Thinning?

[greenhorn321]

I don't know what to remove. There is growth everywhere. Is there any guidelines on what to remove and what not to?

 

[Danilo]

Before you start thinking about what to remove, you need to have a design in mind. What are your plans for this tree? Do you want it to be as small as it is now?
If you are happy with the size, then you can start thinking about what direction to take it (style wise).
If you post a few pictures from the front/back and sides it will be easier for members to make suggestions.

 

[greenhorn321]

I think I am happy with the size. I want an informal upright

 

[crust]

chose 5 branches--cut everything else off--shorten branches--wait awhile---keep fertile----thin branchlets and hold back main tip, wire branches--wait a while-- keep fertile-- next year re-pot in a training pot.

 

[greenhorn321]

Looks a little bare now haha,so now I let it recover for a couple weeks and put it in a smaller pot?

 

[october]

Hello greenhorn321..This tree is very young.. Actually it is too young for this much work. It should actually be left alone to recover for about 3 years... Also, if yo try to put it in a smaller pot and do any sort of root pruning, you may kill the tree. I would leave it in the large pot and fill it in all around the root ball with good potting soil.

If I may suggest something.. Since you are new to bonsai. You may want to leave more foliage and branches on the trees you work on. This way, you will have more options and will not be risking the health of the tree. Stripping a tree down to a skeleton is generally reserved for much older trees.

I hope this is helpful.

Rob

 

[daygan]

I think the repotting was for next year:

next year re-pot in a training pot.

and I don't think it's a smaller pot that you want...

 

[greenhorn321]

I didn't ruin it did I? I'm anxious to start learning, how do you find material that can be worked on?

 

[daygan]

how do you find material that can be worked on?

Let it grow and get healthy Though crust did suggest this direction, so I'm wondering if he has any more input. I haven't worked with junipers so I don't know what can be done when and how fast... a lot of knowing when and how much is just paying attention to your plant and seeing how it responds to what you do.

 

[TheSteve]

If it was mine, I'd wire some curves into the branches now while it's young. They'll put up a bigger fight later in life. Maybe remove the extending branch tips... a lot of these things depend on where you want the final image to be. If you dream of a 6" trunk on this then you'll need to fatten those branches a lot more than if you're trying to keep them in scale with what you have now.... It wouldn't hurt to let it live in the shade and rest for a bit though.

 

[daygan]

I think I am happy with the size.

I'm guessing your not dreaming "of a six-inch trunk"