Torulosa Juniper

Russell Coker wrote:Dorothy, you really have done a great job of pulling a respectable bonsai out of difficult material.

I remember seeing this juniper used in southern California. You can find some in old copies of "Bonsai in California". George Yamaguchi had a really big, fine example that was often used in his nursery ads on the back cover - as in the 1997 issue.

Russell

Thank you, Russell. George Yamaguchi's juniper is beautiful work. I saw the tree the first time in the JUNIPERS (Bonsai Today) book.

-dorothy

G'day Dorothy...

As Russell indicated, the Holly J must be quite difficult in Florida...very nice work...

Pat

Very nice work on a difficult species. When did you and Toto move from Kansas.......

keep it green,
Harry

greerhw wrote:When did you and Toto move from Kansas....... Harry

Keep up Harry... check back a few posts

Tony

Tony wrote:

greerhw wrote:When did you and Toto move from Kansas....... Harry

Keep up Harry... check back a few posts

Tony

Being from England, I'll have to explain the joke to you. Did you ever see the movie "The Wizzard of Oz"

keep it green,
Harry

greerhw wrote:

Tony wrote:

greerhw wrote:When did you and Toto move from Kansas....... Harry

Keep up Harry... check back a few posts

Tony

Being from England, I'll have to explain the joke to you. Did you ever see the movie "The Wizzard of Oz"

keep it green,
Harry

Hahahahaha!!!

Okay, to clear things up, once the wind stopped I kinda was dropped in Florida..Tony, it's all in the shoes..

-Toto

Update, pic taken today. Tips are intentionally bent up:



Before

Nice Dorothy, nice fluffy clouds like a real tree.

Hi,
Nice to see the progression.
Is this now the grown out stage you mentioned earlier, prior to the hard pruning and back budding to form the pads? as it seems the foliage has gone out a long way on bare branches now. When you hard prune is it back to existing inner shoots or do you mean really hard pruning ?

Cheers, its interesting to hearr about other juniper species methods

Marcus

Thanks, Smithy.

Marcus, I just cleaned the tree up ( old growth, weak growth) and am feeding for more growth. When I get the "flames" I trim back almost all of the new growth. This will force budding on the branch and new leaders (usually 2, right and left below the trimmed of tip). The branches are naked looking, yes. I made space to further compact the foliage pads. Right now the tips are wired up for better growth.
Next step is to trim and wire the pads more compact. There will be more negative space between the branches. The branches will come "down". The top of the tree needs thinning. I am in the process of doing so. This tree is getting to be high maintenance..but that's what life is about, right?

Thanks, Dorothy

dorothy7774 wrote: This tree is getting to be high maintenance..but that's what life is about, right?

Thanks, Dorothy

Hi Dorothy,
it certainly is - I think all the junipers rival or even go beyond white pines for on going maintainance. I've cut hard back into shimpaku sergentii in a similar way if the tree is still being designed. It usually triggers a new bud in branch forks closer to the trunk . Do these trees make juvenile foliage if cut back hard?

cheers Marcus

Really amazing development!
congrats Dorothy.

Great Tree Dorothy, amazing work so far

I thought it would be a bit easier..thanks guys!

-Dorothy

Wow, thanks for the update. It's really refreshing to see one of our landscape junipers turned into respectible bonsai. Great looking tree!

Beautiful work. Torulosa seem like they could be one of those undiscovered gems if the foliage could be kept close, more so than a prostrata because the foliage is better and they seem to trunk up. Now it's even more tempting!

BVF

Dorothy you have given me hope that my tree can become beautiful if it survives being collected. I love the color of these "Hollywoods". You tree is beautiful!
Best,
Todd

Now I understand why the Hatanakies liked Hollywoods so much.

Dorthy , seems like these old posts come back to haunt you.

Nice tree and great thread Dorothy! Can you post an updated pic of your juni? (please)

Due to my recent purchase of a Hollywood Juniper...I am resurrecting this old thread being the best on the subject I found so far. (very selfish reason)

I am interested on knowing the work schedule for it like best time to;
1. do root work/repotting
2. hard prune & trim/pinch
3. wire
4. feed

In general, I want to know any thing I need to do differently as compared to say a Shimpaku since I can find tons of info on it.

Thanks!

Beautiful work!

Wow! Nursarys here are full of them. Always wondered what could be done with them.... Thank you.

Dorothy,

Nice job with the Hollywood Juniper. I have never tried one but as a horticulturist, I did own a large Juniperus chinensis "Robusta Green", which is much like the Hollywood juniper.

It was a nice juniper with cord like foliage but the needles were long like on the Hollywood. It seems you have been pinching them back well.

Again, Very nice juniper. They use Hollywood juniper a lot in Japan for landscaping.

Poink88 wrote:Nice tree and great thread Dorothy! Can you post an updated pic of your juni? (please)

Due to my recent purchase of a Hollywood Juniper...I am resurrecting this old thread being the best on the subject I found so far. (very selfish reason)

I am interested on knowing the work schedule for it like best time to;
1. do root work/repotting
2. hard prune & trim/pinch
3. wire
4. feed

In general, I want to know any thing I need to do differently as compared to say a Shimpaku since I can find tons of info on it.

Thanks!

Hi Dario,

here is a pic of the tree from today, untrimmed:


1. Root work / Repotting

Here in SWFL I repot my junipers in March. For repotting without trimming off too many roots mid to end of October is a good time (here).

2. Hard prune & Trim/pinch:

I prune in spring and pinch the strong areas as needed throughout the year. Torulosas seem to be tough trees. I can get away with hard pruning or eliminating live parts more than with other junipers. They also seem to like the Florida climate ( SWFL). So do I..

3. Wire

As needed, all year round. Major bending techniques in spring, and again in October.

4.Feed
Year round. My trees and me never go hungry.

Best,
Dorothy

"Isaac who?"

Is it the one with 2 Nebulas and 8 Hugos?
Sorry Dorothy! Good luck and to others in Florida also.

I have read the whole topic (a few times now) and I love every image of this tree. I love how you started, than you let it grow and make a second styling.... The image with a foliage that is a bit overgown is my favorite-still tidy but natural looking. Very much looking forward.

Best...

Gašper