J. conferta

[DougB]

I now have a J. conferta, Blue Pacific in a 3 maybe 5 gal container. It is in great condition. Yup you guessed it. It was from the clubs Christmas Auction, great for the club, but!

OK this is a needle J. I am used to the Shimpaku, etc. The question is has anyone created a really nice bonsai with the Blue Pacific? Or should I just find a place in the landscape?

thanks folks

 

[sorce]

I now have a J. conferta, Blue Pacific in a 3 maybe 5 gal container. It is in great condition. Yup you guessed it. It was from the clubs Christmas Auction, great for the club, but!

OK this is a needle J. I am used to the Shimpaku, etc. The question is has anyone created a really nice bonsai with the Blue Pacific? Or should I just find a place in the landscape?

thanks folks

I don't think it's outside possibility.

I know @GrimLore is playing with a couple.

Sorce

 

[GrimLore]

The question is has anyone created a really nice bonsai with the Blue Pacific?

I have a couple of those and other "mound type junipers". Those types grow SLOW so be certain when you cut you are really positive about the end design. They all have nice and different foliage and is the main reason I have them. From what I see so far they can all make very nice semi-cascade and cascade type plantings with little effort. The main reason I am bothering is they can and will create a lot of interest and variety on benches mixed in with flowering and deciduous in different colors. I have grown tired and bored with all green everything and all of my future plans include color and variety at different times... A bonus is they are sturdy - all they need is a little "inside air" between the branches to stay healthy and fungus free in a LOT of natural sun. I don't do anything to them in the winter just leave them and only water during unusual warm spells so they don't dry totally.

There are large ones out there and I am guessing they came from a defunct Nursery or landscape removal - those indeed can be awesome but in these parts are hard to come by.

Grimmy

 

[Arcto]

Never used them in bonsai culture. I did have some in the landscape where I used to live for over a decade. Even in the ground, they didn't put much caliber on the trunks

 

[DougB]

Thanks Grimmy. I guess I will take a second look and not just put it in the landscape.

Anyone else working with the Blue Pacific juniper?

 

[GrimLore]

Thanks Grimmy.

When you/if you have a chance post a couple of pictures for me please. Sounds like yours is a lot larger then what I am "playing" with and would like to see it. Last year I started messing with several Juniper varieties and honest I am finding most of them interesting to work with. The ground types are a challenge for many reasons so I only have a few of them. My favorites are not Ground types BUT they will provide some diversity.

Grimmy

 

[Steve Kudela]

Thanks Grimmy. I guess I will take a second look and not just put it in the landscape.

Anyone else working with the Blue Pacific juniper?

Hey Doug, I've got one that I've been working on for 26 years or so. I'll post a pic later in the day. I saw one in a parking lot median in Atlanta several years back that was killer. My work tied me up and wasn't able to get permission to take it up. Arcto is correct, they don't thicken very fast, but no matter, I'll keep working on mine. The one in the parking lot had a 2 1/2 inch trunk, no telling how long it had been there.........SK

 

[DougB]

When you/if you have a chance post a couple of pictures for me please.

Here is a quick picture to give you an idea. Advice would be appreciated.

 

[Steve Kudela]

Thanks Grimmy. I guess I will take a second look and not just put it in the landscape.

Anyone else working with the Blue Pacific juniper?

Hey folks, here's a pic of my old conferta. It's approximately 30, 31 yo from a cutting. I've had it for 28 yrs based on limited records. Picked from a batch of about 50.......the only reason I picked it was because it was growing upright,I haven't changed it's planting angle at all. Started off in a 1 gallon can, worked up to a 3 for many years, then started bringing it back down. It's been in a bonsai pot about 4 years. It looks a little shabby, it hasn't been cleaned up for the year yet.....soon. It measures 16 inches tall, 22 wide. A 3 inch root spread and 1 1/2 inch trunk width. Most of these that you see are more suited for cascade trees. I'm not much on cascades, I only have one and it's a good one.....an old prostrata. I wonder about the possibility of wiring them into more upright forms. Doug, I keep looking at that right side branch, maybe try to bring it up? It appears to have some branching closer to the trunk, am I seeing that correctly?

 

[GrimLore]

Advice would be appreciated.

Tough to call by that picture but I see there is a possible good start to a semi-cascade. Seems to me from that angle tipping it to the right a couple of inches it would show more to you looking straight on. Myself I would Winter it and in Spring I would open it up a bit to see the basic design, perhaps tipping it right in that same container using the same dirt. Once in place some wire on a few branches to encourage the design. It is going to be a bit of a challenge not cutting to much at first. Also, the back might show what I am hinting at more clearly.

Grimmy

 

[DougB]

Thanks Steve and Grimmy. Yup will live with it and wait for spring. What to cut of, make jin, is my biggest concern. Thanks again.

 

[sorce]

make jin,

Questions and thoughts Doug B.


Where is that branch coming from?

Looks like the red is fully cut off, yes?

So you only have 2 living branches connected at that 4 street intersection?

How pliable is that long right branch?



Imagination required.....

Id like to see those 3 branches left jinned...in time of course.....
And have it tilted left so their tips are hovering a 1/4in or so above soil level.

Kind of like a tripod kickstand....

And then, even if you can't bend that long branch at all.....even if it just does what it does now, a slight curvy, I think it would look good up top. With a well designed head.

Sorce

 

[DougB]

Questions and thoughts Doug B.

Thanks Sorce for your time and expertise. I'll have to take a close look at the tree and ponder your guidance. Thanks again and will get back to you in a few.

 

[sorce]

expertise.

Oh..Doug B sidekick Raven!



Those smileys are all that is left of a rant!

Imagine the madness!

I can not accept anything of expertise.
In fear of the pillory.

Sorce

 

[Vin]

One of our club members has one that displays very well. I have one that I've been working for a year or so in a 1 gallon pot. I plan on repotting it in the next few months and keeping it as a Shohin. In my opinion they possess many of the qualities and characteristics of non-cone shaped pine trees. It's yet to be seen if I succeeded in my endeavor.

 

[DougB]

Where is that branch coming from?

Sorce I took a quick look on my way out to my ham shack. The branch in question is actually is just above your red mark and is the first branch off of the back branch.

Thanks again.

 

[Jarath]

I too possess 2 pacific blue junipers. It will be interesting to see more talk about this plant. Not sure of my direction yet, but I couldn't beat the deal on them. Neat looking .