Does it have potential?

[Mike123]

Found this juniper, and home owner will part with it. Wasn't sure if it has potential. Can have for 50.00. Not sure if bends in trunk are too much. Looks like procumbis nana? It stands about 40 inches, just a guess. Can you help me decide please! Also was transplanted about 3 weeks ago and I'm in zone 6. Here's some pics. Not very good though.

 

[berobinson82]

I'd love to dig that guy up but it would never go into a bonsai pot. it's a nice topiary.

 

[Mike123]

You think it's to big? I don't know. Plus can be shortened right?

 

[Mike123]

What if it were something like this?

 

[Paradox]

Two problems that are obvious off the bat.

1. The lower trunk you propose, while nicely curved, has almost no taper at all
2. The foliage is pom pom, and will take a very long time to correct, IF you can at all.

I see better potential in the top part you propose to cut off. That might make a nice cascade if it can be airlayered or cutting successfully.
The bottom might have better potential if you cut lower, above the next lower branch going to the left in pic 1 and make another semi cascade from that.

I'm not sure its worth $50 asking price for what you're getting bonsai-wise except you could get 2 trees out of it to learn on.

 

[tmmason10]

I would tell him you're not interested but you will dig it for free. If he comes around, good, if not then it wasn't meant to be.

 

[D'Angelo]

kinda looks like one of mine, ....... with a couple years of refinement it wont be bad!!.., I would dig it, but not for $50

 

[Mike123]

Thanks for the response guys. If I do go ahead and collect it should I collect now? Two things- it was just transplanted about 3weeks ago we're you see it in pics, and im in zone 6. Kinda like it and think I can learn from it! Wasn't sure if digging it up after just had been planted would be to much stress on the tree? Or possibly that shouldn't hurt.

 

[Poink88]

Being just transplanted recently, I won't pay much for it. Pay only what you consider is worth the risk w/ the chance it will likely die.

Good luck!

 

[daygan]

Take a look through some of Pavel Slovak's progression documentations and you'll get an idea for the near infinite bending possibilities you might have with something like this with the right amount of care, creativity, and knowledge of the tree's capacity to bend.

I'm not sure about transplanting the tree. I tend to believe that if it was just transplanted and you know the size of the root ball, you can dig around that space, avoiding any disturbance of existing roots entirely, and the tree will experience no ill effects. However, on this subject, I defer to others with more experience than myself.

 

[Poink88]

Daygan, that is true only IF it was collected properly the first time.

 

[daygan]

Daygan, that is true only IF it was collected properly the first time.

Good point. It's certainly worth researching the tree's history and possibly waiting before rushing into things.

 

[Mike123]

The owner just moved into the house about 3weeks ago and told me he just planted it when he moved in. He's had it about 20 years at his other property.

 

[Mike123]

I believe that if I don't disturb roots, maybe no cutting of roots at all. Just lifting and put in a grow box. I should be ok but not 100% sure.

 

[daygan]

How long ago is "just planted"? What kind of care did the owner take in the process of digging it up and moving it to the new property?

 

[Mike123]

How long ago is "just planted"? What kind of care did the owner take in the process of digging it up and moving it to the new property?

He planted it 3weeks ago. I can't say much about the care he took in transplanting from one house to the other. Hoping he did a good job. It didn't have a for sale sign on it . I passed it going to take daughter to gymnastics. It's in the front yard. Knocked up and asked if he would part with it. And I gave him a price and he agreed.

 

[RECLAIMEDBARNWOOD]

I'd say do it. If $50 was your offer than you already know its worth that to you. If he's had it that long it probably had a good spred on its roots and he might of cut threw alot but he might of taken more care since he's had it so long. I'd ask how big of root ball he left and how long it was out of the ground. Junipers can stay green long after there gone.

 

[Mike123]

Good point about root ball and staying green long after its demise! I'll definitely ask about it. And your right about the price thing. 50.00 and a chance, I'll take it! And I'm not saying this is an unbelievable find or anything not by any means. I just kinda like it. Thanks!

 

[berobinson82]

Take a look through some of Pavel Slovak's progression documentations and you'll get an idea for the near infinite bending possibilities you might have with something like this with the right amount of care, creativity, and knowledge of the tree's capacity to bend.

I'm not sure about transplanting the tree. I tend to believe that if it was just transplanted and you know the size of the root ball, you can dig around that space, avoiding any disturbance of existing roots entirely, and the tree will experience no ill effects. However, on this subject, I defer to others with more experience than myself.

Thank you so very much for linking this. It's destroyed my productivity tonight.

 

[Poink88]

Thank you so very much for linking this. It's destroyed my productivity tonight.

Pavel is a SELF TAUGHT artist I respect a lot.