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Where to start with my Juniperus chinensis
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Author:  John.P [ 05 May 2019, 10:53 ]
Post subject:  Where to start with my Juniperus chinensis
https://flic.kr/p/2fMxKRF

So far I have removed the top 2-3 inches of the top soil to expose more of the trunk and to try and find the first major roots and have the slip potted into a larger pot.
Should I start removing the foliage to expose the trunks and reduce the demands on the reduced root mass. If so how much can be removed without damaging or setting the tree back to much.

Thanks in advance

John.
Author:  John.P [ 05 May 2019, 14:07 ]
Post subject:  Re: Where to start with my Juniperus chinensis
Or just leave it and see if it survives my first attempt to kill it?
Author:  Gary Jones [ 05 May 2019, 19:05 ]
Post subject:  Re: Where to start with my Juniperus chinensis
John.P wrote:
Or just leave it and see if it survives my first attempt to kill it?


This sounds like the best plan in general terms. However if you've just slip potted and lowered the top soil a little you presumably won't have removed much root at all so you could work the foliage (however as a novice you're better erring on the side of caution IMO). I would wait until the tree is growing strongly before pruning. Junipers often take a long time to recover after a repot and sometimes will sulk for a whole year.

A couple of other points. It's a myth that you need to reduce the foliage when you reduce the roots (or vica versa). Quite the opposite - you need the foliage to stimulate new root growth. With junipers their strength is in the foliage and particularly in the growing tips so be careful when pruning not to pinch or to cut off all the growing tips. Instead where you have growing tips that are too long, cut them back to side shoots leaving the tips on those shoots. As a general guide line reduce foliage by no more than one third maximum.
Author:  John.P [ 05 May 2019, 21:25 ]
Post subject:  Re: Where to start with my Juniperus chinensis
Thanks for the reply I will wait an see how it goes and just water where necessary.
Are the yellow parts ok to leave I.e will the go green?
Author:  TomB [ 05 May 2019, 21:50 ]
Post subject:  Re: Where to start with my Juniperus chinensis
Unfortunately the yellow bits are a feature of that particular cultivar. They won't go green. Variegated plants are seldom used in bonsai, in part because many people find the effect unattractive. It looks as though this plant will be a mixture of green and yellow, spiky and mature (scale) foliage. This may be difficult material to create something with that you'll be happy with in the long term. It might be best to use this as a 'practice plant' and invest in better material once you have the hang of it.
Author:  John.P [ 06 May 2019, 10:16 ]
Post subject:  Re: Where to start with my Juniperus chinensis
TomB wrote:
Unfortunately the yellow bits are a feature of that particular cultivar. They won't go green. Variegated plants are seldom used in bonsai, in part because many people find the effect unattractive. It looks as though this plant will be a mixture of green and yellow, spiky and mature (scale) foliage. This may be difficult material to create something with that you'll be happy with in the long term. It might be best to use this as a 'practice plant' and invest in better material once you have the hang of it.


And I need all the practice I can get :07hysterical: :07hysterical:
Author:  bluesky [ 06 May 2019, 12:29 ]
Post subject:  Re: Where to start with my Juniperus chinensis
Some might consider it unattractive but beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

The mix of spiky and scale foliage can be annoying when you're wiring, or pinching out the tips on foliage pads.

Like Gary said if you haven't pruned the roots you could get away with trimming up to 30% of the foliage mass to try and get an initial shape. Get a picture of a "finished" tree online to try to mimic, helps. Do some wiring. Have fun!
Author:  bluesky [ 06 May 2019, 12:32 ]
Post subject:  Re: Where to start with my Juniperus chinensis
Also, I recommend watching some of the recent Herons Bonsai videos on YouTube, Peter Chan has done quite a few starter vids on converting nursery material into initial bonsai trees, including some junipers amongst others.
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