Newbie with a Juniper

[Camo252]

Hey Everyone,

This is one of 3 trees (2 Junipers and a Chinese Elm) that I'm working on at the moment. I'm not sure of it's age, but I purchased it from a local nursery. At a guess I'd say probably 4 years old.

Anyway, I bought it back in early January and gave it a trim up and wired it a few weeks later.

At the moment I've decided to go with a Semi-Cascade with an informal upright...but I don't know if I'm really digging it yet. Either way it still has a long way to go.

The first photo is how it looked after initially trimming it, the rest are after wiring.

Would love to know your thoughts and if there's a better direction that I should be taking it.

Thanks,
Camo

 

[Paradox]

You need to put some bends and movement in those straight branches.

 

[Camo252]

Thanks Paradox, I'll get onto that this weekend. Do you think this tree is suitable to a semi-cascade/cascade with part of it being informal upright? or do i need to chop some branches off?

 

[twisted trees]

Thanks Paradox, I'll get onto that this weekend. Do you think this tree is suitable to a semi-cascade/cascade with part of it being informal upright? or do i need to chop some branches off?

I think what you are trying to describe is a two line cascade similar to my avatar tree. It is possible to have the upper line more in slanting style than that but putting an informal upright on a cascade sends a mixed message. Also you need to remove the branch, or jin it, on the opposite side of the cascade. One's eye has trouble trying to decide where to go. Finally get a cascade pot, something square, sometimes round, and tall, or moderately tall.

 

[lordy]

wiring can be tricky sometimes. Photo 3, left branch: Wire crossing another wire is frequently problematic because it creates undue pressure to the branch. The top wire puts additional pressure on the branch at the point of contact of the bottom wire. It just presents an opportunity to scar the bark.
Regarding design, I concur with the suggestion by Paradox to add bends, or "movement" to the long branches. The wire is to hold the position that you bend into it. Take it slow, or you may crack or break the branch being bent.

 

[Camo252]

I think what you are trying to describe is a two line cascade similar to my avatar tree. It is possible to have the upper line more in slanting style than that but putting an informal upright on a cascade sends a mixed message. Also you need to remove the branch, or jin it, on the opposite side of the cascade. One's eye has trouble trying to decide where to go. Finally get a cascade pot, something square, sometimes round, and tall, or moderately tall.

I'll start adding some more bends into the cascade on the weekend and try and get the middle upright branch looking more attractive. I'll jin the opposite branch at a later time, and if it doesn't look any good, it can always be removed

wiring can be tricky sometimes. Photo 3, left branch: Wire crossing another wire is frequently problematic because it creates undue pressure to the branch. The top wire puts additional pressure on the branch at the point of contact of the bottom wire. It just presents an opportunity to scar the bark.
Regarding design, I concur with the suggestion by Paradox to add bends, or "movement" to the long branches. The wire is to hold the position that you bend into it. Take it slow, or you may crack or break the branch being bent.

I had a lot of trouble wiring at that stage, I think the wire I was using was way too thick, but I'll definitely be working on my wiring skills. As for cracking/breaking a branch, too late, when i was trying to wire the middle upright branch, I did it too quick and hard and the branch split at the fork, I superglued it back together and a month later it seems to be doing ok.

 

[edprocoat]

What ???! Nobody has said slingshot yet? They must be off their meds at the moment.

BTW, is that a procumbens nana? Its hard to tell from the pics, but if it is be very careful bending those branches as nana's tend to snap off when bent. Wrapping them with raffia helps.

ed

 

[Camo252]

Juniper Squamata is what it was tagged with at the nursery.

What exactly is Raffia? I've seen it used plenty of times in photos/youtube, but not sure if it's just material, a type of paper or bark or whatever.
Is it specific to bonsai or would it likely be available at a nursery/garden center?

Sorry for so many questions

 

[armetisius]

Raffia?

Raffia is a vegetative material processed from either palm fronds or from certain tropical grasses. It is not specific to horticulture, used to be just really strong packing/binding cord for shipping bulk products like cotton, and the very best sources for it in bulk will be hunting supply sites. Just google "raffia" you will get plenty of sources to shop around.
a.

Juniper Squamata is what it was tagged with at the nursery.

What exactly is Raffia? I've seen it used plenty of times in photos/youtube, but not sure if it's just material, a type of paper or bark or whatever.
Is it specific to bonsai or would it likely be available at a nursery/garden center?

Sorry for so many questions

 

[Camo252]

Thans Armetisius, I'm pretty I remember seeing that stuff everywhere at one point, but haven't seen any in ages. No worries though, I'll grab some online.

 

[Jaberwky17]

Hobby store

Raffia is a vegetative material processed from either palm fronds or from certain tropical grasses. It is not specific to horticulture, used to be just really strong packing/binding cord for shipping bulk products like cotton, and the very best sources for it in bulk will be hunting supply sites. Just google "raffia" you will get plenty of sources to shop around.
a.

I get mine at the local hobby store in the floral department.

 

[Camo252]

Hey everyone,

As I mentioned in my other two threads, I haven't given up Bonsai, I just haven't really had a chance to do much lately as my Dad past away at the beginning of the month after a 9 month battle with Brain Cancer.

Just thought I'd do an update on this juniper, All I've done so far is add a few sharper bends into the cascade part, and worked on trying to pad out the foiliage. Still not sure on what to do with the other 2 branches, whether or not to jin one or remove one. Might have a look at doing some virts.

Here are some photos.