starting with a couple of junipers..

bonsai_damien

i have been interested in bonsai for quite a bit of time now and have been visiting forums and reading books, so i know a little bit about it but have no experience whatsoever. about a week ago one of my brothers friends that does bonsai dropped around two junipers for me, one that is has already been styled to a cascade, and one that hasnt been styled at all i think.

i have attached a photo of both plants. what i wanted to know firstly is if there is anything i should do to the cascade to improve it? and i have no idea what to do with the other juniper, it has multi trunks, some being just lower branches that i can get rid off, but i dont really want a multi trunk bonsai to start off with (i guess it just sounds harder to do) but if i have to then i defenitely will. so if anyone can give me any suggestions that will be good please..

also i have been reading up on soil and tools etc..

ive noticed ron martin's soil mix and am interested in that sort of thing (it is 1/3 fir bark and 2/3 crushed volcanic rock - i think) thats if i can get that. how does this sound for me? should i add osmocote to that mix? and should i sift it?

what tools will i need to start with - if any. i realise i dont need the trimming shears just yet as i have to pinch back the foliage on juniper, but do i need them for small branches. will i need concave cutters for styling the unstyled juniper? if i do then what price range should i be looking for and where at?

now just to make things clear on my juniper care..
so do i keep them in full sun (does that mean full sun all day), or partial sun. i know to water once the soil is dried (using my finger) but ive also read that junipers liked to be spayed to keep up humidity - how often do i do this?
do i need to start to fertilise. i dont know what to use though (seaweed, slow realise, e.t.c)

now i think that is all my questions for now.
thank all in advance for your answers,
damien

p.s i realise that the last photo is pretty blurry so if any one wants me to, its not a problem to take more photos up closer to the trunk etc.

Attached Images

	100_0305.jpg (67.5 KB, 38 views)
	100_0303.jpg (66.7 KB, 38 views)
	100_0310.jpg (58.0 KB, 34 views)

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Cathie

Hi, a couple of things - full sun all day, but depending on how hot it gets there, something white, like a tile, could be propped against the pot to keep the roots cooler, though I think your pots are large enough for it not to be a big issue. Don't bother spraying for humidity, it's pretty ineffective, junipers don't need it, and it can cause problems. Concave cutters (8", ~$50/USD) are pretty indispensable for any bonsai work, and Ron's mix should be fine, though some might use even less bark, and more grit, but that may depend on how often you water, the climate there, etc. When you have the cascade out of the pot and into one that allows a horiz. shot of the roots, etc., post it so we can see what the nebari are like and the branching. Both your trees will need some work, but you can wait until you have a better idea (look at books on bonsai to start) of styling and how to get 'there' from being new at it. There's always time to cut, but you can't glue branches back on :-)!