Instead of sharing photos of the different pots I tried out for a Western juniper, I thought I’d cut to the chase and show the final selection. Western juniper – 24″ After setting the tree in six different containers, I found that none provided additional interest to the composition. I had a few lava rocks […]
Western juniper
Finding the center – moving a Western juniper to the middle of the pot
One of the challenges I faced with the Western juniper below was that it had no roots on one side of the trunk. This was natural as the tree got its start when it was separated from its larger sibling. Here it is after a few years of training. Western juniper, 2009 – note how […]
Summer clean-up on a Western juniper
Some of the least exciting bonsai work happens in summer. This is when lots of watering and fertilizing happens, but it is also a good time for jobs that can get put off during busier seasons like fall or early spring. A few months ago, the Western juniper below was wired and cut back. After putting on a […]
White spots on Western juniper
In the spirit of identifying white dots on bonsai these past few weeks, today’s subject is Western juniper. Western juniper For those unfamiliar with the variety, Western junipers are frequently covered with white dots, one per scale. On some occasions, the dots enlarge and merge together to form a sticky white mass. Sticky white substance on Western juniper […]
Repotting a Western juniper
It had been a while since I last repotted my Western juniper. Although the drainage remained good, I’d been anxious to repot since styling the tree last fall and deciding on a new planting angle. Wester juniper – August 2012 To maintain the angle indicated during the last styling, I affixed an aluminum wire that […]