Juniper Bonsai Trees Homepage

Question: How should i trim, shape, and water a juniper bonsai tree?

(Posted by: nathan_415 on 2008-04-03 14:21:44)

Hey, I just got a three year old Juniper Procumbens Nana (the name according to site I got it off of) from a web site. The instructions that come with the tree are very vague on how to shape, trim, and water it. I am particularly interested in how to trim and shape it as I have seen some impressive pictures of this species of bonsai. So how, when, where do I need to trim and how do I use a wire to shape it? I want to shape it so that it has a upward branch and a branch off the side. I appreciate any help and feel free to ask me about anything I am leaving out that you need to know.

Posted by: Cat on 2008-04-03, 14:44:45

It's very difficult to describe the process with words only, and no pictures. Imagine trying to describe a certain shape... "make the branch kind of go out, and a little down ".... (huh?)... "no, over! over! " (right) Essentially, you need to imagine in your head the shape of your finished tree, and cut away anything that is beyond that framework. You wrap[ the wire around the trunk and branches so that when you gently bend a branch downward (or whatever direction), it stays there to grow into that position rather than bounce back when you take your hand away. I highly recommend getting books on bonsai training from the library (or even better, a video), and look them over. THe books should have lots of pictures, because it's a very visual process.