Didn't know where to go with the green...

[Mike Corazzi]

So I removed some.

I think it's better than it was. I had some branches going who knows where.

?????????

This one is the "sorta" literati JBP.

 

[Mike Corazzi]

And this the JBP that has been a problem, quandary, regret ..ever since getting it as a "replacement" for one (that was pretty nice) that died from the bonsai nursery.

???????????

Dunno, but improvements to MY eye.

Sure wish I had stubbed and jinned the BEEEEEG chop-off "back then."

 

[Mike Corazzi]

Still work needed on the pads. Waiting for hardening.

 

[Adair M]

Mike,

With JBP, timing is everything! There are two times it's best to wire JBP: 1) in late fall and throughout the winter; and 2) in mid summer right after decandling.

If you're really good at wiring, you can get away with it at other times, but for most of us mere mortals, it's best to do it at those times.

Next, is needle pulling. Needle pulling serves three purposes: 1) by pulling old needles, it makes the tree look better because the new needles are young and fresh; 2) pulling needles allows us to balance the tree by weakening the parts of the tree that is too strong; 3) it opens up the tree allowing light in to the interior so as to keep the interior foliage alive.

I see you pulled needles. Probably for reason number 1. Unfortunately, this is the wrong time of year to do that. Because now, you can't decandle.

I recommend that you get Boon's videos on JBP. You can buy DVD's, or stream them from his website. He describes what should be done, when. And then demonstrates it. I think it would really help you a lot.

 

[Smoke]

This might have been an avenue?

 

[Mike Corazzi]

Candles were over a month ago. Those needles are FROM the candles.
The tether wires have been on for 2 years.
Just tightened one.

 

[Mike Corazzi]

This might have been an avenue?

View attachment 145239

Would have to figure out where to put about 8" of tree.
Different view................

 

[Mike Corazzi]

Tee tum tee dee.....

 

[Adair M]

Candles were over a month ago. Those needles are FROM the candles.
The tether wires have been on for 2 years.
Just tightened one.

Yes, the green needles I see were from candles that started growing this spring. The bonsai "lingo" is to call them "candles", even though they've progressed past that point in their growth cycle. Another way is to think of a "candle" is being the most recent flush of growth. (I know, it's probably incorrect use of proper terminology, but it's the language bonsai people have been using for the past couple decades).

All that aside, by pulling the old needles now, there's no needles produced in 2016 on the tree. At least in some places. In mid summer, typically we "decandle" JBP. This means cut off the current year's growth. A second flush will grow, and this second flush will have shorter needles, shorter internodes, and where a single candle had been removed, multiple smaller shoots (summer candles) grow to replace it, so we get good ramification.

But, you can't cut off all the current year foliage if there is no prior year foliage. The branch will die. This is why we don't pull needles before we decandle.

 

[Mike Corazzi]

My bad. I thought shortening the candles was the right way.
It's hard to believe how so few old long needles could do anything.
I'd ....Guess....An average tip had 4 maybe 5 or 6 long old ones.

Welp.
Live and learn.

My Scots won't give a second flush.

 

[Adair M]

My bad. I thought shortening the candles was the right way.
It's hard to believe how so few old long needles could do anything.
I'd ....Guess....An average tip had 4 maybe 5 or 6 long old ones.

Welp.
Live and learn.

My Scots won't give a second flush.

We all have to learn!

One way is doing stuff on your own, and learning by trial and error. You may eventually stumble upon some effective techniques.

The other way is to learn from others who have prior experience. Once you learn the basic effective techniques, you can experiment with ways to make them even more effective.

I prefer the second method.

I suggest you get Boon's DVDs at www.bonsaiboon.com

Shortens the learning curve. Immensely.

 

[Mike Corazzi]

I think what I have....LEARNED.... is how much simpler life would be if I would stick to......

the more forgiving.......JUNIPERS !!!!!!

I would have added OLIVES too if I wasn't having such a bitch of a time trying to figure out what the hell is happening THIS year that never has happened in the 10-13 years I've owned it. Have been discussing this mystery with JudyB for some time now this year.

 

[Adair M]

I think what I have....LEARNED.... is how much simpler life would be if I would stick to......

the more forgiving.......JUNIPERS !!!!!!

I would have added OLIVES too if I wasn't having such a bitch of a time trying to figure out what the hell is happening THIS year that never has happened in the 10-13 years I've owned it. Have been discussing this mystery with JudyB for some time now this year.

Each species has its own requirements.

Olives are ridiculously easy! They grow like weeds!

Here's one I worked on today;

 

[Giga]

Each species has its own requirements.

Olives are ridiculously easy! They grow like weeds!

Here's one I worked on today;

View attachment 145743

this looks familiar

 

[Adair M]

this looks familiar

View attachment 145763

Yep! That's what we call it! "Jaba"

 

[Mike Corazzi]

MY olive weed keeps getting brown leaves.
After YEARS of no problems.
I'm hoping adding a tad more of organic to the recent slip pot will perk it up.
It throws NICE new growth off the TRUNK but NEW leaves on the branch tips are tending to start out fine and then wither within days.
Also some yellowing of ....a....FEW... leaves this year.
Think I'll try a small bit of chelated iron.

??????????????

(oh, the slip pot wasn't the start of the leaf problems. It was the first attempt to try to solve this issue)

 

[dirk hoorelbeke]

Do the wrong thing with junipers and they won't forgive you. Ryan Neil has a few "pine lectures" online. It's a good base to start too.

 

[Paulpash]

Each species has its own requirements.

Olives are ridiculously easy! They grow like weeds!

Here's one I worked on today;

View attachment 145743

Olive Mountain that looks a big beast

 

[Potawatomi13]

Would have to figure out where to put about 8" of tree.
Different view................

View attachment 145328 View attachment 145329

Looks good here.

 

[Paulpash]

Back to the original tree I like @Smoke 's virt but at the next repot it needs a slight tilt to the left to give it better balance.