I'm thinking raft style...

[ForThemWhatCare]

I picked this up over the summer and haven't really done anything with it safe for fix some heavy bends in the branches and some base level cleanup. In the spring I'm thinking of transferring into a growing box and maybe go with a raft style. I know that technique is considered to be pretty advanced but with this clearance sale item and that hard fork in the middle I'm not sure where else to take it. If this was in your collection what would you do?

I really, REALLY appreciate your thoughts.

 

[mook1178]

I'm new, but seems like a good candidate for semi-cascade.

 

[thebonsaiproject]

I wonder if there is such thing as a cascading raft? If you position that right bend on the rim of the pot with the right overflowing and the left is slightly 'buried' soil level for raft. I haven't seen it before but could look cool.

 

[ForThemWhatCare]

I wonder if there is such thing as a cascading raft? If you position that right bend on the rim of the pot with the right overflowing and the left is slightly 'buried' soil level for raft. I haven't seen it before but could look cool.

That would fix the less than impressive trunk by elongating it and hiding the weakness below ground. I've not seen that before either but could be a good strategy.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Likely one would want to think about the final size of the raft and the number of trunks. For a decent raft one might want to have five + decent trunks not in a straight line, well spaced, if at all possible to hit the sweet spot.

The left side (figure one) doesnt seem to fit well. That leaves you with plenty of material left to work with on the right side, given a raft is still what you want.

cheers
DSD sends

 

[Potawatomi13]

True trunk less than impressive however using largest upward branch/trunk can be bent, twisted, folded, etc made much impressiver if growing bigger tree. See illustrations of many juniper Yamadori on BN website for inspiration. Only seek best advice on WHEN to bend, twist tree before doing so. Please.

 

[Shibui]

Many beginners latch onto raft style for any tree that doesn't seem to fit upright style. I know I've tried a few times but truth is that raft looks easy but in actual fact is quite hard to get right. Extra trunks add complexity to any bonsai. Add a horizontal trunk and that complicates it even more.
By all means have a go. I can see some possibility in the right side (remove the left side completely IMHO) but don't be surprised if it does not live up to expectations.
I see wire on some branches but it does not appear to be doing anything? Need to remember that wire does not make a bonsai. Wire is used just to make bends so if not bending don't waste wire.
Cascade and semi cascade are also styles that are overused and hard to get good results with but best possibilities I can see with this is semicascade.
No scale so hard to decide whether it is possible to bend those branches but I doubt that small wire will do anything. Junipers tend to be stiff and hard to bend but with technique and real wire you may be able to achieve something. The big issue will be the lack of taper in any of the trunks.

Good luck with developing this one.

 

[ForThemWhatCare]

I see wire on some branches but it does not appear to be doing anything?

It was stuck in a bottom cramped shelf causing two of the branches to have bends I just wanted to get out. The bends didn't look natural and as you can see with the last two pics I'd already removed the wire once the shelf impact was addressed. I agree on preferring to maybe do something else. I just don't see a lot of rafts that I can easily study to get more comfortable with developing. Might be I put it in the ground and revisit when I have more experience.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Might be I put it in the ground and revisit when I have more experience.

That's not how you gain experience my friend!
I'd eliminate the right trunk, reduce the triplet of branches on the right side to two (one trunk, one branch) and flip the organism so that it's upright.
It'll tell you what it wants to be, and if it doesn't.. Just start wiring. I think you'd be amazed about how that works out for you.

 

[ForThemWhatCare]

I went a different direction with this one. I did an initial styling in March knowing that I'd need to continue to really keep reducing in order to get proportions correct. I decided to see if I can get the bit on the left to also root so I was shy on cutting it back too much to what I believe would be a more appropriate height. Everything needs to be shortened but I wanted evidence of health before removing more of it's leave mass. I was also worried that the major angle change and the roots I'd lose might add even more stress.

Couple of questions:
1) Do I need to wait a year before further reducing (like cutting the semi-raft tree on the right to half it's current size) or does it look healthy enough for pruning now?
2) When is it save to clean up the roots that are above the soil line? Do I wait for a certain amount of time to pass or do I wait for a specific season?

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Unclear what the concept is at this time? Could you please explain this in detail?

Can see a trunk on the left and one on the right.

Are these both strongly rooted?

If yes, pruning reductions are ok, especially the trunk one on the left.

If pruning, just cover there roots for now.

Cheers.
DSD sends

 

[ForThemWhatCare]

There are no roots on the one on the right. I think I followed the correct process for getting that branch to start rooting but I suspect it will be a very long time till it adds value to the design.

The concept won’t be obvious for some time but would be a bit of a root over rock with a touch of raft (not a formal style I get it). This particular juniper seems to thicken quickly so maybe in 4-5 years it will start to look like something.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Presently see two trees as best, perhaps air layering the smaller. But no worries your tree your choice.

Would reduce/prune the large tree now.

Cover up the connector root.

Minor work on the right to give it best shot in rooting. Plan for two years before checking the roots.

If considering bending the larger trunk/branches. … put 2-3 wires on the connector root onto something stable on the bottom of the pot, like rebar. Use inner tube/gasket material etc to protect the root..

Best
DSD sends

 

[ForThemWhatCare]

Really good ideas. I'll try that and thanks!