Two trees or one? Blue Rug Juniper, raw nursery stock

[e~b]

I picked up this cheap blue rug juniper from my local nursery. I am a total beginner, so I have been slowly purchasing material and experimenting. This one caught my untrained eye for two reasons: pliable trunk with movement, and potential for two separate trees. How would you go about transplanting one of the trunks into a new pot? Or just a bad idea in general?

Any other advice or tips are appreciated - general plan is to do some light pruning off the top, maybe some wire, and then focus on keeping it alive.

 

[RJG2]

Next spring slowly work away soil from the top of the root mass (chop stick/root hook/bent nose tweezers/whatever); go down far enough to determine if they are joined or not.

Treat the whole process as a repot. There are plenty of threads here documenting the transition from nursery pot to bonsai substrate - read them and determine how to feel comfortable proceeding.

 

[e~b]

Next spring slowly work away soil from the top of the root mass (chop stick/root hook/bent nose tweezers/whatever); go down far enough to determine if they are joined or not.

Treat the whole process as a repot. There are plenty of threads here documenting the transition from nursery pot to bonsai substrate - read them and determine how to feel comfortable proceeding.

Thanks for the advice - should've explicitly stated that i will wait until the spring to do any repotting.

 

[RJG2]

Thanks for the advice - should've explicitly stated that i will wait until the spring to do any repotting.

Probably wouldn't hurt if you wanted to do a bit of top-down exploring now, just cover up any exposed roots when done.

 

[e~b]

Probably wouldn't hurt if you wanted to do a bit of top-down exploring now, just cover up any exposed roots when done.

I actually just did exactly that, gently with a chopstick. I don't think they are joined... but will know for sure in the spring!

 

[penumbra]

It is a common practice for nursery stock growers to put two, and up to four, plant starters in a nursery pot to develop a market size plant quickly. They are not growing these for the bonsai market, but for a landscape plant.

 

[Shibui]

The 2 trunks may well be separate but the roots are likely to be well and truly tangled. Separating them is likely to be a daunting operation for a beginner. Often it is easier, quicker and safer to chop one trunk off throw it away then go buy another tree for your second.
Even if it turns out to be 2 trunks from the same tree they can still usually be separated provided each has developed some roots above or near the fork. I frequently split rooted suckers or low branches off species like azalea, cotoneaster, chaenomeles, etc. It can be done but may be just a little more advanced than many beginners will tackle.

 

[e~b]

It is a common practice for nursery stock growers to put two, and up to four, plant starters in a nursery pot to develop a market size plant quickly. They are not growing these for the bonsai market, but for a landscape plant.

You certainly correct that this was not grown for the bonsai market i think that's exactly what is happening here

 

[e~b]

The 2 trunks may well be separate but the roots are likely to be well and truly tangled. Separating them is likely to be a daunting operation for a beginner. Often it is easier, quicker and safer to chop one trunk off throw it away then go buy another tree for your second.
Even if it turns out to be 2 trunks from the same tree they can still usually be separated provided each has developed some roots above or near the fork. I frequently split rooted suckers or low branches off species like azalea, cotoneaster, chaenomeles, etc. It can be done but may be just a little more advanced than many beginners will tackle.

Thanks for the advice... id like to give it a go and experiment with splitting it, not like i have remarkable material here... but ill see how confident i am feeling in early spring. I figure it's safest to make a decision on how to proceed at that time?

 

[Paradox]

Thanks for the advice... id like to give it a go and experiment with splitting it, not like i have remarkable material here... but ill see how confident i am feeling in early spring. I figure it's safest to make a decision on how to proceed at that time?

Agree with your assessment.
At the very least you'll learn something.
Learning is always good

 

[Shibui]

Thanks for the advice... id like to give it a go and experiment with splitting it, not like i have remarkable material here... but ill see how confident i am feeling in early spring. I figure it's safest to make a decision on how to proceed at that time?

I also like your attitude and optimism.
Doing is a great way of pushing yourself to learn more and quickly.
Early Spring seems to be a great for most repotting but Junipers also take repotting well later in spring too. I have lots of trees to get through so my junipers tend to get repotted after I have finished doing all the deciduous trees which usually means after the deciduous have leaves open - mid - late spring.

There are a few techniques that can help make separating intertwined roots a little easier.

 

[e~b]

I also like your attitude and optimism.
Doing is a great way of pushing yourself to learn more and quickly.
Early Spring seems to be a great for most repotting but Junipers also take repotting well later in spring too. I have lots of trees to get through so my junipers tend to get repotted after I have finished doing all the deciduous trees which usually means after the deciduous have leaves open - mid - late spring.

There are a few techniques that can help make separating intertwined roots a little easier.

Thanks for the advice on timing - it is early summer here and I already applied some wire so I'll still wait, but that is great to know for the future.

Now time to research repotting/root separation before the time comes!