Yamadori Rocky Mountain Juniper

[Dav4]

I'm sure the decision to change-over was already made, so what was your opinion of the root growth present at repot this time around?
Didn't seem too bad, and some fresh white roots sprinkled in.
Heck of a one man job, looks "cumbersome"
Nice green color in the sun.

This was the latest in the season I've ever repotted this one and I expected more white growing tips then what I saw, which is typical for this root system when it gets worked. The root ball was the most solid that it's ever been, but I barely removed any roots at the last repot. There were actually solid mats of roots here and there through out the root ball that I ended up cutting away. I removed at least 25%. As far as cumbersome...yeah... this one can be a PITA. It's an extra large one to start with, and couple that with the fact that ALL the roots come off the far right side of the base and not even close to being beneath the meat of the trunk makes this one even harder to handle and extra difficult to tie down solidly. The fact that it's even higher now didn't help things one bit. I do all my work by myself...... but my wife came to the rescue today when she heard me dropping 4 letter "fix-it" words in the back yard... steadied the trunk while I got it situated properly and wired in tight. She even suggested that I get a another pot that might fit the tree a bit better.....

 

[Steve Kudela]

This was the latest in the season I've ever repotted this one and I expected more white growing tips then what I saw, which is typical for this root system when it gets worked. The root ball was the most solid that it's ever been, but I barely removed any roots at the last repot. There were actually solid mats of roots here and there through out the root ball that I ended up cutting away. I removed at least 25%. As far as cumbersome...yeah... this one can be a PITA. It's an extra large one to start with, and couple that with the fact that ALL the roots come off the far right side of the base and not even close to being beneath the meat of the trunk makes this one even harder to handle and extra difficult to tie down solidly. The fact that it's even higher now didn't help things one bit. I do all my work by myself...... but my wife came to the rescue today when she heard me dropping 4 letter "fix-it" words in the back yard... steadied the trunk while I got it situated properly and wired in tight. She even suggested that I get a another pot that might fit the tree a bit better.....

Mine helps out from time to time.............I wish that she would make suggestions like that, hers are more to the tune of , "I'd suggest that you don't cut the top 2/3 of that tree out just to get to the bottom branch!"

 

[Dav4]

Did you do a half bare root repot?

Lessee... my evil plans are working!!! First, it was the conversion from aluminum to copper wire. Then, fully mossing the pot when showing, now Boon Mix!

It's taking a while, Dave, but we'll make a Redneck out of you yet!

Oh, wait...

He's still a Pats fan!

Never mind! Lol!!!

More like a 2/3 to 3/4 bare root. The turface wanted to fall away and out of the root ball and I had to get the clots of matted root outa there. The only area I didn't really work is right up against the trunk where the roots exit the base. I've practically bare rooted this one each time I repot and it never skips a beat, so I'm not concerned, plus we're going to have coolish weather with cloudy skies and rain on and off, (+/- tornadoes tomorrow) for the rest of the week. That's the good thing about turface... shake the tree a few times once it's out of the pot and you've just about bare rooted it without touching a single root.

 

[LanceMac10]

She even suggested that I get a another pot that might fit the tree a bit better.....

Cha-ching!!



I went back thru some of your earlier posts and I was pleased to read you were but a "rank beginner" when you got the tree and that the groundswell was that you might have been in over your head......


I believe this thread should clear up any questions about your ability.

You just ain't some guy in a van down by the.....



Look forwards to seeing the effect the larger, more open mix, I do....

 

[Dav4]

Mine helps out from time to time.............I wish that she would make suggestions like that, hers are more to the tune of , "I'd suggest that you don't cut the top 2/3 of that tree out just to get to the bottom branch!"

I told her how much a pot for a tree that size would cost and she backed off the suggestion a bit... but didn't say "Oh, in that case, forget it!" either.

 

[LanceMac10]

More like a 2/3 to 3/4 bare root. The turface wanted to fall away and out of the root ball and I had to get the clots of matted root outa there. The only area I didn't really work is right up against the trunk where the roots exit the base. I've practically bare rooted this one each time I repot and it never skips a beat, so I'm not concerned, plus we're going to have coolish weather with cloudy skies and rain on and off, (+/- tornadoes tomorrow) for the rest of the week. That's the good thing about turface... shake the tree a few times once it's out of the pot and you've just about bare rooted it without touching a single root.

Can you imagine what #5 is gonna' look like?!?!

 

[Dav4]

Cha-ching!!
View attachment 139392


I went back thru some of your earlier posts and I was pleased to read you were but a "rank beginner" when you got the tree and that the groundswell was that you might have been in over your head......


I believe this thread should clear up any questions about your ability.

You just ain't some guy in a van down by the.....
View attachment 139393


Look forwards to seeing the effect the larger, more open mix, I do....

Thanks, man! This tree changed my life forever! Might seem melodramatic, but it's true. It set the bonsai hook so deep, it can never be removed. Because of that, my bonsai game has been on a slow but steady uphill climb since it moved into my back yard... I figured I owed it to myself and the tree to make it work.

 

[Dav4]

Can you imagine what #5 is gonna' look like?!?!
View attachment 139394

Gonna need a bigger meme!!

 

[Dav4]

Almost forgot... a shoutout to @Adair M for giving me the properly sized pumice for the soil mix... it wouldn't have happened without it, so thanks again, Adair!

 

[Adair M]

Almost forgot... a shoutout to @Adair M for giving me the properly sized pumice for the soil mix... it wouldn't have happened without it, so thanks again, Adair!

Hey, what are friends for, anyway?

 

[Dav4]

 

[Dav4]

Bonsai weekend ahead! I'll be braving thunderstorms and possible tornadoes this afternoon to hear Micheal Ryan Bell speak at my club meeting this afternoon. Tomorrow, I'll be pulling this one into my garage and out of the bitter cold p) to hopefully finish wiring and deadwood clean up. Stay tuned for some updated pics on Monday....

 

[Dav4]

Temperature is just at freezing with wind gusts over 20 mph… Just finished applying the lime sulfur and I can’t feel my fingers .

 

[Japonicus]

At least you finished while it was still warm out

 

[Dav4]

High temperature of 35°F today… Spent over four hours in my garage wiring… Enough… It’s football time!

 

[Shima]

Wonderful movement! A very special tree.

 

[Dav4]

Done for now, minus a bit more fine wiring and clean up, including the bark. On the hunt for a nice slightly wider and more shallow unglazed rectangle for this one. It'll need to be at least 22 inches wide by 5 or 6 inches tall... will hopefully have something like that on hand in about 13 months.

 

[quietobserver]

Done for now, minus a bit more fine wiring and clean up, including the bark. On the hunt for a nice slightly wider and more shallow unglazed rectangle for this one. It'll need to be at least 22 inches wide by 5 or 6 inches tall... will hopefully have something like that on hand in about 13 months.
View attachment 224792View attachment 224793View attachment 224794View attachment 224795

Ever going to carve up some of the deadwood, or just leave it au natural..?.?

 

[Dav4]

Ever going to carve up some of the deadwood, or just leave it au natural..?.?

It'll never get changed by me... pictures just don't do the deadwood on this tree justice and there isn't a person on the planet that could improve on it with any tool, imo.

 

[Potawatomi13]

It'll never get changed by me... pictures just don't do the deadwood on this tree justice and there isn't a person on the planet that could improve on it with any tool, imo.

Well spoken!