Broken Juniper - Return to Nursery?

[Iowa newbie]

So I just bought this really nice juniper procumbens from a local nursery 2 days ago, yesterday I began general cleanup and noticed the 2nd major branch has really good sized split from trunk.

Ive circled the area, its much bigger from the bottom, maybe a full inch back, barely visable from the top. Do I take it back or wrap with some moist spaghnum, I like the plant, it was one of the better ones there.

 

[flor1]

you bought it you own it.
Suck it up snowflake.

 

[Bavarian Raven]

Most good nurseries would/will take it back and refund you.

 

[Jzack605]

you bought it you own it.
Suck it up snowflake.

Lmao we got an internet tough guy!

If you bring it to nursery don’t expect a return but credit at best. If you’ve done any pruning may really effect how things go.

If you kept it; what is the rationale behind moist spaghuam? Unless you are trying to create an air layer it is generally good to avoid moisture on wounds, from the perspective of an arborist that is.

 

[Iowa newbie]

I really like the tree, tons of movement, really good tight foliage. This branch isn't a deal breaker.

Its a nursery a few blocks from my house. I think they would take it back but I kind of like the challenge.

I read that I need to wrap the wound, put some moist sphagnum moss around it to let it heal. Not like air layering it, as I wont scrape into the bark, but to aid in the healing process,

 

[Adair M]

I really like the tree, tons of movement, really good tight foliage. This branch isn't a deal breaker.

Its a nursery a few blocks from my house. I think they would take it back but I kind of like the challenge.

I read that I need to wrap the wound, put some moist sphagnum moss around it to let it heal. Not like air layering it, as I wont scrape into the bark, but to aid in the healing process,

I wouldn’t put spaghnum on it. If it makes you feel better, wrap it with grAfting tApe to immobilize it.

Maybe you don’t need that branch anyway.

If you’d rather, I bet they would exchange it for another.

 

[Shibui]

It was the best one there. You really like it. This branch is not a deal breaker. I kind of like the challenge
... So where is the problem? Why ask?

We would rarely use 2 thick branches on a bonsai so I cannot see any reason to try to heal the break. It is extremely likely that one or the other will need to be removed at some stage. Now you do not need to agonise over that choice. As someone else said, sometimes things happen for a reason. You seem convinced that you can still make a good bonsai out of the tree so go ahead and do it.

Unless you are trying to create an air layer it is generally good to avoid moisture on wounds, from the perspective of an arborist that is.

The idea is not to keep the wound wet or even damp, just to stop it drying out. Wounds appear to heal quicker if they don't dry out. Wrap with wound sealer, grafting tape or similar will do just as well.

 

[amcoffeegirl]

Breaks happen in nature.
Where are you from in Iowa?

 

[Iowa newbie]

It was the best one there. You really like it. This branch is not a deal breaker. I kind of like the challenge
... So where is the problem? Why ask?

Never owned one before, if this was a catastrophic wound, I would at least attempt to get a credit or exchange from the nursery. From what I’ve read it can be healed, so I’ll keep it, try to heal it and who know what may come of it. Thanks for replying tho, gives me confidence

 

[Iowa newbie]

Breaks happen in nature.
Where are you from in Iowa?

Dubuque, I have family and friends in DSM tho

 

[WNC Bonsai]

I found a Cole’s Prostrate hemlock with a break like that a few years ago at a local nursery. I pointed out the break to the manager and she just nodded, so I waited. About 3 months later the tree was still there but marked down about 1/2 price so I grabbed it. It is doing fine in my backyard and the split has healed well. These kinds of things happen when plants are stacked on each other or crammed into a truck for shipping, or during loading/unloading. You could take it back and see if they will give you a price cut or coupon good on future purchases. I bet the split will heal, just stabilize the split and leave it alone to heal. Procumbens grow like crazy so by the end of the summer you probably won't even be able to see where the split was. Nice tree by the way.

 

[amcoffeegirl]

Dubuque, I have family and friends in DSM tho

There is an Iowa Bonsai Association meeting in dsm on Saturday. I was going to say if you were close by to bring it in.

 

[Iowa newbie]

There is an Iowa Bonsai Association meeting in dsm on Saturday. I was going to say if you were close by to bring it in.

I’ve had that meeting in my calendar for a few months now and I would like to get down there for it, but it’s a 3 hour drive at 9am on a Saturday. I’m going to stabilize this with some tape and wire, let it heal for a couple months.

 

[Dav4]

Fwiw, junipers in general and procumbens in particular love to split at the crotch of 2 branches... I can't tell you how many times I've accidentally done this while wiring/bending. Anyway, if you're wanting to keep both branches, stabilizing it with tape or wire and allowing it grow freely will help, but it will always be a bit weak there.