Yamadori Juniper styling advice

[Matt3839]

This is my first Yamadori, collected by myself in 2023 and it’s done really well, lots of roots growing out of the mesh at the bottom of the box and it started pushing new growth at the top this year as well.

I’m still a ways off from styling or repotting but just curious of your guys thoughts.

I’m a little lost at what angle to pot it/style it when the time comes. It’s a while off but always nice to hear some input. It seems the big bend in the trunk might lend itself well to semi cascade although it’s not my favorite style of bonsai.

 

[ShimpakuBonsai]

Hard to tell based on these pictures but a literati design is the first that comes to mind.

 

[Matt3839]

I thought I added one more from the other side but I guess not. Not sure if it’s much more helpful though

I really love literati trees. Maybe I’ll start thinking about that.

 

[Joe Dupre']

It just so happens that I just bought an ashe juniper that is very similar to your tree. Mine was leaned over even more. I adjusted to a more vertical position and wired the bigger trunk, which was much like your tree, and bent it even more vertical. My goal is to style it with a mother/daughter vibe. I thought about some kind of cascade, but the two trunks did not seem to fit with that scenario.

 

[BonsaiBonsai]

If you don't like cascade as much don't make it one because you might not enjoy the tree after all the effort you did. No my fav style either.
Looking at the first pic all the green is very far to the side so i would say that one or two branches need to have a serious bend back into the trunk to be able the form that triangle foliage pad shape. Could not tell you which branche(s) based on the pictures.

 

[Joe Dupre']

It just so happens that I just bought an ashe juniper that is very similar to your tree. Mine was leaned over even more. I adjusted to a more vertical position and wired the bigger trunk, which was much like your tree, and bent it even more vertical. My goal is to style it with a mother/daughter vibe. I thought about some kind of cascade, but the two trunks did not seem to fit with that scenario.

View attachment 624100

This is what mine started out as. It was a collected tree that had no prior work done on it.

 

[doc spring _work]

I Love the literati idea.

I do feel like you should slowly carve the cambium away to create a nice live vein (I drew stupid twirls )

I also feel that lower branch is less interesting in its movement so I'd partially split the trunk as the crotch and slowly train the branch down while pulling and creating a bit of interesting dead wood.. then (later) cut the branch back and jin it fully (as if the branch split due to a storm and slowly died off)

But that's just what I'm seeing as far as the trunk... Can't see enough of the foliage to comment on that

 

[Matt3839]

Here’s another angle, it’s looking slightly down but you can see the top/ bottom or front/ back trunks.
The back one actually has an interesting bow to it. Where as the front is a bit more straight.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

If mine, Id wire the lowest whip and regrow the future tree and slowly work the rest of the foliage out of the design. Maybe something like the schematic below as an example...

 

[sebfer55]

If mine, Id wire the lowest whip and regrow the future tree and slowly work the rest of the foliage out of the design. Maybe something like the schematic below as an example...

View attachment 624175

This looks really nice

 

[ponderingsage]

I agree w/ Orion metal heads sketch.
Use raffia and bend the top branch back over the base. Use guy wires. That is what I did with a tree with similar structure.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

In the wooden box, plenty of ways to gain the torque you need to get branches moved.

 

[Matt3839]

In the wooden box, plenty of ways to gain the torque you need to get branches moved.

I like your idea a lot, I hadn’t thought about that! I’m still a ways off but thinking maybe in autumn 2026 I can start bending.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

I chose one of the smaller branches, its possible you could bring forward that whole clump and wire out. Id make sure its in optimal health and there have been no other work done to the tree.

 

[River's Edge]

This is my first Yamadori, collected by myself in 2023 and it’s done really well, lots of roots growing out of the mesh at the bottom of the box and it started pushing new growth at the top this year as well.

I’m still a ways off from styling or repotting but just curious of your guys thoughts.

I’m a little lost at what angle to pot it/style it when the time comes. It’s a while off but always nice to hear some input. It seems the big bend in the trunk might lend itself well to semi cascade although it’s not my favorite style of bonsai.

I would suggest a step back and consider carefully the best planting angle and front with consideration for the root structure. Once that is decided, then I would consider styling options.
Juniper is very good to work with in respect to heavy bends which allows for a lot of options. The last one I would consider is a literati. The natural growth patterns of junipers give you a lot of variety to work with. Also the basic natural appearance of the base of this tree does not fit my understanding of a slender trunk with little taper and unexpected movement. IE: Literati material
Just another point of view.
Spend some time checking out heavy bending techniques and some examples of what they can accomplish.

 

[Shibui]

I assume the trunk is planted right in the corner of the box because there's a huge root heading in one direction? That will have some bearing on what styles and what pots are possible unless/until you can reduce that root somewhat.
While nebari is not super important in Juniper bonsai, it's good if you can have some visible nebari to give the impression of age so I agree with @River's Edge Take some more time to check the rootage to see if there's anything there that might influence your styling choices.

@Orion_metalhead virt looks good but Realistically that will set you back probably 10 years or more and does away with some really good growth. Hard to tell without some scale in the photos but even quite thick wood can bent on Junipers with good technique.
Hard to style a tree that you've only seen in 2D photos but I think I can see a couple of other options using pic 2 as the front. Just can't be bothered working up a virt tonight.

 

[Matt3839]

I’ll see if I can take better photos. I agree the rootball will probably dictate a lot of how this tree sits in a pot. When I dug it up there wasn’t a whole lot of strong roots at the base so I’m not expecting much of a nebari but I’ll start digging down to take a peak.

This is definitely a long term project so not expecting anything finishing in a year or two.
I think most of the general consensus seems to be that one of the trunks will probably be jinned. Either way I’m hoping this spring it puts on a lot more growth and can be styled or at least partially styled later in the year.

I may try to bring it to a workshop or someone to work on the styling with me. I’m a little hesitant to go with my own instincts on this one since. But thank you all for your advice. Still good to keep things in mind and day dream a bit.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

I think getting some experienced help and eyes on it is a great first step.

 

[Matt3839]

This was Ryan’s thought from Bonsai Mirai. Long term project but something of the sort may be achievable with raffia and heavy bending over time.