Hem Collection : Juniper #1

Juniper from the "Hem Collection".

I don't know what juniper species it is.
It was a friend that gave it in my care because he does not have time anymore to take care of it.
It's been neglected for several years, moss had covered the whole trunk up till the ramifications.
During the initial cleaning up of the moss I found a rotten deadwood area at the base of the trunk underneath the moss.
Decided to go ahead a repot, clean up the rotten deadwood and open up the "dead zone".

Basically here are the main issues with the tree after I completed the initial cleanup:

• Rotten deadwood at the base of the tree.
• Formation of a dead zone at the junctions of the main trunk and the primary branches.
• Leggy growth

The leggy growth and dead zone is secondary and will have to be cared for later on.

The term dead zone refers to areas within the ramification, usually near the base of the branches that do not get enough sunlight and ends up without any foliage.
This does not mean that they are dead, just with dormant buds. Opening up the foliage to allow light to pass through is usually enough to promote new shoots.
But that will be a long term process.

The most urgent is the deadwood issue, I need to treat it asap. The base of the trunk was dangerously mushy and soft.

The previous front

Previous side

Back

The critical area. The wood was badly rotten and crumbling
at any slight pressure.

Foliage was mostly the mature scale-like foliage,
with some juvenile needle-like foliage scattered here and there.

That branch on the left is completely dead. Possible future jin.

The new front I would like to use. Much will depend on the root underneath.

Preparing my bonsai soil/substrate mix:
3 parts lava rocks or baked pellets

3 parts vermiculite

1/2 part slow release fertiliser pellet

I would normally add crushed pine bark but I ran out stock.

Removing the plant the pot. Carefully untangle the roots to check on the state.

Found a surprisingly good root structure.
Only one long lateral root that was later removed.

This thick root on the left seems to be an old tap root.
I was initially going to remove it, but decided against it at the last min.

Close-up of the critical area.

Repotting.

New front

Now to treat the damaged deadwood.

I needed to get to a healthier deadwood underneath the rotten one.

Used a small metal brush to scrape of the soft damaged wood.

End result

Will be using some limesulphur for the first treatment.

After first application of lime sulphur.

Now I address the second issue : The deadzone.
I need to make more light get into this inner area of the tree.

Before wiring : Lots of growth at the top.

After wiring and opening up the branches.

Side : This could become the future front.

With the slow release pellets in the soil mix, I won't have to fertilize for 1 month or so.
For now, no styling planned, only some aftercare to the tree back on track and get new growth in the deadzone for future styling.