bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - Procumbens Juniper; Slant style

The main thing I would have to do with this bush was to get it strong again. After the convention and my return trip home, I decided that the tree needed to be repotted. I decided this because when watered it would pool up in the container and not drain. The water would sit there for 10 or more minutes before finally soaking in. I suspected that the roots filled the container and was probably like a brick.

I was not wrong. The root mass was cut thru with a saw and the roots combed out. It was planted out in a cut down five gallon container in 3/8 lava and sand 50/50. My all purpose mix for growing out all stock. None of my trees see any special bonsai soil with akadama, huyge, pumice, lava or anything attractive untill they are ready for a show pot. I get extraordinary root growth and foliage growth with the lava/sand combo. I would use it all the time except it looks funny in a show pot.

The next phase called for pruning back hard the branches and foliage of the tree to induce back budding for future branches. This was done and the tree wired for a rough styling. The tree was then allowed to rest.