forward to seeing its development in the future. Get into Junipers Bodhi, they are great.

Always with Best Regards

Tony

[Bretts]

Thanks for taking the time to analyze the tree agian Tony
I was thinking hard of what you taught me at the workshop concerning cascades and their branches. I was pretty lost which branches where meant to be doing what amongst all that foliage but I am happy with where I got in the end. Although the hardest decision was around the area you suggest to end the tial having 4 branches able to do much the same job as each other. Two ended up becoming Jins but now I think one may have made a great sacrifice branch as you suggest.
I was planning on making the final decision on the length of the tial once the rock was fully uncovered so I can take it all in.

The branches look a little flat with the trunk, ie forward and back

I figger you mean they don't have much up and down movement. Maybe I am thinking of layered pads too much I am sure you will get a chance to show me on the tree in the future before the branches get too thick

in the first pic which looks like a good front, and whare we were looking on the day. Remember the two views for cascade are 'face' or 'profile' with 'face view' looking at the cliff with branches to the left and right, and 'profile view' looking along the cliff with the branches to one side, left in this case. With your tree 'face' would have the longest branches on the left, and 'profile' would have the longest branches behind the trunk to the left.

I remember this from the workshop and hope that is where I am heading. Some useful branches were weaker than others under all that foliage so I left them longer for now.
Anyway I will make sure I get this tree along to one of your workshops in the next year or two whether it be here or elsewhere

Thanks agian

[Bretts]

I haven't got much further with this juniper yet but it got a new pot and just a little wire to open it up and let the sun in today

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[daiviet_nguyen]

Hi Brett, I like the semi-cascade on rock. You will have to look for a suitable pot soon Cheers.

[Bretts]

Yes this is it's second year laying down in a vegi foam pot (agianst Tony's advice ) and I have been thinking next year it will need some sought of bonsai pot. I guess it will be some cheapie to start with but need to get organised for next spring as I have nothing to suit at the moment
Edit I will get a fresh pic of it tomorrow

[alpineart]

Hi Bretts , personally i would put it back into a big plastic pot with a slot cut out of the side for the trunk to slide down into so the rock was completely covered .That type of rock will definitely absorb incredible amounts of heat and basically cook the roots resulting in die back , be a shame to come home one day and find your tree baked . I mostly use light volcanic rock or scoria as they can absorb water . Hard solid volcanic rock , granite even petrified wood while it looks the goods , absorbs way too much heat unless the canopy of the tree shades the rock . With a cascade it doesn't and it heats up a little too much for my liking .

The juniper i posted a couple of weeks ago is on hard volcanic rock and its a mistake i won't be making again unfortunately the roots penetrate down through the middle hollow section so the only way to remove it would be to use a diamond cutting wheel to help split the rock .Since trimming , the rock is and will become a big problem with heat .Even moss has a problem staying cool and grow around the base as the heat transfers down form the top . The last couple of days have been around the mid 20's and the effect can already be seen on the Juniper

It looks like an easy job to remove yours as its a solid rock , a garden supply will have some interesting scoria or volcanic rocks , use a masonary wheel or diamond wheel to cut groves for the roots and re-set it .Better now than later .

Cheers Alpine

[Bretts]

Hey Alpine,
I will hope what you say does not come true for this one. It seems like a tough cultivar and loves the climate so far so just have to wait and see I think.

I took an update pic of the ROR Juniper for the thread.

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I have been plucking the tips when I water it but it is again starting to get away from me. Can't wait to get it in a bonsai pot next spring

Still so much work to do around the bonsai collection and next on the list is thuis guy. Gave it a good trim and a full wire, also a weed I am trying to cover up the bare trunk 2/3 up. Not sure yet if I will get away with it or need to graft a couple of new branches in

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Oh I should mention that the great looking pot comes from Vic at Erin Pottery

[PaulC]

Hi Bretts,

I cant tell how much I enjoy your juniper,( looks like a pyrimadalis), especially given that it was purchased from your local Bunnings.

( I purchased a blauss juniper from Bunnings Orange a few years ago in mid winter for a very resonable price, they do have suitable material at times )

I was thinking if you can get those lower brances to `droop` a little more, and perhaps remove the large second branch on the left ?

Try out your jinning skills on it, jin it, reduce the jin on the right, and maybe even extend them to the lower jin via shari to form a large combined
jin and shari ?

Did a virt, hope you dont mind?

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Keep up the good work !!


Regards,

Paul C

[jarryd]

These trees are coming along really well brett.

you are getting some great growth. I am having a fair amount of trouble keeping up with my trees also. i live three hours away from my bonsai garden atm for my final year of uni.

can't wait to see the ROR with a bit of a clean up. all that growth must be doing great things for the roots. i think this tree will be very good with a few more years of hard prune/ grow out periods.
keep up the good work mate always enjoy to see progress of your trees!

[Bretts]

That's intersesting Paul thanks. I already removed a branch on the right today and thought myself game for doing that. You may see it as a jin.

I do figure that I am on a learning curve with this tree and there will be some changes to come. I will keep your idea in mind

The branches will come down plenty with guy wire but I just wasn't sure if that was the right path yet with trying to hide the bare patch Removing another branch could fix the problem

[Bretts]

Thanks Jarryd, I can say I was channeling you through most of the pruning stage.

"Now what would Jarryd be doing here"

A few times I wished you where there guiding me through but I think I got there with some patience. Boy these junipers take some work. Also a bit of Beer and Wine to dull the pain