New nursery Juniper bonsai need advice.

[TheWarriorDude]

Hello I'm James and I'm new to Bonsai and Bonsai Nut. My wife recently purchased me a nursery bonsai, tea cup size. I've watched videos and became more inspired. She Found this web site and my inspiration has turned into and obsession. Every time I pass a red maple now I picture it as a bonsai in my home.
My problem is with this small juniper it's so small. I don't know where to begin with this juniper to get the trunk to grow bigger other than put it in a bigger pot. I live in climate 6b I've read I can still repot. So if I repot now I water every day for a week, give it water until it comes out clear, and keep it in shade for a week. But what soil do I use, regular potting soil or bonsai soil (already have it from Bonsai Supply)?
Are there any recommendations on beginner books, I just purchased Bonsai Basics 101 (don't have in my possession yet).

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Japonicus]

Hi James and welcome to the club
Number one reason folks new to the hobby kill their trees is improper watering.
Do not water every day for a week...unless it is drying out and is ready to drink.
Yes water new bonsai soil until it runs clear out through the drainage holes.

Can you provide at least 6 hrs of good UV direct Sun daily?
Don't attempt to keep an outdoor plant indoors.
Please edit your account details to include a general location, and USDA grow zone in your details
by clicking on your avatar/Account details...
If you could provide a picture of the juniper would also be helpful with getting proper input.
Try not to have much static background noise in the picture, rather a plain backdrop helps
rather than a green juniper with green grass behind it or distracting stuff.
It's usually a good idea to watch the tree and learn basic care this year, especially as late in Spring as it is.
So next Spring, might be better for repotting.

 

[TheWarriorDude]

Ok 6 hours of sunlight, wait and learn. What about the pot? It is collecting water will cause me problems?

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Welcome Aboard BonsaiNut!

12 hours would be best and take off the water retention dish. Finally only water when almost dry.

Perhaps the best free on line videos to show how to develop bonsai junipers are posted by @Eric Schrader of Bonsaify.com

Here’s a link for one of his videos, “How to make your juniper grow 10x faster”

Eric also was developing an online juniper tutorial last I heard. One might also check out his website to see if the series is posted for sale yet.

Good Luck and Cheers
DSD sends

 

[TheWarriorDude]

Welcome Aboard BonsaiNut!

12 hours would be best and take off the water retention dish. Finally only water when almost dry.

Perhaps the best free on line videos to show how to develop bonsai junipers are posted by @Eric Schrader of Bonsaify.com

Here’s a link for one of his videos, “How to make your juniper grow 10x faster”

Eric also was developing an online juniper tutorial last I heard. One might also check out his website to see if the series is posted for sale yet.

Good Luck and Cheers
DSD sends

If the base doesn't come off what then drill holes or repot? I watched the video and he planted in a much bigger grow bag than I was expecting, but got better results (hmm). Do I use potting soil or bonsai soil?

 

[TheWarriorDude]

Yeah it doesn’t come off….

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Ok. No worries.

Find a pot of similar size and slip the rootball soil and all intact into it. The tree will do fine until it is repotted later. This procedure is often called slip potting… a procedure which has a number of variations.

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[TheWarriorDude]

Ok. No worries.

Find a pot of similar size and slip the rootball soil and all intact into it. The tree will do fine until it is repotted later. This procedure is often called slip potting… a procedure which has a number of variations.

Cheers
DSD sends

Sounds good, got to looking there isn’t drainage.

 

[Japonicus]

If you’re around Ashland/Cannonsburg, I wouldn’t mind helping you
with repotting next Spring mid April to early May.
Would be a good learning experience on how to repot.
Easy enough to do on the tailgate of my pickup in a safe zone.
But that pot would be the death of any plant without drainage.
There isnt any difference in 6 hrs of quality UV and 12 hrs of full Sun.
Takes a while to throttle up then back down. 10 am - 4 pm are the most usable
daylight hours when the Sun is most harsh. Outside of these hrs UVI is not very usable
and Sun block is not so important for us.

 

[TheWarriorDude]

If you’re around Ashland/Cannonsburg, I wouldn’t mind helping you
with repotting next Spring mid April to early May.
Would be a good learning experience on how to repot.
Easy enough to do on the tailgate of my pickup in a safe zone.
But that pot would be the death of any plant without drainage.
There isnt any difference in 6 hrs of quality UV and 12 hrs of full Sun.
Takes a while to throttle up then back down. 10 am - 4 pm are the most usable
daylight hours when the Sun is most harsh. Outside of these hrs UVI is not very usable
and Sun block is not so important for us.

Tried to start a conversation with apparently I’m not Bonsai nut friendly. But yes I live in that area. If you can start a conversation with me that would be great.

 

[TheWarriorDude]

I you look at the original pic it’s lower branch on the right

 

[Japonicus]

I you look at the original pic it’s lower branch on the rightView attachment 547066

If you're talking about this area here, I haven't a clue if it's a weed or what.
One weed you have to get at, at very 1st sign, is dandelion. Don't wait a second to lever it up out of the soil and get all the roots.
Winter did not kill mine off, but I about killed a pine trying to eradicate it. In the yard dandelion roots can reach a foot deep.

 

[TheWarriorDude]

That’s gone I’m talking about the branch above the circle

 

[Japonicus]

That’s gone I’m talking about the branch above the circle

Oh, well I would not refer to that as a sprout (in PM).
Leave all foliage this year.
I’m curious what the jell crystal looking blob is.

 

[Srt8madness]

Oh, well I would not refer to that as a sprout (in PM).
Leave all foliage this year.
I’m curious what the jell crystal looking blob is.

My guess is a stone like quartz

 

[BrightsideB]

The juniper looks like a 1 or maybe 2 year cutting. These procumbens are a dime a dozen at landscape nurseries. You will find some easily 5 plus year old junipers for $12-$20. It’s good to weigh that price with the years, time, and effort it’ll take growing your current one to that point. Nursery material can usually be worked immediately. Depending on the health I’ve gotten away with styling and repotting smaller junipers from the nursery into a much smaller pot all in one go.

 

[TheWarriorDude]

Update on the Juniper after repotting.

 

[Japonicus]

It looks like you used top soil. Not the best choice, but it can work.
Easier to goof up on the watering, but it can work.
Give it about 3 weeks, and use either Plant Tone, Holly Tone (1-2 tsp) sprinkled about the soil,
or you can use MiracleGro at about 1/4 - 1/3 strength. Wait another 3 weeks and you should be able to use
MiracleGro at full strength.

Trick now is to allow it to get semi dry before you water it, but not dried out.
That and fertilizing in full Sun is about all you're going to ne able to do this year.
I wouldn't worry with wiring this year since it is freshly potted up.

It is advisable not to repot 2 years in a row. It will weaken/slow down your juniper.
Good that you did not really over pot it (too big a pot).

Keep it outdoors all the time.
Keep it outdoors over Winter, on the ground in say a flower bed, North side of house would be great
as it will be more protected from the Westerlies and lack of sunlight will keep the temperature from fluctuating
so much. Mulch it on the ground but don't cover up the trunk. An area about 18 or 20 inches across.

 

[Deleted member 47471]

It looks like you used top soil. Not the best choice, but it can work.
Easier to goof up on the watering, but it can work.
Give it about 3 weeks, and use either Plant Tone, Holly Tone (1-2 tsp) sprinkled about the soil,
or you can use MiracleGro at about 1/4 - 1/3 strength. Wait another 3 weeks and you should be able to use
MiracleGro at full strength.

Trick now is to allow it to get semi dry before you water it, but not dried out.
That and fertilizing in full Sun is about all you're going to ne able to do this year.
I wouldn't worry with wiring this year since it is freshly potted up.

It is advisable not to repot 2 years in a row. It will weaken/slow down your juniper.
Good that you did not really over pot it (too big a pot).

Keep it outdoors all the time.
Keep it outdoors over Winter, on the ground in say a flower bed, North side of house would be great
as it will be more protected from the Westerlies and lack of sunlight will keep the temperature from fluctuating
so much. Mulch it on the ground but don't cover up the trunk. An area about 18 or 20 inches across.

What he said

 

[Deleted member 47471]

You’re all set up for a nice cascade juniper

Feed and watch it grow for a while now and get more trees in the meantime