bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - any suggestions on this juniper i just bought?

If it were my tree, I would prune and wire now then maybe in late sept. I would put it in a grow pot. Terra cotta make nice grow pots. A pot that you don't have to disturb the roots too much. Maybe just comb the edges and underneath the root ball a little bit with a chop stick. Use a good bonsai soil too. Preferable one that is made for conifers, if you have access to it.
The nursery pot its in now looks like a 3 gallon pot, is this correct? Sometimes with a one gallon pot you may be able to get it in a bonsai pot right away ( sometimes ). However with the major work that need to be done, it is probably too much to ask for a repot. I would also leave it in the grow pot for 2 years.
Let me know if was I said was accurate about the interior not having many woodened off branches. I say this because I worked on a couple of nursery stock junipers this year and experienced this first hand. However these are great for a learning experience and they will not break your wallet.

14-Aug-2006	#7
october bonsaiTALK Master Craftsman Join Date: Jul-2006 Location: massachusetts Country: United states Posts: 513	If it were my tree, I would prune and wire now then maybe in late sept. I would put it in a grow pot. Terra cotta make nice grow pots. A pot that you don't have to disturb the roots too much. Maybe just comb the edges and underneath the root ball a little bit with a chop stick. Use a good bonsai soil too. Preferable one that is made for conifers, if you have access to it. The nursery pot its in now looks like a 3 gallon pot, is this correct? Sometimes with a one gallon pot you may be able to get it in a bonsai pot right away ( sometimes ). However with the major work that need to be done, it is probably too much to ask for a repot. I would also leave it in the grow pot for 2 years. Let me know if was I said was accurate about the interior not having many woodened off branches. I say this because I worked on a couple of nursery stock junipers this year and experienced this first hand. However these are great for a learning experience and they will not break your wallet.