Advice on styling/training this juniper

krlix

Hey guys.

I am going to start training this bonsai on the weekend, i am 100% sure i would like to make it informal upright, I have a couple of ideas in mind but i was wandering, if possible, could some members post suggestions about it? I will post the picture of mine, and what i am 'aiming' for.
I know it is more of a personal opinion on how to style the juniper, but by looking at the picture if you can see any aspects of the tree that are special or i should work with please let me know. I only want to be sure as this is my first, and i want to make sure that i do it properly. I have an aunty who will be guiding me so yeah but i want to get a variety of opinions (if possible).

Any help/advice is greatly welcomed
Michael

P.S: the photo of the styled Juniper is a Juniper by the user midwestbonsai, ideally i would like to achieve something like this.

Attached Images

	4573PDRM0101.jpg (33.5 KB, 95 views)
	juniper002.jpg (60.2 KB, 110 views)

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Arnie

Hi Krlix.

How patient are you? This is one of the key attributes of good bonsai practice. Sometimes its better to just leave young material planted in the ground for a few years and let it grow freely to develop a thicker trunk and improve options for a branch structure.....its hard, many here will admit attacking a tree as soon as possible and getting it wired into some kind of bonsai shape and into a pot. But, the rewards of being patient are far greater.

My advice to you if you really want to aim for a tree as your example is to plant this Juniper in your garden, feed and water well and let it grow for a few years to thicken and develop. But if that burning desire to create something right now is still there then post a few more pics of all angles and I'm sure the kind BT folks will advise and even offer a virtual or two.

Why not buy another one....plant one to grow on and style the other as shoin.

Good luck, keep the enthusiasm going.....sounds like your blood is turning to sap already!!

Arnie

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krlix

I am aiming for something like the one in the other photo, i know every tree is different but just the general structure and all. I dont think i will be able to wait and i purchased a smaller juniper which is in the ground now growing, and there is also a twin trunk juniper which was given to me which i have started to try something very basic on. I will go out now and take photo's which will cover 360 degrees of it.. I am very patient like i dont expect it to be an overnight thing but i would like to start soon and all, as this will be my first.

BRB

Michael

krlix

Ok, here are the photos, these cover all dimensions of the plant.

Michael

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Arnie

I can't see anything from these pics.

OK if your going to style this tree the first thing to do is strip out a lot of the foliage as the diagram. With Junipers you need to loose a lot of foliage to wire and style, carefully pinch out leaving just florets of growth at the tips.

It may look as though your loosing a lot, but when everything is wired the future pads will look quiet full.

I think the best thing to do is clean out the foliage then post new pics so we can see into the tree better.....eye level against a white background, cut away the top of the pot if its hiding the tree.

By the way, what season are you in at the moment?

Attached Images

juniper.jpg (47.8 KB, 61 views)

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krlix

Ok, i will post some pictures tomorrowish when i cut some of it off. It is spring at the moment, everything is coming to life

rockm

You're taking a "macro" view of the plant now. That's not the best way to look at a bonsai in the beginning. You have to take a "micro" view of the individual elements the tree offers when you begin designing the tree. If you don't it, you will be constructing a building with no foundation.

In your photos, you only give a view of the silhouette and foliage. That is the most impermanent portion of the plant. What you need to show us is the base of the trunk, the interior branching. Those are the "bones" on which your future bonsai will be built, not with the extension growth on the branches.

Give us photos of the "nebari" (which is the portion of the trunk that "grasps" the ground, of the lower two third of the trunk, along with the primary branching. That will give a more solid idea of where you can go with this tree.

krlix

heya.

I just went outside and i tried to get some shots of the base of the trunk, this is the best i could get. Hope it helps. The trunk which leans out to the main trunk, however, there is a vertical trunk, slightly smaller located on the right. Most of the plants foliage is on the one leaning to the right.

Michael

Attached Images

P9160039.jpg (41.7 KB, 70 views)

krlix

Hey guys,

After 2 very long and exhausting days, i give you the final product. It still needs to grow a little more but in about 12 - 18 months it will be close to completion, i will just need to maintain it then .

I hope you like it, please comment on it and let me know if there is anything i should so.

Also, i am going to go out next weekend to the bonsai environment nursery and purchase a little man and possibly some white pebble to create a river/pond.

Hope you like it,

P.S I havent significantly pruned it as i dont want to kill it, i wired, rooted and re-potted today so i dont want to stress it out.

Michael

Attached Images

My Juniper(white).jpg (36.0 KB, 82 views)