$10 Junipers for future bonsai's

[Jamie.bonsai]

On a trip to bunnings this week, as always i make my usual rounds through the plant section with my partner... she is a bew collector of succulents and we are always popping in to get something hahaha

The local bunnings (seaford and noarlunga) normally stock a few junipers like sabina, squamata "blue star" and a couple others which i have also purchaced along the way to play around with

Well this particular day i noticed the noarlunga store had started stocking a couple of other species i have been keeping my eye out for!!! So i walked out of there with 3 small juniper procumbens "nana" and a juniper squamata "prostata"

Any ideas on how old these little trees are anyone??

Thinking the procumbens with the really large apex will maybe make an interesting literati if i bent the main trunck over the apex the bent the apex up?

With the other 2 procumbens and the prostata i will be making some cascades as i have always loved that style

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[Daluke]

I'd be guessing they are rooted cuttings aged 1 year. They grow pretty quickly with the right treatment. Lots of feed, lots of water and lots of sun. They are pretty plyable so you can put in some heavy bends.

[Jamie.bonsai]

Awesome, thanks mate. Got a few ideas in mind from pictures on google i want to try and will keep this thread updated with all the pics

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[Daluke]

Anything you cut is worth planting into soil. I've found these strike pretty easily too. Even without rooting hormone.

[Jamie.bonsai]

Yeah i have a whole tray of cuttings and branches i have cut off my big procumbens... any tips to help them take root?

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[Daluke]

Put in dappled sun, and keep a spray bottle handy. Spray them with mist every time you walk by.

Play the numbers when it comes to cuttings. The more you plant the more you'll have that root.

I've got a few polystyrene boxes full. I found cheap fine grain soil works best (sieve out the bark). At the base I have coarse (really large pebbles) then cover it with the fine soil. I put the cuttings in so that they are between rocks.

I've found new growth roots best (so in your case anything from your trees).

They may be slow to root over winter, but by September / October I reckon they would be forming roots.

Avoid the temptation to pull them out to look. You will damage the fine roots.

When it comes time to repot, of dig a bit of a trench and remove the soil so as to minimally disturb the roots.

[Jamie.bonsai]

Awesome! Thanks heap man I'll keep them misted as much as possible and see how i go then

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[Daluke]

Good luck mate. Keep us posted

[Jamie.bonsai]

Thanks and will do!

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[pjames]

I've got higher percentage of successful propagation by putting them in resealable plastic bags.

[Daluke]

As in making a small green house?

[pjames]

Yes, it worked for me but there's a lot of work involved. I have to make sure they are watered properly.

[Sno]

I use those clear , lidded storage boxes . The bigger the better . Place in a spot that gets no direct sunlight ( otherwise they'll cook ) and keep moist . I drill drainage holes in the bottom ( otherwise they drown ) .