Advice on styling/training this juniper

Arnie

Is this a wind up?

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Where theres a will theres a way

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Vance Wood

Every body has their first dance, their first kiss, their first---well you know, and their first bonsai. You have taken your first step in getting there. Bassically leave the tree alone till next spring. Give it a chance to grow some more, give yourself a chance to grow some more by reading and asking questions.

You have made some of the classic beginer mistakes with this tree but I don't think they are fatal unless you baby the tree into oblivion. Keep it outdoors in partial shade, water when it is almost dry and put it somewhere out of the wind. In a couple of weeks you should start seeing new growth. Do not fertilize, this is important, fertilizing a newly potted tree is dangerous and often will kill the tree.

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

krlix

hey, thanx for the reply.

With the last post i made i made a typo, i have not pruned the tree, the only removing of foliage was when i was examinging over saturday and sunday. This was extremely 'light' it was just enough to see where the branches are going. I will be waiting a few weeks before applying the fertiliser(possibly a few months, to give it time for the roots to re eastablish. With wiring it, i know it looks like a completely different tree, the wiring was not very forceful, on the left where i have used the thick wire, i have only used that to hold it out in place, i have not bent or shaped the branch.

With repotting it, i was told to seperate the roots (if that makes sense) so they re establish in the new pot etc. Then i submerged it in water(once potted) to let the air bubbles out, and repeated to process 2 or so times to ensure the soilwas properly around the roots. With shade, i have it under the green mesh/shade cloth (i was told that only the green stuff for bonsai) so it is getting sufficient shaded sunlight. Last night i did not water it as it was very moist (the soil) so i gave it a very light spray of water.

It was very difficult to do, not the practical side, the theoretical side. I spent a day evaluating the different sides of the tree etc. However, i had spoken to different people on advice on when should i do it and everything. Most were saying that now would be suitable as it is the beginning of spring (although it is best to put it on in winter when the tree is not growing).

For future refence, in months to come/later down the track, how should i approach training a bonsai? What mistakes have i made? Just so i know what to do differently next time etc.

Michael

L5171180

Honest opinion:

I still think the foilage and the size of the trunk is not in proportion. I suggest to un-wire and put the tree on the ground for at least 2 years, let it grow.