Shimpaku Styling Thoughts

[MidMichBonsai]

This is a Shimp. that I got roughly 1.5 years ago for under $10 as garden stock at a bonsai show. I really wanted to start one and get to know them before delving into some better more pricey material. The first picture is a its initial styling and the second is a restyle coming into a local club show in early Sept. I would like to see the 2nd branch on the right fill in the empty space and I think it will have a much better image.

The biggest challenge has been deciding what to do with it given it's 3 trunks. So far I have bent them to make them branches but have contemplated a literati or bunjin style.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated!

 

[jk_lewis]

I don't see a good bunjin there. Your major problem is that you have little pom-poms of foliage out on the end of long branches. It is going to be a chore bringing the foliage in closer to the trunk and THAT will be your biggest challenge.

 

[drew33998]

I think you may have to cut on of the first two branches as it is a bar branch and somewhat distracting.

 

[John Ruger]

One of the biggest challenges is resolving the straight line of the trunk with the curve you have wired above it.

What I would do is go with the straight line from the base to the top. Both large branches would have to go too. This way your line of sight is uninterrupted from base to apex. What you do at that point is your choice, but if you cleared the apex into a jin and then worked your next series of branches downward it becomes, in my eye, a rather believable and interesting bunjin. This type is a much more sparse and weathered example as opposed to one that uses a heavier degree of foliage with the existing branch structure.

 

[MidMichBonsai]

I don't see a good bunjin there. Your major problem is that you have little pom-poms of foliage out on the end of long branches. It is going to be a chore bringing the foliage in closer to the trunk and THAT will be your biggest challenge.

Thanks for the thoughts. I do have some foliage popping closer to the trunk a various forks. What is the best way to develop this inner foliage? Should I let it grow out to increase the flow of resources or should I cut the end so that it's resources go to the inner foliage? I'm still learning how junipers work as opposed to pines or deciduous trees.

Thanks.

 

[MidMichBonsai]

One of the biggest challenges is resolving the straight line of the trunk with the curve you have wired above it.

What I would do is go with the straight line from the base to the top. Both large branches would have to go too. This way your line of sight is uninterrupted from base to apex. What you do at that point is your choice, but if you cleared the apex into a jin and then worked your next series of branches downward it becomes, in my eye, a rather believable and interesting bunjin. This type is a much more sparse and weathered example as opposed to one that uses a heavier degree of foliage with the existing branch structure.

Thanks for the thoughts. Definitely worth considering.

 

[fourteener]

It's still young and flexible enough to get a lot more movement in the trunk. 2 of three branches are keepers, one a trunk and one a branch. Not only does the look cause trouble, later you will have reverse taper that will be an eyesore.

Over exaggerate the movements while you can.

 

[october]

The tree has potential. A lot of subtle changes might go long way. If you can bend the trunk to put a subtle curve in there, that might improve the overall look. Next, I would remove the low branch on the left. Then, I would wire the low branch on the right all the way down. I would also wire the small apex you have down and forward a bit towards the viewer. Also, wire all the other branches downward, but also inwards towards the trunk and put more side to side movement in them. This will shorten the branches and tighten the silhouette. At that point, you can let it grow for a couple of years. However, at least you will have a decent foundation.

Rob

 

[MidMichBonsai]

The tree has potential. A lot of subtle changes might go long way. If you can bend the trunk to put a subtle curve in there, that might improve the overall look. Next, I would remove the low branch on the left. Then, I would wire the low branch on the right all the way down. I would also wire the small apex you have down and forward a bit towards the viewer. Also, wire all the other branches downward, but also inwards towards the trunk and put more side to side movement in them. This will shorten the branches and tighten the silhouette. At that point, you can let it grow for a couple of years. However, at least you will have a decent foundation.

Rob

Thanks Rob. It's tough to see from the view I provided but some of this has been done. I may try to do more of it but should that happen this winter or wait until next fall?

I have provided a few more pictures that may give a better view. The first is a "high-front" shot and the 2nd is obviously a top shot. The lower right branch used to jut straight out and I brought it around back close to the trunk with a major 180 deg. turn. Maybe these will give a clearer picture.

 

[MidMichBonsai]

It's still young and flexible enough to get a lot more movement in the trunk. 2 of three branches are keepers, one a trunk and one a branch. Not only does the look cause trouble, later you will have reverse taper that will be an eyesore.

Over exaggerate the movements while you can.

Thanks for the honest feedback. I will definitely take a seriously look at these and see if I can improve the foundation so that 10 yrs. down the road this tree will be a much better specimen.

Much appreciated!

Best,
Dan

 

[october]

Thanks Rob. It's tough to see from the view I provided but some of this has been done. I may try to do more of it but should that happen this winter or wait until next fall?

I have provided a few more pictures that may give a better view. The first is a "high-front" shot and the 2nd is obviously a top shot. The lower right branch used to jut straight out and I brought it around back close to the trunk with a major 180 deg. turn. Maybe these will give a clearer picture.

I do see a little more with the new pics. I would let it rest next season and then maybe next Fall, you can do the wiring. However, I think what I would really do, would be to let it grow for a 2-3 years. At that point, the tree will ramify and fill in. You might be able to somewhat keep the current design. Hwoever, with more pads and more foliage in close. The tree might grow into a nice style. Of course after you wire the new growth in the proper place.

Rob

 

[MidMichBonsai]

Thanks Rob...I appreciate the help!

 

[MidMichBonsai]

Any suggestions with regard to deadwood or shari? I know that deadwood is a defining characteristic of junipers but perhaps this little guys is too young to go that direction yet.

Thoughts?

 

[october]

Any suggestions with regard to deadwood or shari? I know that deadwood is a defining characteristic of junipers but perhaps this little guys is too young to go that direction yet.

Thoughts?

I think a subtle spiral might enhance the look of the tree. Also, it gives the illusion of the trunk having more subtle curves. Something like this.

Rob

 

[MidMichBonsai]

Healing or Sick

So I'm back with an update on my Shimp. I will post some full tree pics soon. I'm pleased with its healthy growth over the past growing season. It has filled in nicely, is very green, and I'm starting to get some necessary back-budding closer to the trunk so that I can chase the foliage back.

My question is: any idea what is going on in the pictures below? I did some heavy bending on the main trunk and this troubling "green substance" seems to be coming from a slit at that point (pictures 1 and 2). The same thing is occurring on a branch at this section where some wire that I left on too long bit in a bit (pics 3 and 4). Is this the tree healing itself (i.e. scar tissue) or has it been infected by something when the cambium was exposed because of the split?



ANY help with what is happening here and how it can be dealt with would be much appreciated!

Thanks.

 

[MidMichBonsai]

Any thoughts on my last post...anyone? I would really like to identify what is going on so that if it's a problem, I can fix it.

Any help is much appreciated!

 

[Poink88]

As far as I can tell, it is just healing and those are the cambium rolling over the deadwood or damage.

I won't worry about it but I am no juni expert.

BTW, I have similar on mine where I did grafts and where I did drastic bends.

 

[Lazylightningny]

Apple cedar rust???

 

[Poink88]

Apple cedar rust???

Nah. Please do not scare me like that! LOL

 

[MidMichBonsai]

My hope was that this was the case but I have had the little guy for 2 years and never seen it. That being said, I've never bent it that hard either.

As far as I can tell, it is just healing and those are the cambium rolling over the deadwood or damage.

I won't worry about it but I am no juni expert.

BTW, I have similar on mine where I did grafts and where I did drastic bends.