Rocky Mountain Juniper first styling

[BMV Bonsai]

I purchased this little RMJ at the MABA show in Indianapolis. Got it from Nature's Way nursery. Since I've had it I've been pumping the fertilizer to it and making him happy. This was the first styling on it which was done by a club member. I will be on the lookout for a pot to put it in this spring. The overall height from the top of the pot is around 9 inches. It kinda has a Monterey Cypress look to it.

 

[Cypress187]

I like the rawness of your photo, the old wooden plank and the cardbox piece (most likely not intented), also the tree looks nice man.

 

[Vin]

Are you sure that's a RMJ? Mine is much more of a pale green.

 

[zachkent29]

We've already talked about the fact that I like this tree. I'll gladly take it off your hands when you're tired of it.

What are your future plans? I'd like to see it compacted a little once it back buds.

Vin, it definitely is...you can smell it.

 

[BMV Bonsai]

It could be the lighting? Here was the tree a few weeks after purchase and after I worked on the deadwood. The natural lighting shows a more pale-blue green.

 

[BMV Bonsai]

Current plans for the tree are to get it healthy and more full. Once it fills in I will have more options to cut back to in the future. It didn't undergo many severe bends so I think it should be quick on the recovery. If all goes well I will repot it late March.

 

[MACH5]

Are you sure that's a RMJ? Mine is much more of a pale green.

Vin RMJs come in a range of greens. From yellow green to deeper blue green depending where they were collected from. Also I understand that sex also indicates color differences. Male junipers are more yellowish than female junis.

BMV, as you were styling your juniper did you consider different angles? Just curious because oftentimes this is overlooked and we tend to work only with what's given to us.

 

[Dav4]

Definitely an RMJ from where I'm standing. The tree looks healthy enough but the foliage is mostly juvenile. I suspect this one was probably collected within the last several years and is still adapting to life in a pot. This could be a cool little tree in time so my suggestion is to take it slow. Knowing how slowly these deadwood RMJs grow, you could be looking at a 100 year old tree. I probably wouldn't do much else to it other then feed and water until the vast majority of foliage is adult scale. Good luck with it.

 

[BMV Bonsai]

Mach,
Nature somehow split this little guy into a triple trunk. Upon styling we played with different angles, but none really displayed the deadwood as well as this angle. Also the photo doesn't really do it justice.

 

[Andrew Robson]

Cool little tree!

I'd personally put it in a small box for a couple years. Either that or an oversize grow pot.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[Vin]

Definitely an RMJ from where I'm standing. The tree looks healthy enough but the foliage is mostly juvenile. I suspect this one was probably collected within the last several years and is still adapting to life in a pot. This could be a cool little tree in time so my suggestion is to take it slow. Knowing how slowly these deadwood RMJs grow, you could be looking at a 100 year old tree. I probably wouldn't do much else to it other then feed and water until the vast majority of foliage is adult scale. Good luck with it.

Juvenile foliage may be another reason for my inquiry. Mine is all adult (one of Walter's from Nature's Way).

 

[BMV Bonsai]

Here is the pot I am planning on putting it in this spring. The pot is a tad bit wider than I would like, but I am playing it safe as it is my first yamadori tree, and I have no clue what's under the soil! Sara Rayner pottery.

 

[drew33998]

How about splitting this into two trees? One for the right side, one for the left side.

 

[Woodland Spirit]

These are almost weeds out here. You got a nice one though. They grow slow in the wild.

 

[BMV Bonsai]

There are three trunks @drew33998, you can see them best in the photo where I have it in my hand. I don't have any desire to split each trunk, as that is what is so nice about this small RMJ... The triple deadwood trunks on something that size.

Thank you @Woodland Spirit, it is one that I hope to develop into something great.

 

[sorce]

wider than I would like

That's a wide ass tree!

I bet it'll be nice, or maybe even too small....but sure not too wide.
At least not off the bottle and hand gauge in 2 separate pics.

The tree has a very unconventional wideness, I think a wide pot will suit it.

Nice!

Sorce

 

[Steve Kudela]

Are you sure that's a RMJ? Mine is much more of a pale green.

RMJ in Panama City? Wouldn't have thought they would make it there. Cool!!

 

[Vin]

RMJ in Panama City? Wouldn't have thought they would make it there. Cool!!

Haven't had it a year yet but it made it through our humid summer with flying colors. It's in 100% pumice and I won't repot it until next spring; maybe.

 

[Steve Kudela]

Haven't had it a year yet but it made it through our humid summer with flying colors. It's in 100% pumice and I won't repot it until next spring; maybe.

Well dad burn it! Something else I'll have to be on the lookout for! I hope the things will tolerate our climate over the long run. Please keep us updated.

 

[Vin]

Well dad burn it! Something else I'll have to be on the lookout for! I hope the things will tolerate our climate over the long run. Please keep us updated.

I certainly will Steve. This spring I'm going to do an initial wiring and I'll post some photos of the results in a separate thread.