Hi Alena, The healthy tree looks great! However I'm afraid the "sick tree" appears to be dead. Food for thought: There are multiple things that could have happened, but over watering is often one of the major causes of decline in these junipers, especially in the soil they often come in from a nursery. Bonsai (especially conifers need to begin to dry out before watering. Well draining soil is very helpful. I apologize that it took so long for someone to answer you. Welcome! :) Dan

I'm sorry this is late, but I'm also in the air layer camp. I think you get better rooting, and the tree is able to keep feeding water up to the branch so there's no need for extra humidity, and less worry about mold. I took my first successful maple air layer last year, so I'm quite new at this. Take all of my suggestions with a grain of salt.. lol.

I ordered a trident maple (dormant) last December. It was shipped (USPS) the 13th of December when we had a solid week or two of mild temps. The tree showed up January 18th after severe cold spells. I was sure it would be dead, but it was growing! lol. It must have gotten stuck somewhere warm. I hope your plants show up unscathed!

Love it! Great photography too!!

If you're not getting rain, you could fill rain barrels from your hose before restrictions are in place as well.

A few recent photo's Left to right: Limber pine (Pinus flexilis), Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum), Sub Alpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa). There's also a common juniper hiding in the back right, and an engelmann peeking out of the left. Rocky again: Sub Alpine: Black Hills Spruce. Picea glauca 'densata' Sumac. Tiger eye Ginkgo

Hi John, I'm working on a resource for this purpose as well. I'll let you know as soon as it's available. Also, reach out to Darrell Whitley. I'll have to look for his email, but he is a RMBS member in Fort Collins with many years of experience.

@Barlow Anderson You could certainly give it a shot. I personally would prefer to give it some time with good moving air. Is the mold just in the soil or is part of the tree rotting?

How is the tree looking this spring Adam?

Hi Barlow, I think it does look like mold; not necessarily a big issue. It's likely from the moisture in the soil and low airflow in cold storage. Sunlight and moving/outdoor air along with continued proper watering should solve everything.

Hi Josh. For conifers I use Akadama/Pumice/Lava at 1/1/1. I will also use just Akadama/pumice at about 1/2 if I need more water retention (or I'm out of lava..).

Detail shots of my shohin Limber pine. Pinus Flexilis

Detail shots of Steve's shohin Engelmann Spruce. Picea Engelmannii

Just attempting to revive this thread... ;) Here's a bedroom display with the same two trees I used in my shohin display for last years virtual show. One of my shohin tridents. Actually this one is my 5 year old son's tree. In my care until he wants to take over.

Jen, if you have anything to share I'm sure many of us would love to learn what you know about these trees. :)

David, Great solution to the S-curve! And Charlie, I do think that drawing is right on point.

I agree. This was exceptionally well done. Right up there with the top Mirai content.

I agree with Mike. Likely a spider living inside the cut site.

Welcome Charlie! Yes, I think you're right that you'll have higher success with more moisture. Digging trees out of the ground can certainly be done here. I know of some who collect pinion pines out of the ground in southern CO and even New Mexico. If you can rig up a heat bed I think you'd have great success collecting in the fall as well. Bonsai Mirai has a tutorial about this and you could also reach out to Todd Schlafer (www.firstbranchbonsai.com) for advice on heat beds and pinion pine collection in general. It's true that most of us collect out of rock pockets around here, but that doesn't mean it's the only way to do it. Best of luck! and I hope to meet you at a show in the future. Dan

Nicely done!!