Beginner looking for advice on sequence of starting a new tree

[KeeganO]

Hello! Finally getting to start my own trees now that I live in an apartment with a balcony. Starting out with an Itoigawa Juniper & Japanese maple. What am wondering is if I should be doing any pruning, wiring, repotting, and fertilizing yet, or waiting to do some or all of it in the spring. I’ve read up lots about all of the steps, I just want to make sure my sequins and timing of everything is all right.

 

[Jrmcmich]

I’d say keep them alive and learn watering is a good step to start. Figure out plan for winter and then can repot in spring which is ideal time for that.

 

[KeeganO]

I’d say keep them alive and learn watering is a good step to start. Figure out plan for winter and then can repot in spring which is ideal time for that.

Thank you! That’s kind of what I was assuming, was pretty sure not to do any repotting or fertilizing before the spring, just wasn’t sure if it would be worth it to wire and prune it or not

 

[Jrmcmich]

Possible could throw some wire on juniper but maple needs to just grow and some rookie mistakes I made first season was throwing wire on too early. Junipers can strip bark with extreme bending so I always Struggle to know optimal time for that but have read late summer decent time for bending. Hopefully other more experienced growers will chime in on optimal timing for that. Welcome to site.

 

[MrFancyPlants]

Early on it is good to learn to generally preserve buds and growth that is down low and/or on the inside. New trees and branches can be grown from these buds, more interesting and with more taper than the previous tree or branch.

 

[Shibui]

Fertilise developing plants whenever they are growing - all through Spring and Summer. Starving trees is not the best way to develop bonsai. Regular watering quickly leaces water soluble nutrients out of the pots meaning starvation is a real issue with trees in small pots.

Wire trees early while the trunk is still flexible enough to bend but be aware that most bonsai are developed by occasional chopping or pruning so we rarely keep the entire trunk. Focus on the lower section initially and side branches which will probably become part of the trunk in time.
Wire and bend late Summer through winter.
Prune whenever the tree needs it and you have cutters and time.
Best repotting time for these species is late Winter - early Spring before new growth but it is possible to slip pot at other times of the year if the tree desperately needs a larger pot. Slip potting is not a great bonsai development technique, more for emergency. Proper repotting to locate and prune roots helps establish good nebari which is important to show age and stability in your bonsai. Root pruning early in the tree's life is easier and less stressful so I would be doing a thorough repot next Spring and probably into larger pots to allow more growth for faster development over the next couple of years.

 

[ShimpakuBonsai]

The pot of the juniper looks to be a little bit small and cracked / demaged and I think you can slippot it into another pot and do regular repot in spring.

The maple looks to be a little bit loose in it's pot and I think you should put it in a more upright position supported with a cane.

Besides these tips I would do nothing this year and let them grow.

 

[KeeganO]

The pot of the juniper looks to be a little bit small and cracked / demaged and I think you can slippot it into another pot and do regular repot in spring.

The maple looks to be a little bit loose in it's pot and I think you should put it in a more upright position supported with a cane.

Besides these tips I would do nothing this year and let them grow.

The juniper came with proper soil and substrate, would it be okay to fill out the space with regular soil when slipping it into another pot?

 

[Jrmcmich]

The juniper came with proper soil and substrate, would it be okay to fill out the space with regular soil when slipping it into another pot?

Ideally you want to match soil type so similar drainage between them and doesn’t create an odd area where soil can remain more wet. You know soil type?