AusBonsai

For some reason I almost lost this tree. It became weaker and weaker every year until there was very little green left. So I threw caution to the wind and blasted all the old soil off the roots with water and repotted. It seems to be making some kind of comeback but I'm not entirely certain yet.
Anyway here it is.

I like this tree, nice work.

treeman wrote:For some reason I almost lost this tree. It became weaker and weaker every year until there was very little green left. So I threw caution to the wind and blasted all the old soil off the roots with water and repotted. It seems to be making some kind of comeback but I'm not entirely certain yet.
Anyway here it is.

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Beautiful movement in this guys lets hope it pulls thru!

I've had Juniper rigida survive bare-rooting, but I put them in pure grit (sharp sand or small pumice) afterwards. They don't turn a hair. It's a good way to get rid of old compacted soil deep in the root ball, and makes the transfer from grow pots to bonsai pots easier. Best of luck with your old boy,

Gavin

Hi Treeman,

have to say, my kind of tree.

Have you considered a restyle ?

It may help with the vigour of the tree as well ?

A few ideas.

Regards,

Paul

PaulC wrote:Hi Treeman,

have to say, my kind of tree.

Have you considered a restyle ?

It may help with the vigour of the tree as well ?

A few ideas.

Regards,

Paul

No doubt it will be restyled at some stage. I think more toward a bungin (my taste at the moment) although I like your idea too.
Perhaps next year.......?

Hi Treeman,

Something like this perhaps ?

Regards,

Paul

Hope this gets its vigour back this season, heaps of character in this one . Look foward to seeing what come of it with some styling later on. Ps nice verts Paul.

I like Pauls first virt - with a bit fuller peak maybe. I think the low first branch works for this tree.

my tips
- lots of sun
- dont touch the foliage what so ever
- check for mites (little white dots on the inside of the individual needle)
- fertilise but build up at this stage over about 2 months
- dont keep wet, only water when its starting to get real dry

Great looking tree with great character.

My personal view is not to reduce the height.

The virts have made it look like a top end busy stump and lost it's magic and mystique, shortening for the sake of shortening and rules.

I would keep it tall and refine and place the branches to accentuate the long trunk and better project the elusion of taper.

I feel shortening it would wack it out of balance. The way it is the eyes have something to explore rather than a trunk with busy growth at the top, gives it a bottom, middle and top.

The pot grates on me but i have no quick suggestions.

I feel it has Fantastic potential with minimal work to capture an old Mature Classic Style.

Well that's my opinion and i am not one to follow the rules.

Personally it is my kind of tree.

Can i have it, I'll take good care of it.

Regards
Rudy

Treeman

I have a couple of these. About 30, I think. My favourite juniper species.

This is strange advice, but once a year and especially if the plant is suffering, we spray the plant with dish washing liquid. All over, but try not to get any on the soil. We have a local brand which has been used by horticulturists and nurseries for decades. A well diluted mix. What it does is clear out any bugs the tree may have. It seals the foliage with a thin layer of oil which keeps other bugs away, but also seals the tree from excessive evaporation. We have noticed a marked difference since we have used this.

As you already know, when a juniper is weak, the worst thing you can do is to reduce the foliage. Definitely no major bending either. The tree stores a lot of energy in the foliage. Unlike other species, the foliage is critically important for the recovery. Remove foliage and you remove energy. It needs the foliage to continue to build energy. The energy is not in the roots. Feed the tree anything organic, but in moderation and I would propose Superthrive weekly until it shows that it is turning. I would give it plenty of light, but very little direct sunlight in the next two weeks.

I know you know everything I have said, mainly providing information for newer growers who may not have this information.

. . . . . and mist the foliage regularly!

I love this tree the way it is. It's got a kind of penjing gig going. A bi wild but full of expression. Personally, I'd not cut it down. Although it will still be a nice tree like that, I think it will become more ordinary. Who wants ordinary right?

Very nice specimen Treeman. I have some thing similar which I will be re-potting into a drum pot in the next couple of weeks. Only problem is mine is not a refined as yours, so Ill have a lot of wiring and bending to do which, I am not looking forward to as the tree is quite old and I don't want to f**k it up...
here it is...viewtopic.php?f=131&t=16956

rudy wrote:

I feel shortening it would wack it out of balance. The way it is the eyes have something to explore rather than a trunk with busy growth at the top, gives it a bottom, middle and top.

That is my feeling too.

The pot grates on me but i have no quick suggestions.

I have a nice Australian round pot for it but no hurry as it is not in showable condition at the moment.