Getting excited for spring!!!

[milehigh_7]

Back in June I bought this 5 gal Procumbens nana from my local landscape nursery for the princely sum of $5.00 I took this video when I got it.

[video=youtube_share;D0H9UmEtRM8]http://youtu.be/D0H9UmEtRM8[/video]

Today I cut the top 2" of the 5gal can off so I could see the trunk a bit better. The base is 2.5" really rough bark. I don't even know what direction to go with it...



Still can't really see from these pictures there are just way too many branches in the way.

 

[BigDave]

five bucks, get out of here

 

[milehigh_7]

five bucks, get out of here

Totally not kidding! I am going to start a thread with all of my bargain hunting from the last year. I am just really excited to see what it looks like when I open it up.

 

[milehigh_7]

Here is the problem

I did some virtual cleanup so the biggest problem with this can be seen. It is in essence nearly a 'T' shape about an inch above the current base. (I have no idea what is below the soil in the can)



I know nanas grow this way so someone must have an idea how to deal with this problem. Should one side be totally removed? Jinned? The third image in the first post shows a dead branch that currently comes out of the base as well.

 

[Tona]

You could go with a twin trunk double apex like this. Or as I may do soon, pick one side and jin the other. I'm considering removing the left side of the tree.

 

[nathanbs]

You could go with a twin trunk double apex like this. Or as I may do soon, pick one side and jin the other. I'm considering removing the left side of the tree.

Do it! Do it! Do it! how about some pics of your new baby boy Tona? Show us your Chinese elm

 

[milehigh_7]

So I am about ready to start working on this fella. I have not touched it at all and it still sits in its 5gal can.

I would like to thin it out and reduce the roots but I have read that you should leave all of the top on a juni when doing major root reduction. Is this accurate?


I am thinking to remove 1/2 to 2/3rds of the root mass. Is this too much? If I do that much what should I do with the top?

 

[Poink88]

Clyde,

I've got an opinion based on what I've read but having minimal juni experience, I would wait for those who have more to give you proper advise.

Actually, I am just bumping your thread up. LOL

 

[october]

So I am about ready to start working on this fella. I have not touched it at all and it still sits in its 5gal can.

I would like to thin it out and reduce the roots but I have read that you should leave all of the top on a juni when doing major root reduction. Is this accurate?


I am thinking to remove 1/2 to 2/3rds of the root mass. Is this too much? If I do that much what should I do with the top?

Hi Mile..To answer your question best. I can offer these explanations. Since junis survive off their foliage, if you do major root reduction it is a good idea to leave much of the foliage on the top. Of course some maintainence or opening up the interior foliage of the tree a bit would be fine.

On the other hand, subscibing to the practice of doing only one major thing to a tree per season, eliminates this problem. So, you would either style this season and leave the tree's root mass alone (with the exception of slip potting)...or you would do you major root reductions now and save styling for next season. If you did root prune now and the tree does well throughout the season. A Fall styling might also be acceptable.

A healthy juniper can have 1/3 to 1/2 of the roots removed. Although 2/3 are possible with healthy trees, that might be a gamble.

In my experince, whenever you are dealing with nursery stock like this. It is almost impossible to go from nursery container to an actual appropriate size bonsai pot. Not without risking the health of the tree. Usually, I might prune a little more than half of the root ball and then put it in a slightly over sized bonsai pot or grow pot. Then in 2-3 years, if the tree is growing well, I then can get it into an appropriate size bonsai pot.

Rob

 

[milehigh_7]

Perfect! Just what I was looking for! Thanks Rob!