styling 2 junipers ive had for about 18 months.

[benw3790]

I think these two junipers are procumbus nanas?? I'm not exactly sure.. I can't remember what the tag said at the home depot when I got them. Maybe "blue star" juniper? Anyways, I live in eastern united States, not sure which zone. Wondering if they can be identified? I also would like to hear some of your opinions or input on styling. I'm gonna keep them in these containers for a few growing seasons to thicken the trunks but I feel like I could do a little more styling. What would you do?? The one with the most foliage has an inverse taper and idk how to go about working with that. Also, on this same tree, the one with the most foliage, and three main branches, I feel like I should take the left one off? But Im not exactly set on it. The other tree the tree with less foliage (tree #2) I've formed the beginning of some nice "pads" just need to encourage back budding closer to the trunk. And I'm not sure if I wanna keep all the branches or not. Would you keep them all? Take any away? Its also developing some nebari, since being put in the bigger pot, any tips for encouraging it any further? Any thoughts, tips, hints, input, opinions or criticism is very ,much welcomed and appreciated. Be blunt, IDC. I'm just in that "writers block" state of mind with these two, if that makes sense. Hahaha thanks!! cheers.

http://s982.photobucket.com/user/Ben_Watts_III/library/Mobile Uploads

 

[Neli]

You are basically on the right truck.
Inverse taper is caused by many branches growing from the same spot. Remove one or two branches from the spot where the reverse taper is developing. It will prevent it from growing any worse. If you get budding lower in the trunk, leave it as sacrifice branches. Fattening the area bellow with sacrifice branch will reduce the RT problem. Make sure you provide adequate light to areas important to future development.
Ones you decide on a style, try to wire the trunk and some branches you might want to keep.
Decide on a size also. Mame and shohin might be the fastest option for you.

 

[edprocoat]

They look like Procumbens Nana. Nice looking material too. The one has some nice nebari showing in the closer in pic.

ed

 

[benw3790]

They look like Procumbens Nana. Nice looking material too. The one has some nice nebari showing in the closer in pic.

ed

Yeah, it is procubens Nana! Thanks you. I'm gonna provide a link to the pics to show you guys what I ended up doing with them. (Wish I could just upload pics straight to here but this forum is really messed up when it comes to posting pictures! Wish they'd make it easier like bonsaiempire.com) but on the tree with the reverse taper, I ended up cutting off the left branch and made a jin out of it. Thoughts on that?? Will that keep the RT from being resolved or when the wood dies and stops growing, it wouldn't be a problem? Not real sure on the jin, yet. And as for the other tree I wires some of the branches (excuse my wiring. But everything is anchored properly and no wires are crossing or too tight) I was in a hurry before sun down I worked on the pads a little bit, but not too much. I really like the branch placement but I'm thinking about making the back of the tree, the new front. But I really appreciate the feedback and input, I hardly get any replies on anything I post, so I'm grateful! Cheers!

The first 5 pictures are the "after" pics. The older pics are in there too if you wanna see the "before" thanks everyone!
http://s982.photobucket.com/user/Ben_Watts_III/media/Mobile Uploads/image_zps8ccb6947.jpg.html

 

[Neli]

I know how it feels when no one replies, and I am sorry to hear that. Why can You not post pictures here? It is not hard.
Reduce your pictures to manageable size
Click manage attachments.
Add files one by one.
Upload (do that for each picture)
Drug thumbnail In the lower window. Some time you need to do it several times to happen.
Select each picture
Insert inline.
Alternative:
Upload to a host the way you did.
Copy URL Some hosts have it displayed, some you right click the picture.
Hover over the icons in the post window and find insert image.
From URL
Paste...
OK.
That is all.
I would advise you to try and learn which is the best material to buy. Dont rush into buying too much now. ( look who is talking)
maybe this can help:
http://nelibonsai.wordpress.com/2013/07/26/how-to-select-material-from-a-nursery/

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Here you go, while you figure out how to upload your photos.
Tree 2.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

And Tree 1...

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

How to load a photo from the iPad: click on the photo icon (below the smiley face, left of the filmstrip icon) and follow the screenshot steps. Note, it will not show the thumbnail once it's loaded.

 

[Eric Group]

How to load a photo from the iPad: click on the photo icon (below the smiley face, left of the filmstrip icon) and follow the screenshot steps. Note, it will not show the thumbnail once it's loaded.

Ok, let me try this...

 

[Eric Group]

Ok, let me try this...
View attachment 43305

Well looky there! I have always tried to use the attachment manager- or the paper clip icon- and it never worked right! Thanks Brian!

 

[Neli]

I did not realize you are using Ipad...I upload to FB and use URL for the ipad.

 

[benw3790]

I did not realize you are using Ipad...I upload to FB and use URL for the ipad.

Yeah, I am actually using a Google nexus 7 android tablet and do not have any icons or "fields" for adding pictures.. I've tried everything I could think of. Even borrowed my parents laptop but they have internet explorer which I've found out is not compatible with this website. Phtobucket is the only luck I've had. I think it'd be great if they just had a regular upload button under the "title" "messages" section. It'd be so much easier. But photobucket will have to do for now. :/ also, sometimes I can't see other ppls pictures.. Where the picture is supposed to be, it says "attached file" but I can't see the photo or click on it or anything. Ppl posted pics to this topic but I can't see em . But thanks for all the help, replies and advice guys! Much appreciated!

 

[benw3790]

How to load a photo from the iPad: click on the photo icon (below the smiley face, left of the filmstrip icon) and follow the screenshot steps. Note, it will not show the thumbnail once it's loaded.

Hey buddy, not only do I not get any icons when trying to upload photos but I can't view the photos that you posted . It just does that on some of the posts on this website for me, idk why. But as I stated above, it just says "attached thumbnails" and I can't click on it or anything.

 

[StarTurtle]

How to load a photo from the iPad: click on the photo icon (below the smiley face, left of the filmstrip icon) and follow the screenshot steps. Note, it will not show the thumbnail once it's loaded.

Well lets see if i can upload too

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Hey buddy, not only do I not get any icons when trying to upload photos but I can't view the photos that you posted . It just does that on some of the posts on this website for me, idk why. But as I stated above, it just says "attached thumbnails" and I can't click on it or anything.

Wow...No luck for you...maybe time to try stamp collecting?

 

[benw3790]

Wow...No luck for you...maybe time to try stamp collecting?

Haha yeah I know right? I really wanted to see the pics you posted, tho! And thanks for all your input! Maybe the website hasn't come around to being mobile/tablet friendly. Do any of you guys have imstagram?

 

[benw3790]

I would advise you to try and learn which is the best material to buy. Dont rush into buying too much now. ( look who is talking)
maybe this can help:
http://nelibonsai.wordpress.com/2013/07/26/how-to-select-material-from-a-nursery/

Thanks for the link! It is extremely helpful! I researched and learned through the internet and videos about bonsai for about a year before I bought my first material, and I've never spent more than 20$ on any of the material I've bought. I will admit, that I am pretty impatient but its not worth it to rush. And that I probably have wayyy too much material for someone who's only been in this thing for about 18 months now (newbie for sure) but there were still a lot of things in that link I've never thought about or didn't know, and I've added it to my book marks. I hope I don't end up with any trees I regret, tho. haha. The hardest part for me is not actually being impatient but wanting to work on my material constantly which I'm still getting used to just leaving them alone instead of nit-picking here and there all the time. I thought I had a lot of patience until I was sucked in by the hobby. One of the hardest parts about bonsai, I must say. Another thing.. There is only ONE place around my area that has to do with bonsai, and they're just classes but they're so expensive, idk if I can afford to go as muvh as id like. I dont want to have to pay to be around other bonsai enthusiast to learn and make new friends in the hobby. And I've learned that unfortunately, there are a lot of ppl who are arrogant or stuck up in this hobby, which is really discouraging? Love to hear your thoughts about everything or ,maybe how you were when you were only "18 months in" sorry for the books I'm writing. Hah this is the only place I have, to talk to other people in the hobby.

 

[Neli]

View attachment 43315

Well lets see if i can upload too

Can You upload to flicker or FB? If you can try to get the URL. You can use it in one of the icons above where it says insert image.

 

[Neli]

Thanks for the link! It is extremely helpful! I researched and learned through the internet and videos about bonsai for about a year before I bought my first material, and I've never spent more than 20$ on any of the material I've bought. I will admit, that I am pretty impatient We are all impatientbut its not worth it to rush. And that I probably have wayyy too much material for someone who's only been in this thing for about 18 months now (newbie for sure)That is phase 1, and we all go through it. Quantity versus quality. It helps to learn, and also it is said : make 100 bonsai and keep 2-3 but there were still a lot of things in that link I've never thought about or didn't know, and I've added it to my book marks. I hope I don't end up with any trees I regret, tho. haha. The hardest part for me is not actually being impatient but wanting to work on my material constantly Same here. Dont rush. Take your time observing the tree and think before You cut.which I'm still getting used to just leaving them alone instead of nit-picking here and there all the time. I thought I had a lot of patience until I was sucked in by the hobby. One of the hardest parts about bonsai, I must say.You will cool little bit soon. Another thing.. There is only ONE place around my area that has to do with bonsai, and they're just classes but they're so expensive, idk if I can afford to go as muvh as id like. I dont want to have to pay to be around other bonsai enthusiast to learn and make new friends in the hobby. And I've learned that unfortunately, there are a lot of ppl who are arrogant or stuck up in this hobby, which is really discouraging? Love to hear your thoughts about everything or ,maybe how you were when you were only "18 months in" sorry for the books I'm writing. Hah this is the only place I have, to talk to other people in the hobby.

I am almost in the same shoes. I am the only one who keeps bonsai here. So I only talk about bonsai to people in the forum, and enjoy every minute of it.

http://www.bursabonsai.com/shes-the-only-one-bonsai-artist-in-zambia/#comment-1766

 

[DougB]

Would be a help for those who respond to your postings if you would add your location and zone to your profile. Stay enthused.