I am totally new to bonsai but I grew this tree and would love to start learning how to bonsai it. I also want to get a juniper to start trying to bonsai as well. I am looking to see if I should start trimming it or wiring it or even just laving it alone. Any help is very appreciated.

Ben

Please add a picture.

Benvg123 wrote: I am totally new to bonsai but I grew this tree and would love to start learning how to bonsai it. I also want to get a juniper to start trying to bonsai as well. I am looking to see if I should start trimming it or wiring it or even just laving it alone. Any help is very appreciated.

Ben

It may be just me but I've found spruces to be quite fastidious.
I'm at my third spruce and I'm finally getting some slow results, but being -having killed 2 already- I'm going extremely cautious with anything I do to it.

Since you say you're new to bonsai, my suggestion is to keep the spruce in good health and start working with a juniper to get some "bonsai-ing" experience: then divide by four anything you've learnt you can do to a juniper.

Sorry I thought I added the picture. This is it. I just dont know if I should trim the branches let it grow wild etc

Wow thank you for the advice. How old was the spruce you are using?

Benvg123 wrote: Wow thank you for the advice. How old was the spruce you are using?

Somewhere between 10 or 15. Current one has been
* staying "under observation" for 1 year
* lightly pruned second year
* repotted with minimal root reduction second year
* slightly more aggressive pruning third year

Now it's sitting quietly for an initial styling next season.
Probably worth calling it a bonsai (if I'm good at it) in another 4 or 5.

Good to know. Right now my tree is maybe 3 years or 4 years old would be my guess

I would start by identifying the plant you have. I have my doubts about the ID

Do you think it is a formosan juniper?

I got this from the wild in Michigan USA