Juniperus Conferta Pacific Blue

[StoneCloud]

I got this one over father's day. It was unexpected as I was out with the family shopping and stopped by a garden center.

Now, I love Juniper's but not the biggest fan of these specific ones. But when I really took a look at the tree before buying it, I felt that this tree could be turned into something.

I'm not a fan of cascade, or semi cascade, but these lend themselves to that so easily. Windswept was something I was also envisioning for this tree as well...maybe....

I'd love to hear your thoughts on the tree and the directions you guys may see!


A big ball of foliage as expected. This is as purchased:


And here is it is after some thinning, getting rid of dead branches and all that Jazz..........I didn't go any further as I haven't decided on a final design just yet. It still needs to be thinned a little more, and needs to be wired:




Top:

Two main branches leading out:


A picture a little farther from the tree:


I'm not planning on repotting it for at least another year. I have noticed with most all my Junipers they hate heavy root work. The root ball is not too tight and it has plenty of room in this pot for now. So as that goes my plan is to over time (a few years) bring the root ball down on this guy to a workable size for a pot.

These are not the best suited for bonsai, but I want to see what it may become.

Cheers

 

[sorce]

Nice...

You can make a very protective Mother daughter joint there!

Sorce

 

[BeebsBonsai]

In addition, hes got a beautifully placed sacrifice branch if he chooses not to keep a twin trunk. A lot of options with it. Very nice starter. I think my next tree is going to be nursery stock from any landscaping type place. They look fun to practice design with. As a newcomer, money is relatively tight as I don't want to buy a 300 dollar tree I accidentally kill for some reason. Nursery stock appears to be as good of an option if you know what you're looking for.

 

[StoneCloud]

Nice...

You can make a very protective Mother daughter joint there!

Sorce

I also was thinking this but you don't think they are too close in size to pull that off? Design wise? Appreciate the insight!

Thank you @BeebsBonsai

I do find nice trees at nurseries, but it's few and far between. I'd say I look at nurseries and garden centers 3-4 times a week. I will find one really good tree a month this way. I always have to stay busy, not just with bonsai, so I need a steady flow of trees to work on. lol

 

[BeebsBonsai]

I personally like the movement of your main trunk. Just me though. Thicken the left side an extra few inches while wiring the branch into some form of jin you want to keep, then cut it off and create some deadwood, looks and sounds pretty awesome to me. You could even grow the sacrifice straight up with movement through the main/potential mother trunk line and then when you jin it, the foliage plays around it. Sorry, I am just thinking about how incredible this little guy can be.

 

[StoneCloud]

I personally like the movement of your main trunk. Just me though. Thicken the left side an extra few inches while wiring the branch into some form of jin you want to keep, then cut it off and create some deadwood, looks and sounds pretty awesome to me. You could even grow the sacrifice straight up with movement through the main/potential mother trunk line and then when you jin it, the foliage plays around it. Sorry, I am just thinking about how incredible this little guy can be.

No worries! I love the brainstorming and sharing of ideas thank you !

I'm definitely planning on deadwood, that lowest sacrifice will one day become deadwood. Once it thickens the trunk enough. I like that thought with it. I was planning on having it stay exactly where it is for deadwood. As if it was shaded out and died, but wiring it up and through might work better!

Those two main branches are very stiff. What to do with them is my current road block. I was playing with the idea of jining one of them. I don't know if that would be best for the design though.

Decisions can be so hard lol!

 

[sorce]

close

The other 2!

Sorce

 

[StoneCloud]

The other 2!

Sorce

Gotcha! That makes a lot more sense lol! Hows the stream coming along?

 

[sorce]

Gotcha! That makes a lot more sense lol! Hows the stream coming along?

Friggin overgrown!

Sorce

 

[StoneCloud]

Friggin overgrown!

Sorce

I feel ur pain!!!!!! But get to weeding!! Or have the kids do some of it!!

This time of year I'm mowing grass every 3 days. Everything is over grown here!!! I got weeds growing in mid air on humidity alone! I weed daily

As soon as weeds get a little thick all kinds of non sense comes up! White flies most annoying!

 

[sorce]

Bro...


Bout to cut this back soon.....
And shtick it in a box!



Sorce

 

[StoneCloud]

@sorce Damn! that is overgrown! Just looking at it makes you not even want to tackle that mess! Let it grow more and make it a jungle lol

My bench is always open Oh and that bougy I was telling you about its the one in the last pic above in the clay pot.

F to the B?

 

[defra]

Nice find !
My 2 cents
Dont decide to go mother/daughter style yet untill you are sure where the nebari begins i been there and with repot just to much trunk was hidden below the dirt to pull it off and the branches i could have used otherwise where gone

Looking forward what you will do with it

 

[StoneCloud]

Nice find !
My 2 cents
Dont decide to go mother/daughter style yet untill you are sure where the nebari begins i been there and with repot just to much trunk was hidden below the dirt to pull it off and the branches i could have used otherwise where gone

Looking forward what you will do with it

Cheers!

Very True! With a new tree, the repot almost always throws plans off! I always dread the trunk reverse tapering before the nebari

It may need to be jined but that isn't too bad an option either I don't think.

I'll let that branch work on thickening up the trunk......for now.....

 

[StoneCloud]

So this is the tree that came with me on the move. So far it's been doing well. For a Florida tree it's taking the cold like a champ.

Back in August I removed more foliage and gave it a lot more light on the interior. I also removed about another inch of soil from the top, and 2 inches off the bottom of the root ball.

It's so healthy too I love it!!!

The more I spend time with this tree the more I like the species and can't wait see what I can make of this. I still haven't made any big design decisions yet, awaiting the repot. Right now just focusing on getting this guy through the winter.

I have to get pictures of different angles of the tree but here it is at it's new home. Doesn't have a bench yet...still gotta build those.

 

[StoneCloud]

Just went out and took some pics. Here are some different angles of the tree. Some of the color a the tips came out as well

 

[RKatzin]

Coming along nicely! Can't wait to see how you wire it.

 

[StoneCloud]

Coming along nicely! Can't wait to see how you wire it.

Thanks! I can't wait to start wiring it myself!

After looking at the pics I just posted I noticed in the 2nd set of pics above the 2nd picture.......I see a possible new apex. If I take the section circled in red below and reposition it. I haven't thought about this direction for it yet. Something to think about next time I go out there and study it. Too rainy and cold right now.

 

[Vance Wood]

If you were to ask me I would tell you not to wire or design this tree from the same position you choose to display it in the photo above. I have been prowling FB and I have noticed an overwhelming tendency to do just that and then fly into a rage towards anyone offering a suggestion. You have to look at the tree from the same horizontal position and angle you plan on potting the tree and displaying the tree when you are done.

 

[StoneCloud]

If you were to ask me I would tell you not to wire or design this tree from the same position you choose to display it in the photo above. I have been prowling FB and I have noticed an overwhelming tendency to do just that and then fly into a rage towards anyone offering a suggestion. You have to look at the tree from the same horizontal position and angle you plan on potting the tree and displaying the tree when you are done.

No rage here! I appreciate your advice and insight as at the moment I am stuck on this one. Don't have a clear direction in my head of where I want to take it.

I haven't seen anything on FB as I don't use it but that is some good insight.

I don't know the angle I want for it yet though I've found a few decent angles from placing the pot on a wedge, etc.....

The repot is so important! Once that happens it will be more clear.

It obviously lends itself to a semi or full cascade but I'm not opposed to taking it another direction. I don't want to "purporsely" avoid cascade and force anything from the tree but am not against a different style,

Vance, what do you see if you don't mind? I know it's hard w/o the tree in hand but any insight would be awesome!