AusBonsai

pureheart wrote: ↑September 8th, 2019, 9:58 pm Hello my friends! What kind of juniper is this and is it suited for bonsai or am I wasting my time?

Thanks!!!

pureheart wrote: ↑September 9th, 2019, 8:45 am Oh really a cypress ? Yes in very poor health, that would be the first goal to restore health...
I've attached better photos... so is it worth it for Bonsai or not really?

tgward wrote: ↑September 9th, 2019, 8:55 am could make a nice clump style---probably potbound so I would deal with that first up

鸕盆栽 Gamauji Bonsai wrote: ↑September 9th, 2019, 9:39 am

pureheart wrote: ↑September 9th, 2019, 8:45 am Oh really a cypress ? Yes in very poor health, that would be the first goal to restore health...
I've attached better photos... so is it worth it for Bonsai or not really?

Sure they can make great bonsai. In general they can be treated like a Hinoki but it takes time to style the and they are quite more of a challenge but well worth it.

The common names can be confusing....false cypress....eastern white cedar....blablabla

I recommend the following:
They love water but hate wet feet so plant into a heavy gravel type mix (I see a lot of light mixes in Aus) so lots of gravel types. This will allow water to drain quickly and well but means you need to water well.

They can be bare rooted without a problem unlike many other conifers.

They need intense sun. These really suffer in the shade.

Small doses of fertiliser over a long period makes the tree lush rather than one big feed at a time.

You will note that the scales on cypress have a top and a bottom. Make sure the top is facing upward towat the sun or the foliage and branch will die.

Make sure it gets plenty of root space to recover.

Leave it about 2 to 3 years to gain strength. Start pinching from 2nd year to avoid long unworkable shoots

The wood is very hard so they can be a b' to wire and snap unlike juniper.

Reading up on Hinoki will help and you can look up Nigel Saunders as he has some good vids on these.

pureheart wrote: ↑September 9th, 2019, 11:41 am

tgward wrote: ↑September 9th, 2019, 8:55 am could make a nice clump style---probably potbound so I would deal with that first up

I did repot it but was gentle and didn't want to remove too many roots... regarding clamp style I may have lost that opportunity as i chopped most of the top growth.... will it back bud?

鸕盆栽 Gamauji Bonsai wrote: ↑September 9th, 2019, 11:45 am

pureheart wrote: ↑September 9th, 2019, 11:41 am

tgward wrote: ↑September 9th, 2019, 8:55 am could make a nice clump style---probably potbound so I would deal with that first up

I did repot it but was gentle and didn't want to remove too many roots... regarding clamp style I may have lost that opportunity as i chopped most of the top growth.... will it back bud?

Like pine and juniper it won't backbud on wood without foliage. If you remove all the foliage from a branch you have deadwood.

Clump....not really. Styling should be a secondary concern. Keeping it alive is primary. Focus energy on making it survive.

pureheart wrote: ↑September 9th, 2019, 10:07 pm

鸕盆栽 Gamauji Bonsai wrote: ↑September 9th, 2019, 11:45 am

pureheart wrote: ↑September 9th, 2019, 11:41 am

tgward wrote: ↑September 9th, 2019, 8:55 am could make a nice clump style---probably potbound so I would deal with that first up

I did repot it but was gentle and didn't want to remove too many roots... regarding clamp style I may have lost that opportunity as i chopped most of the top growth.... will it back bud?

Like pine and juniper it won't backbud on wood without foliage. If you remove all the foliage from a branch you have deadwood.

Clump....not really. Styling should be a secondary concern. Keeping it alive is primary. Focus energy on making it survive.

Thanks! that's what I was thinking... my aim will be to bring it back to good health and look it again in 2 or 3 years I think.

Greg F wrote: ↑September 12th, 2019, 1:16 pm Please delete. Having trouble adding a pic of a cypress that I have nursed back to health. Sorry

Greg
20190912_130540.jpg