Novice

[mobrian]

Hello all! Im new to the Bonsai. A couple years back, we moved into a new home. My wife was not happy with the landscaping and had much of it replaced. Before all the juniper's were discarded, I rescued one in an attempt to make it into a Bonsai. I've been careful not to do too much to it with the plant having been relocated to the container shown in the pictures. I've done small amounts of pruning last season, fertilizing, and keeping the plant indoors when appropriate during the colder parts of our winters in north central Texas. I need some help with shaping the plant. I believe there are some branches that need to be removed/cut from the plant, one in particular in the first picture that sags down a bit. Before I do anything silly, I needed some expert group advice to help me shape the plant. Any and all comments are appreciated. I can provide additional pictures if that helps.

Thanks!
Mike

 

[penumbra]

Your plant looks very healthy and has potential as a bonsai. There will likely be plenty of advice here, however, I think you should just study pictures of other juniper bonsai before you take a leap.
Also, please put your location in your profile .... it helps more than you could know.

 

[Gabler]

… and keeping the plant indoors when appropriate during the colder parts of our winters in north central Texas. …

I don’t know what USDA zone you’re in, but if the juniper was part of your landscape, what has led you to think it can’t stay outside all winter? Also, when you say you brought the juniper indoors, do you mean into a garage or shed or into your heated home?

 

[mobrian]

We live in the Dallas Ft. Worth area. Every winter, we get a few days down in the low 20s (F)...sometimes colder. I would bring the plant inside the house. I was concerned with the juniper being in a pot rather than in the ground, the roots could get some exposer to those colder temps, so I would bring the plant in the house on the really cold days/nights.

 

[rockm]

Hello all! Im new to the Bonsai. A couple years back, we moved into a new home. My wife was not happy with the landscaping and had much of it replaced. Before all the juniper's were discarded, I rescued one in an attempt to make it into a Bonsai. I've been careful not to do too much to it with the plant having been relocated to the container shown in the pictures. I've done small amounts of pruning last season, fertilizing, and keeping the plant indoors when appropriate during the colder parts of our winters in north central Texas. I need some help with shaping the plant. I believe there are some branches that need to be removed/cut from the plant, one in particular in the first picture that sags down a bit. Before I do anything silly, I needed some expert group advice to help me shape the plant. Any and all comments are appreciated. I can provide additional pictures if that helps.

Thanks!
Mike

A juniper doesn't need to be brought inside in winter. It's well able to take the North Texas winter conditions.

As far as where to go design wise, what is your vision of what you want. We can't really help without knowing where you want to go. It's your tree, what are your ideas? That is what designing a tree is about. Group advice will get a group response that's likely all over the map. My take, This is a triple trunk (possibly quadruple trunk), raft kind of material...each trunk should be designed as a separate tree, but you may see things differently. I

 

[Adamski77]

first test passed… you managed to keep it alive and it’s looking good. No need to bother in winter… even in pot junipers can easily go through freezing temperatures with no damage. Some will go brown for a while but will be back green again once spring comes.
Suggestion similar to @penumbra … go look around here… see some inspirations and develop your own for this particular tree. Even though there are some “standard approaches” each one of us will have his/her own vision and point of view… it’s really individual. Once your plan is formed you can ask for advice how to get to where you want take your tree… that I think will be much more constructive.

 

[Michael P]

Isn't it great to know that you DO NOT have to carry it into the house?

It is hard to evaluate a tree only from photos. I see three trunks, or is there a fourth one right along the soil in the back in the second photo? As you look at examples for your tree, don't be hesitant to consider cutting off one or more trunks.

You have done well so far! If you are up for a drive to Dallas, the Bonsai Society of Dallas meets the first Saturday of each month at North Haven Gardens. Bring your tree.

 

[penumbra]

I missed the part about keeping it inside during the cold. (Old brain)
Keeping it inside is a very poor idea and will lead to its demise. It needs to have winter cold, aside from the fact that inside conditions will prove fatal.
I am glad everyone else was onboard and caught what I missed in this regard.

 

[rockm]

We live in the Dallas Ft. Worth area. Every winter, we get a few days down in the low 20s (F)...sometimes colder. I would bring the plant inside the house. I was concerned with the juniper being in a pot rather than in the ground, the roots could get some exposer to those colder temps, so I would bring the plant in the house on the really cold days/nights.

FWIW, junipers are among the most common conifer species in North America. They can endure some of the coldest, most hostile weather conditions on the continent. Yours is well able to handle low 20's F at its roots, if you've left it outside and haven't brought it inside for any lengthy periods like beyond five or six days. "Really Cold" for a juniper would be 0 F and a bit below.

 

[Gabler]

It needs to have winter cold, aside from the fact that inside conditions will prove fatal.

It sounds like @mobrian only brought it inside a few days at a time, so the tree may have gotten enough of a dormancy in spite of the occasional indoor temperatures.

 

[rockm]

It sounds like @mobrian only brought it inside a few days at a time, so the tree may have gotten enough of a dormancy in spite of the occasional indoor temperatures.

The danger of bringing it inside even for a few days in winter is the same as with deciduous trees. Doing so warms the root mass and encourages new growth. That's fine as far as it goes, but if there is still freezing weather ahead outside, the juniper if it's got new growth, may lose that new growth and suffer root damage if place back outside and it freezes. Keeping it inside with new growth, encourages weak new shoots, spider mite infestation and drying out, from the low light and arid indoor air.

 

[Gabler]

The danger of bringing it inside even for a few days in winter is the same as with deciduous trees. Doing so warms the root mass and encourages new growth. That's fine as far as it goes, but if there is still freezing weather ahead outside, the juniper if it's got new growth, may lose that new growth and suffer root damage if place back outside and it freezes. Keeping it inside with new growth, encourages weak new shoots, spider mite infestation and drying out, from the low light and arid indoor air.

I should clarify that I’m not recommending anyone bring their junipers inside. I just mean that OP may have gotten lucky.

 

[mobrian]

Sorry for the delayed response all! Work was crazy the other week. I appreciate all the feedback and will search around for design inspiration. And its great to know a potted Juniper is hearty enough for the cold weather. I knew they could survive outside when planted in the ground, it was the potted situation I was unsure of and was overly cautious. Hopefully, not to the detriment of the plant. Thanks again everyone!

 

[JackHammer]

Junipers carry their energy in the foliage so if you make major changes, you might not see the impact for 8 weeks. Big box stores will sell junipers that are already dead but are still green. This is just another reason not to rush things.