rmj partway

[wireme]

A bit of cleanup, carving and branch placement on a small juniper today. A bit of pruning and fine wiring later, probably next year.

This is a tree I had a pretty low opinion of until I did this bit of work, now I am really looking forward to future development.

 

[MACH5]

I like this tree. I am partial to these types of wispy, delicate material. I think is has very good potential. If it were mine I would let it go for another 2 years and get enough foliage to give me options when it came time to styling it. Foliage is your paint

 

[wireme]

Thanks, I think you're probably right about 2 years or so. The smaller trunk I would actually like to reduce the number of branches but increase foliage on others. For now I'm keeping it all to maintain a strong sapflow through the very narrow lifeline that was bent cracked and stressed somewhat this morning.

 

[wireme]

This one was repotted this spring, probably would have left it but water was pooling on the surface. Aside from that just think and grow so far.
Sometimes I consider separating the trunks, they have 2 separate lifelines and live veins. The smaller trunk has an interesting front that I can't use so much with the two together, maybe someday, I'll try to work the two together first.

 

[wireme]

The tree actually had three trunks when collected, this piece came off when it was transplanted from the post collection growbed into the first pot. Pretty lanky foliage on these so far.

 

[Adair M]

Have you considered grafting Kishu on?

 

[wireme]

I would love to try some juniper grafting on some of my trees, haven't done it yet but planning a couple approach grafts next year on another tree using its own branches. I'd like to see so.e kishu growing, never even seen a shimp of any kind in person. But here's a question, will kishu grow and survive in zone 3?

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

But here's a question, will kishu grow and survive in zone 3?

Mine have gone down to 7f on the bench without protection and stay on my benches all winter. They looked really cold (very purple and brittle-looking) but none suffered any dieback. I suspect if its grafted to RMJ roots, the chances are better. Itoigawa is native to Japan's colder northern climate. It may do better than kishu; which is from their Southern region.

 

[Dav4]

Zone 3 is 2 zones colder then what I understand shimpaku to be able to tolerate in the ground. With that said, I've seen your storage area in winter...completely covered in snow. Consistent snow cover and I bet the grafts would be fine...no snow in January and all bets are off. I hope you give it a shot and let us know how you fare.

 

[wireme]

Yeah, its the low snowfall years in early winter that can be scary.
It would be fun to try anyways, I would have to source a small mother tree, I know of a grower in BC who ships, its possible.
On another note I had a few cuttings collected from wild rmj with exceptionally good foliage, I think I overdid it with moisture in the mist house, they're not looking good. But thtas where my interest would really be finding an rmj cultivar with foliage to match shimpaku to graft with.