Need your advise on this one
- Thread starter Escobar090
- Start date
MrFancyPlants
Masterpiece
From the second photo, use the left branch as the future top. The one on the right you want to grow out as a sacrifice branch; slowly reduce it over a couple of years starting closest to the trunk so that it doesn't shade out any usable branches in the mean time.
Oh and make sure you keep it outside and healthy.
Oh and make sure you keep it outside and healthy.
Smoke
Ignore-Amus
Could you explain your reasoning for keeping a leader and a sacrifice eminating from the same point on a trunk? Would this be a recipe for reverse taper or am i missing something.
MrFancyPlants
Masterpiece
Forks don't cause much reverse taper that can't be corrected come sacrifice time. I'm not saying grow it out huge or anything, but remove slowly so that the extra green can aid in the development for a while and let the new leader gain some more momentum.
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
The problem I have with this tree is that anything you do to it now in the realm of training will do nothing more than slow it down when it actually needs to be grown out for a few years to provide you with more options. As it is now, you are looking for new growth that does not now exist in any form. What you need to do is over pot the tree and let it run wild for a few years.
Once it does, than you should have a bunch of new options in front of you that are real and not imaginary. You will be cutting on growth that does exist and will back bud if you cut it as opposed to cutting one branch here and hoping to get a new branch over there where there is no branch at all. JMHO having done it the other way for many years and discovering the pitfalls.
Once it does, than you should have a bunch of new options in front of you that are real and not imaginary. You will be cutting on growth that does exist and will back bud if you cut it as opposed to cutting one branch here and hoping to get a new branch over there where there is no branch at all. JMHO having done it the other way for many years and discovering the pitfalls.
Escobar090
Seedling
I bought it because the guy in the shop told me it had potential, i guess i was fooled by ignorance. So what i understand its that this tree doesn't have any branches that i can work with at the moment, and that i need to let it grow to have something to work with, right?
october
Masterpiece
Correct. All there is on the tree is young foliage, nothing that can really be cut or wired. Maybe in about 4-5 years you might be able to do a light trim and some light wiring.
Rob
Dirty Nails
Shohin
Don't feel bad. I bet most of our first trees were similar. People who sell these as bonsai should be beaten because it is total BS. Stick it in the ground for a few years and go spend $50 or 60 on a nice fat juniper that you CAN work on.
Smoke
Ignore-Amus
It looks to me that the leader on the left, the one you wish him to keep is already larger than the trunk on the right. Why keep it? What kind of momentum will it gain by keeping another large branch. Why not just force "all" the energy into one if that is the ultimate goal?
I look at this as a learning experience for me also since I have been doing it wrong.
Smoke
Ignore-Amus
Mr. Fancy Pants...
Here is a clue:
Take a look at the trunk where it exits the soil and look at the trunk at the wye. Do you see any difference? Keep in mind also that the trunk at ground level is made of exposed rootage that will need to be dealt with and the eye is fooled by a large root exiting the trunk way above the soil line.
Here is a clue:
Take a look at the trunk where it exits the soil and look at the trunk at the wye. Do you see any difference? Keep in mind also that the trunk at ground level is made of exposed rootage that will need to be dealt with and the eye is fooled by a large root exiting the trunk way above the soil line.
MrFancyPlants
Masterpiece
I did miss that singular exposed root which will need to be dealt with. But my general suggested strategy is still the same. The branch that I have suggested for eventual removal hasn't caused any reverse taper yet and given a little time could enhance the stability of the base. And alternatively, if it were removed completely, could be too much for the tree to handle. My strategy is just what jumped out at me, but there are some other options.
Smoke
Ignore-Amus
Smoke
Ignore-Amus
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
Yeah I saw the bump there too when I first saw this.
Escobar, Im sorry but the guy who sold you this tree was doing just that "selling"
As Dirty Nails said, dont feel bad. Many of us bought trees like this when we first started.
This is the first tree I bought when I first started.
The first picture was taken in April 2012, the spring after I bought it. It was a pretty pathetic little thing.
I had almost killed it the year before because Id had it inside, but I managed to save it.
The second picture is from this past May before I did some pruning. It is much healthier now.
Its not a great tree or even a good one, but I still like it nonetheless.
Escobar, Im sorry but the guy who sold you this tree was doing just that "selling"
As Dirty Nails said, dont feel bad. Many of us bought trees like this when we first started.
This is the first tree I bought when I first started.
The first picture was taken in April 2012, the spring after I bought it. It was a pretty pathetic little thing.
I had almost killed it the year before because Id had it inside, but I managed to save it.
The second picture is from this past May before I did some pruning. It is much healthier now.
Its not a great tree or even a good one, but I still like it nonetheless.
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Escobar090
Seedling
Nice to know im not the only one out there, did you repot it and let it grow freely im guessing, right?, about that what soil should i use? Regular plant soil?
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
Escobar090
Seedling
the main thing is to re-pot it in a larger pot isn't it?,
I found recipe online for a conifer mix, which is 6:3:1, akadama:regular soil:gravel.
what do you think about that?
I found recipe online for a conifer mix, which is 6:3:1, akadama:regular soil:gravel.
what do you think about that?
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
My pot is really way too big for the tree. I would look to putting it into a training/growout pot, not another bonsai pot. Alot of people use colanders or pond baskets. Ive made my own out of plastic storage boxes that have holes on the side that I covered in screen material and drilled holes in the bottom.
That soil mix is probably fine.
That soil mix is probably fine.
augustine
Chumono
Let your plant grow and do some reading and learning. A bonsai club is excellent place to learn and gain access to plant material. Nothing wrong with your tree, it's just young and most of us start at the very same place. Those little junipers have recruited many members of the bonsai community.
You can water properly by placing a wooden skewer into the soil Remove it and you can tell when your plant needs water. (Don't let the stick dry out completely. When it's real wet no water is needed. When the stick is starting to dry a bit it's time to water.)
Feed with regular fertilizer like miracle grow, peters, schultz's, etc according to directions. You must water your tree before your fertilize. Feed every 2 weeks. Keep this tree outside. Morning sun and light afternoon shade is good. You cannot keep this plant inside (even if someone at the store told you otherwise).
Do not constantly prune or pinch the foliage, it will weaken the tree.
Read this forum and others for good info.
Read Al's blog
bonsai4me.com
article section at evergreengardenworks.com
lots of great trees to view on Walter Pall's website
library books
"Bonsai Art of Japan" video series on you tube
surf the web
look at bonsai and regular trees
etc, etc, look around. Stay with it.
Figure out the bonsai soil deal and repot next spring. If you keep your tree in a small bonsai container it will grow very slowly. If you pot up to a larger growing container it will grow faster. If you like it keep it in a display container, if you want it to grow faster pot up. It's all up to you and what makes you happy.
Best,
Augustine
You can water properly by placing a wooden skewer into the soil Remove it and you can tell when your plant needs water. (Don't let the stick dry out completely. When it's real wet no water is needed. When the stick is starting to dry a bit it's time to water.)
Feed with regular fertilizer like miracle grow, peters, schultz's, etc according to directions. You must water your tree before your fertilize. Feed every 2 weeks. Keep this tree outside. Morning sun and light afternoon shade is good. You cannot keep this plant inside (even if someone at the store told you otherwise).
Do not constantly prune or pinch the foliage, it will weaken the tree.
Read this forum and others for good info.
Read Al's blog
bonsai4me.com
article section at evergreengardenworks.com
lots of great trees to view on Walter Pall's website
library books
"Bonsai Art of Japan" video series on you tube
surf the web
look at bonsai and regular trees
etc, etc, look around. Stay with it.
Figure out the bonsai soil deal and repot next spring. If you keep your tree in a small bonsai container it will grow very slowly. If you pot up to a larger growing container it will grow faster. If you like it keep it in a display container, if you want it to grow faster pot up. It's all up to you and what makes you happy.
Best,
Augustine
Escobar090
Seedling
Thanks augustine, that was really helpfull, regarding to growing, ive always wondered, whats the real difference between a nursery tree thats been turned into bonsai and a seed grown bonsai which looks exactly the same, (im going philosophical here) but what does actually make a bonsai, bonsai?, im talking about the early years (<10), no discussion on an older one.
In my country spring's arround the corner (Chile, south hemisphere), so should i repot to a larger one?, what would be the difference in a year of growing in a large vs smaller pot
Thanks!
In my country spring's arround the corner (Chile, south hemisphere), so should i repot to a larger one?, what would be the difference in a year of growing in a large vs smaller pot
Thanks!
