New bonsai and new member

Konstantin · Sat Mar 14, 2009 6:34 am

Hello,
I am new to this forum and to bonsai in general. I got this plant (which I think is Needle Juniper) two months ago, and it has been growing steadily eversince. I was wondering if anyone can give me some tips and advices like: should I prune it and how, does the tree look healthy.... Pls, any help would be appreciated.
[img]https://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt194/kosioboy/DSC_0026.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt194/kosioboy/DSC_0027.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt194/kosioboy/DSC_0025.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt194/kosioboy/DSC_0029.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i611.photobucket.com/albums/tt194/kosioboy/DSC_0031.jpg[/img]

Gnome · Sun Mar 15, 2009 12:46 pm

Konstantin,

Hello and welcome to the forum. Your plant certainly seems healthy to me. It is getting a little scraggly but there is no rush to prune right now. Bonsai go through cycles, they are not static. It is not uncommon for trees to be allowed a period of growth before cutting back.

As far as the ID goes, I'm not convinced that you have a Juniper, but I don't really have a good alternative candidate in mind either. Sorry I have not been more helpful, perhaps someone else has an idea.

Norm

uzeyr · Mon Mar 16, 2009 6:27 am

WOW WOW WOW

I LOVE THE design of the tree is looks so nice take care of it

but as norm said it does need some cutting and pruning

Konstantin · Mon Mar 16, 2009 7:28 am

Thx for the comments and to the replies.
Now my mission is to ID the little guy, so I know how to take better care for it. One of the species that resemble to it is Japanese Cedar, but I am not quite sure, any help IDing it would be nice.

kdodds · Mon Mar 16, 2009 7:38 am

Could be Cryptomeria, possibly Araucaria (Norfolk Island Pine).

thebean · Mon Mar 16, 2009 8:59 am

looks to me to be a norfolk pine, very healthy

Konstantin · Mon Mar 16, 2009 10:49 am

Ok thank you again for IDing this plant. However, your replies are pointing towards Norfolk Pine - which according to the research is not quite suitable for bonsai, even though I found some sites suggesting its just harder to train. Do u have any advices into pruning and shaping it? Also, I promise I will post pictures of my second bonsai, which is Ficus Microcarpa (at least I think so, again.

)

uzeyr · Mon Mar 16, 2009 2:01 pm

btw is the tree indoors because it looks like it if I were u I would take it out what say u guys ?

kdodds · Tue Mar 17, 2009 7:42 am

If it's a Norfolk Island pine, no, I would not take it out, at least not in the winter/fall, but if it is Cryptomeria japonica, then yes, I would.