Foliage growth

The growing of trees in small pots is an art called bonsai. The trees used for this art are miniature, but they are actually normal trees that grow to smaller sizes due to training. The leaves of these miniature trees are even styled in various ways.

In order to achieve this performance, different bonsai techniques were developed.

Amongst the main techniques to growing a bonsai tree is pruning. This can determine both the size of the tree and the style in which it is grown. We will present some more important aspects of pruning a juniper bonsai.

Knowledge of the techniques used to grow a bonsai tree makes the process easier. One of the most popular trees used for bonsai is the juniper tree. It is also best used by beginners in the art of bonsai. The juniper is a coniferous plant from the Cupressaceous family, with 50 to 70 species of junipers, both trees and shrubs that have needles or scale leaves. This type of leaf is the ideal for making bonsai.

Juniper trees can also be trained into different bonsai styles easily, which makes them very popular. They can be grown either inside or out and species such as the Chinese juniper, the green mound, the Japanese garden juniper, sergeant’s, needle or shimpaku are extensively used as bonsai.

It is easier to care for a juniper species of bonsai tree than others. Suitable growing conditions, as well as training and pruning are necessary to raise these trees to the desired style.

With juniper bonsai trees, pruning is a very important aspect. It is partly to keep the tree in it’s small size and partly to control the foliage growth. The main part of the pruning process is completed in the first stage, when the juniper is made into a candidate for growing as a bonsai tree. This process might imply removing the top part of the plant, thus making it smaller. It also constitutes training to grow according to the directions of the bonsai artist. Major pruning needs to be performed regularly for bonsai care, especially in the first years after which it can be reduced and less severe. In order to avoid damaging the tree or giving it an unkempt look, pruning requires practice.

Pruning is an essential part of caring for a juniper bonsai tree and it needs to be done correctly. During the growing season you can prune the new buds. Scissors can be used to perform this task, however it has been observed that cutting the buds can cause browning of the ends which would spoil the overall aspect of the tree. Finger pinching, also known as nipping is the technique used in pruning junipers. In finger pinching the buds are held between the tip of your thumb and forefinger and twisted to be clean-cut from the stem. The pruning process is usually performed after one month of growth, in spring. In order to make the leaves more compact you pinch off the buds and take care to eliminate the inner growth as well so that it can fall off in June. You need to remove all of the crossed or dead stems during the pruning procedure. If you have selected a special style in which to grow the bonsai tree, the pruning process will need to augment that style. You can continue pruning until the middle of September throughout the season. Afterwards, the wiring of the bonsai tree is done.
Junipers are considered easier to prune than other species of bonsai trees.

Even so, a certain level of expertise is necessary to receive a good result. In order to master the art of juniper bonsai pruning you will need to have some basic training or study the matter intensively.

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