Thinning Question

Darunium

Greetings!

I am new to Bonsai growing, I've done a great bit of reading but have no actual experience, so I went last weekend and bought my first Bonsai. I got three conifers, 2 japanese Junipers and 1 Shimpaku Juniper. My focus thusfar has been on keeping them alive and healthy, and with some difficulty in finding an acceptable location for them (I have a spot where they get morning sun, but only for 2 hours (around sunrise-10), after which I have to move them around noon to get more sun in the afternoon, and then back for the night, is this OK?). Now I'm thinking about how I want them to grow, and had a question regarding accomplishing that:

I think I understand how pruning and trimming effect growth, where destroying certain elements causes growth in particular other locations, but it seems to me that these methods cause more growth, not less, bringing to mind the question: how to thin out an area?

In particular I've two issues with a couple of these guys, one is there are 'clouds' of foliage that I think are too dense and I'd like to thin them and the other is that there are branches branching off of main branches that I would like bare, but I figure that pruning off those branches would cause new ones to grow? My geuss is that one simply has to continuously prun to keep areas thin, which may be for the best as it would prevent me from doing irrevocable damage, but I wanted to check with you guys. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Also, if left alone will branches naturally grow straight along their current path or will they bend upwards?

Thanks!

Darunium

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Joanie

Please go into your User CP and add your actual location. "USA" is rather a broad term. We need to know better where you are.

You shouldn't move your trees around. Junipers can take a lot of sun, but would probably be fine in morning sun/afternoon dappled shade. They need more than 2 hours of sun, though. Moving them caused disruptions that aren't supportable by the tree, and you are going to tire of it soon. Best to find a spot and then leave them there.

I don't know what a "Japanese Juniper" is, but generally, 'shimpaku' is the general Japanese word for juniper and it is commonly applied to a juniper with nice, soft scale foliage. There are tons of different kinds of junipers.

As to thinning, generally you simply remove the smallest (secondary or tertiary) branches. Remove ones that grow back toward the tree, or downward below the branch structure, or in a direction that you don't want. You will also want to pinch foliage sometimes. Pinch and twist, instead of cutting, if you can. It does less damage to the ends. Yes, it is a continuous process. Never remove all of the foliage from a branch if you want it to live. Branches always need some foliage to "pull" nutrients along the living veins, or they will simply die. You may want that, sometimes, but be aware that it is the way we kill off branches and don't do it to a branch you would like to keep.

Not sure what exactly you are asking, but someone will come along and tell you better.

If left alone, branches may grow straight, or up, or down. Depends on the kind of juniper, and the direction that the branch is growing. Yes, tips generally grow up. We either wire them and train them to go in the direction we want, or with some trees we can simply select the foliage growing in the direction we prefer, and remove the rest. Junipers are usually wired.

Hope this helps!
Joanie

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Darunium

Thank you so much!

Sorry about location, I'm in Boston.

Yeah, I wasn't sure about "Japanese juniper" either, it's just what they were labelled as at the farm (new england bonsai, www.nebonsai.com). This isn't what my tree looks like at all, but it's the species they're calling Japanese Juniper: http://www.nebonsai.com/Merchant2/m...tegory_Code=PRE

Thanks so much! I'll post pics soon!

waltr

There is a possibility that your "Japanese juniper" is the juniperus procumbens. Also know as Japanese Garden juniper and Green Mound.

Look here: http://www.google.com/search?q=juni...lient=firefox-a


I agree with Joanie, find a spot and don't move them. As for pruning and styling try to go to a few classes so you can be shown what to do.
Good luck and post a picture if you can.

BonsaiSteve1

This is the "japanese juniper" you probably have....

http://www.bonsai-bci.com/species/garden-juniper.html

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- Steven

Darunium

Thanks! Examining the bonsai and pictures of procumbens online, I'm pretty certain that's what they are. I've taken your advice and am leaving it in the spot that gets morning sun from sunrise to about 9 O'Clock. They seem to be doing fine, I'll begin pruning, trimming, and training soon, pictures coming!

Would it better to put them in a spot that gives them more sun, but only after noon?

Thanks for all the input! Darunium

Vance Wood

In places where I have encountered "Japanese Juniper" they are usually what we more commonly know as San Jose Juniper.

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The only finished bonsai is a dead one; me 1992 MABA Des Moines Iowa

Darunium

Hey all! Thanks for the wonderful advice. The bonsai are currently living in a spot where they get 2-4 hours of sun in the morning, shade for the rest of the day. I've just begun pruning and shaping them, I've finished one and am halfway through the second. When I finish I'll post pics (sunday most likely).

On that note, I do have a couple more questions:

1) should I feed as normal when they've just been significantly pruned? less? more? I currently put some feed in once every couple of weeks (is this too much?)

2) Should I water as normal when they've just been significantly pruned?

Thanks!

Darunium