Diary of a Noob

[MSU JBoots]

Randomly bought a new juniper chinensis this week and took the opportunity to practice some styling and wiring ahead of first bonsai workshop this weekend. It was my first time using copper wire which took some getting used to. I’m generally pleased with the outcome but my wiring could just some work particularly entering the shoulder of the branches I sometimes lose contact. It could probably use some more thinning/pruning and some detail wiring to define the pads. The apex definitely needs work but I’m a bit lost there. I plan to revisit it after the workshop armed with some new knowledge.

 

[Keithconn]

Awesome. Lots of good info! Trees look great. Gonna be some show stoppers in 20 years!

 

[MSU JBoots]

Here is the finished product of my first workshop. It was a great experience. Here is the link to the thread with the progression.
Thread 'First Bonsai Work Shop'
https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/first-bonsai-work-shop.54151/

 

[MSU JBoots]

I also created some cuttings that hopefully will take. Who knows what they will become, possibly more trees or future whips for grafting.

 

[MSU JBoots]

Bought a few sticks in pots to add to my collection. I didn’t trust myself to purchase anything remotely resembling a bonsai that cost triple digits for fear of killing it. Perhaps next year. As for these I’m considering putting them in the ground for a few years. I think the Japanese black pine for sure needs so attention as the soil looks very dense and compacted.

 

[MSU JBoots]

Worked this juniper for the second time including more pruning and some detail wiring. Much happier with the better defined pads. The Bitmoji made me chuckle too much not to include it.

 

[one_bonsai]

With this one, try bending some of those branches forward, because it looks a little 2D

 

[MSU JBoots]

Start of summer updated everything is still alive and kicking!
Austrian pine is putting on vigorous growth. I imagine I’ll have to shoot select so I don’t end up with too many coming from each branch as each has 3-6 shoots. Still hope to repot into suitable bonsai soil next spring.


The ficus from my basement is limping along but put out some new tiny leaves. The trident I put over the rock is doing well.


The blue spruce survived its repot and put out some strong growth. The repotted shimpaku is doing ok but not showing vigorous growth. The other junipers I styled are doing just fine.

 

[MSU JBoots]

So far I’ve still been using toothpicks in the soil to help guide my watering habits. It has definitely been a struggle as they are all in different soils unless I repotted them. Some are in proper bonsai soils and others are still in nursery containers with organic soil so their needs are quite different.

 

[MSU JBoots]

Newest tree on the bench, a Mugo Pine courtesy of my wife. See this thread for additional details!


Thread 'Noob Nursery Mugo (Vance Wood Method)'
https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/noob-nursery-mugo-vance-wood-method.56586/


I figured I would add this pic of my cute but lazy supervisor for posterity sake. I had to move the operation into the “basement bonsai studio” due to the sun going down and incoming thunderstorm.

 

[MSU JBoots]

I went back and bought a second smaller mugo. Since it’s getting a bit late in the game to repot even according to Vance I opted just for an initial clean up pruning. Much like the other mugo I mostly cut the weak twiggy growth near the base. I would have like to cut the branch on the right poking in you the eye but since I haven’t decided on a future trunk line or front and I could chase the leggy growth towards the trunk in the future I left it. Here is the after picture.
Depending on how it responds this fall I might opt for a spring repot into some bonsai soils but for now the current mix drains well so I’m not worried.

 

[MSU JBoots]

I got this cedar tree mid summer on clearance so I let it sit. However, I wanted to make sure I opened it up to preserve some interior foliage. I was quite aggressive so hopefully the younger nursery stock can handle my heavy hand.

 

[MSU JBoots]

One of my newest trees I got from the local fall show. A Chamaecyparis obtusa Torulosa. I opened it up a bit to preserve the interior foliage and placed a few wires.

 

[MSU JBoots]

I also picked up this JBP. It’s much bigger than my others so I’m glad to have something farther along in development. Eager to see where this one ends up after next growing season!

 

[MSU JBoots]

Nearing the end of year 2 I’m quite pleased. I got 2 benches and made a 3rd with some scrap. All got new tops from my repurposed old deck boards. My major goals for the year were to squire more trees and keep the all alive. Mission accomplished! I repotted about half of them in spring and most others I picked up during the season I did just some initial pruning. Soon it will be time to tuck them in for the winter.

 

[MSU JBoots]

Got the trees all tucked away for winter 10 days ago and just in time. Here they are today.

 

[MSU JBoots]

I’m baaaack! I’m happy to report all my trees survived the winter again and are happily back on the bench this week as spring has finally sprung with a week full of 70 deg and sunny weather! I took a chance to style my favorite tree in my only real pot. You can find the transformation here:

Thread 'Shimpaku Juniper #1'
https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/shimpaku-juniper-1.59799/

Next on the docket will be a repot or two. Maybe an air layer. And hopefully a couple more stylings for my twin trunk Colorado blue spruce and dwarf Alberta spruce.

 

[MSU JBoots]

I figured the only chance this tree had to be something I wanted to continue to put effort into was to take my first attempt at an air layer and take the top off where I was able to put some movement into the trunk last year. Plus it would give me some practice before I try some Japanese maple air layers later this spring.

 

[MSU JBoots]

Unfortunately I was premature in saying all my trees survived winter. The tiny cork bark JBP died. I regret buying it because I later realized it was grafted and poorly. It barely had any foliage so I think it just wasn’t strong enough to handle the Michigan winter as my two other JBP survived.

I’m creating some new threads for tracking my trees so this one doesn’t get too cluttered and each tree is easier to follow. Here’s the first new thread for my Gold Coast juniper:
Thread 'Gold Coast Juniper'
https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/gold-coast-juniper.60897/

 

[MSU JBoots]

I am happy to say that all 3 air layers I did on my Japanese maple are growing roots! I haven’t bothered to check the juniper as I was told it will take far longer. Also here is a link to the thread I hope to continue to show the progress of my larger JBP:
Thread 'JBP weak growth with brown tips'
https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/jbp-weak-growth-with-brown-tips.60911/