Ideas please - Juniper over rock

[Watto]

I have been growing this juniper over rock for a few years now and I am looking for some inspiration to take it to the next level. It maybe that I have been a bit cautious because I don't want to loose it.
I would appreciate any ideas or advice that I can get.
Cheers and thanks,
Watto

[davo]

Looks awesome Watto , Im a big fan of junipers.

[bodhidharma]

Hey Watto, nice tree and it has huge potential. If it were mine i would definitely give it a good prune and wiring to make it more compact and refined. The foliage should be half that and more compact. I think the branching is good but i would be working on the secondary branchlet development. I would also consider taking it out of its pot and burying it for another two years and thicken those roots clasping the rock. I am developing an elm in the same style and it has been buried for 8 years now, taking it up every two and seeing how it is developing and changing.

[Jamie]

ok, stay with me here for a minute, it might sound radical but. air layer the top off, rebuild an apex with the left hand side, and wire and grow the right into a semi cascading tree
that would be where i would go, complete make over, and all that could be done while it is in the ground getting those roots grasping a little better like earlier mentioned

regards jamie

[Pup]

I would go with Bohdi on his suggestion for the quick fix on compactness also wire them down more. There is too much space between the rock and the first and second branches.

Now for the long term a change of rock, taller, plant the tree half way up or down. Then develop as a semi cascade.

Sorry but as I have said before I am no Virtual Virtuoso. Pup


Edit if you have or have access to Deborah Koreshoff's book see the cover photo. SOme food for thought. again Pup

[Watto]

Thanks for all the suggestions and ideas.
Bodhi - this is the after "hair cut" look, you should have seen it before! Over the next week or two I will give it another trim and wire the secondary branching. I will also wire down the major branches and especially the first branch.
Jamie - I do like the sound of the semi-cascade idea and will definately incorporate that into the new design.
Pup - had a look at the book and it is a fantastic image on the front. I really like that look and it too will be part of the new design.
I know everyone said I should put it in the ground for a year or two but that is the only suggestion I am struggling with. I am a bit concerned that if I put it in the ground I will not tender it without enough TLC and it could be lost - not die, but be forgotten. I will have to give that a bit more consideration.
Thanks again
Watto

[Jamie]

watto, i glad you liked the ideas. as for going in the fround i had the same tendancy. so what i do is use grow boxes. i have a section were my pre bonsai are and in growth stages. i have a couple of trees now in grow boxes once again from being in pots. it was just something that needed to be done, that way they are there have a similar effect of ground growing and they get the tlc needed just like in a pot

regards jamie

[bodhidharma]

There is an interesting point that i read but do not know if it is true that most of the Japanese masterpieces spend their life in grow boxes and are only potted up for the big shows. i have also read that there are people who have antique pots and hire them out to the contestants just for the show. I believe that a tree must occasionally be put back into a larger pot to regain its health. On the grow boxes, i will report back next year, as i am of to Japan to check them out.

[Watto]

Bodhi - do you need me to carry your bags?

[Pup]

Here's what to expect

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[Watto]

No problem Pup, I can handle that. By the way, my old van looks like one of those in the photo!

[Pup]

No problem Pup, I can handle that. By the way, my old van looks like one of those in the photo!

Japanese Magazine from 1979 so it could be

[Chris Di Nola]

great pics Pup thanks for sharing, where did you get the mag?

[Pup]

great pics Pup thanks for sharing, where did you get the mag?

It was given to me by a Japanese freind who was studying English at the West Australian Institute of Science which is now TAFE.

Along with two other's I do not know if they were mag's not returned. Or because the WAIT stopped they were dumped but I have them now.
With some nice Bonsai Pictures. Pup

[Tachigi]

I'm with Skippy...wonderful pictures Pup. Very interesting to study...especially the root balls. No Burlap, no plastic...just one tight arse root ball held compact by rope. Thank you so much for sharing.