| Close your eyes and picture a typical Bonsai tree. | | | | after that age. The best time to repot is in the |
| You are probably visualizing a Juniper Bonsai. | | | | spring although fall is also acceptable. Repotting |
| Juniper is one of the most popular Bonsai because | | | | can shock your Bonsai so water well and keep |
| it is very easy to grow and care for. Juniper | | | | the tree in the shade for 2 weeks. |
| Bonsai does very well both indoors and outdoors. | | | | Pruning Roots |
| In addition, it is a very forgiving plant as it will put | | | | It is best to prune your roots every other spring. |
| up with a lot of abuse and still flourish. | | | | Simply remove the tree from its pot. Gently |
| Sunlight | | | | remove the soil and spread out the rootball. I use |
| Juniper Bonsai will do best in partial shade. They | | | | a chopstick to smooth out the rootball on my |
| will do fine if they get morning or late afternoon | | | | younger Bonsai. Trim about 1/3rd of the roots |
| sun but keep them out the harsh mid-day light | | | | and return to the pot. When you perform this |
| Humidity | | | | step your Bonsai might go into shock at first. You |
| Juniper Bonsai love humid conditions. Place your | | | | can purchase some vitamin b-1 transplant shock |
| Juniper plant over a tray filled with water. Do not | | | | solution and apply to you plant. Misting a few |
| place the Juniper directly in the water but on a | | | | times a day for a couple of weeks will also help. |
| plant stand or pedestal placed in the water. For a | | | | Pruning your Tree |
| "zen" look place smooth stones in the water. | | | | During the spring buds will grow on the tips of the |
| Watering | | | | tree's branches. These buds will need to be |
| Juniper Bonsai do need to be watered regularly. | | | | removed so tree limbs do not grow. Unless you |
| You want to test your soil daily. Simply stick your | | | | actually want a limb to grow in the area of a new |
| finger into the soil up to your first knuckle. If the | | | | bud go ahead and remove them. This will not |
| soil is dry it is time to water. Usually this will be | | | | harm the tree but it will keep the tree shape you |
| every 2 days or so. Do not use water that has | | | | have worked so hard to accomplish. |
| been treated with a water softener. If your | | | | Sleepy Time |
| water is high in minerals leach the soil by flushing | | | | Bonsai need to go through a dormant or sleep |
| with distilled water once in a while. | | | | period where the temperature drops to at least |
| There are 2 ways to water your Juniper. | | | | 60 degrees F. If your tree is kept outside during |
| Immerse it in a water filled container up to the | | | | this dormant time keep it well protected from the |
| trunk and keep there until the bubbles stop. Or, | | | | elements. Do not worry about freezing |
| water normally, wait a few minutes and then | | | | temperatures. Your Bonsai will survive. |
| repeat. Do this 3 times to make sure your Bonsai | | | | Growing Indoors |
| has received a good soaking. | | | | Junipers can be grown indoors. Be sure they get |
| Feeding | | | | at least 2 hours of sunlight a day. Usually indoor |
| Juniper Bonsai are quite hungry little guys and | | | | climates are very dry and Juniper Bonsai love |
| need to fertilized every 2 weeks during the | | | | humidity. Keep a humidity tray under your Bonsai |
| growth season. It is best to use an organic liquid | | | | and mist everyday. Do not place your plant near |
| fertilizer like seaweed or fish emulsion. There are | | | | air conditioning or heating vents. You will also want |
| chemical fertilizers available for Bonsai but read | | | | to dust your tree regularly as indoor dirt and grim |
| the directions carefully. You may need to dilute | | | | will clog up the pores of the your plant. |
| this fertilizer to prevent the roots and plant foliage | | | | Conclusion |
| from burning. | | | | As you can see Juniper Bonsai are fairly easy to |
| Insects | | | | care for. However don't just follow the above |
| Spider mites love Juniper Bonsai. This is especially | | | | steps and believe you will have a perfect Juniper. |
| true if your Bonsai is indoors due to the dry air. | | | | Pay attention to your plant. You may find to |
| Spray your Bonsai and any other surrounding | | | | achieve perfection you need to water less or |
| plants with a regular insecticide monthly. | | | | expose your tree to more sunlight. Like you and |
| Repotting | | | | your friends and family, every tree is different |
| Repot your Juniper every few years when your | | | | and responds in different ways to love and |
| tree is under 5 years old and ever 4 years or so | | | | nurturing. |