How to Care for Juniper Bonsai Trees

TEN YEAR OLD JUNIPER BONSAI

The ancient art of Bonsai, once reserved for the upper echelon of Japanese society, is a practice that is gaining popularity among gardeners throughout the world. It is not simply another plant, however, and will demand almost as much time and effort as caring for a pet. Junipers are among the best choices for beginners as they need less care than other varieties. Below are some basics that the beginner needs to know.

Things You'll Need

• Bonsai trays, clean water, potting soil, fertilizer and scissors

Instructions

1. Both over watering and under watering can severely damage your tree. The easiest method for Junipers is to place another tray underneath the potting tray and simply fill it up whenever it is dry. You can also use a traditional watering can or a mister. If you use a watering can or mister, be careful not to irrigate the leaves too much, as this will damage them. Pay close attention to watering, since Junipers like full sun, they will need extra water in the hotter months and also when the tree is growing in spring. They can consume a great amount of water during these times, often needing the supply replenished several times a day. In general though, Junipers need less water than other types of Bonsai. Rain water or bottled water is best but it is most important to be sure that the water you use is not "hard" or full of chlorine. Bonsais are particularly sensitive to harsh chemicals and minerals.

2. Junipers will need to be fed in spring and summer to keep them healthy. Since you want to limit the growth of the tree, you may think that fertilizer is unecessary. However, a tree that is never fed will soon die. Take care not to fertilize too much though as you can seriously harm the plant by doing so. It is best to err on the side of too little fertilizer rather than too much. Slow release, organic fertilizers such as fish meal are best. Whichever feeding method that you choose, be sure that it contains a balance of nitrates, potassium and phosphorous.

3. Regular pruning is essential to keeping your Bonsai tree in its dwarf state. If new growth is not limited, then the tree ceases to be a Bonsai and will behave as a regular Juniper tree. A Needle Juniper will need to be dubudded completely, every time buds appear. Needle Junipers need to be watched starting in spring for new growth and will be done budding by the end of fall. For a Chinese Juniper, you can leave a few shoots but will need to remove most of them. About one third of the new growth can safely remain. New shoots will first show up in spring and continue to appear until wintertime. You can use scissors to remove shoots and buds if you like, but many growers think that scissor pruning is unhealthy for the plant. Both types of Juniper are soft enough that you will able able to pinch new growth out with your fingernails.

4. The Bonsai will need to be repotted about every two years. The term Bonsai translates into English as "tray tree." Thus, Bonsais should be housed in a tray designed specifically for them. There are many options available at garden centers and any place that sells Bonsai. The trays usually have large holes to allow for proper drainage but these holes also will allow soil to leak out if you do not cover them with some type of material. Plastic mesh is a good choice. Be sure that you have allowed the tree to dry out a bit before repotting. It will be much easier to get to the roots this way. It is also a good idea to check with the store where you bought the tree to find out what kind of soil the tree is potted in. You will want to stick with the same mixture in which the tree has been growing all along, if at all possible. Remove the tree by its trunk and loosen the roots from the potting soil. This can be done with a fork or with a tool specifically designed for this purpose. You will want to remove almost all of the dirt in order to get a good look at the roots. Check for diseases and pests and also look for any unhealthy, damaged roots. Remove any damaged roots with scissors and deal with any pest issues that you have found. You will also need to prune the roots at this time. Reducing the root system is the primary method for keeping the tree small. Cut the roots to about half of their original length, and repot. Be sure to water well right afterwards and then let the tree be for a little while, until it recovers. Root pruning helps the Bonsai to rejuvenate in the long term but is initially a traumatic event for the tree.

Tips & Warnings

• By following the steps above, you will be on the road to mastering the art of Bonsai. However, long term care and proper training of a Bonsai is beyond the scope of this article. Pick up a good book such as Christian Pessey and Remy Samson's "Bonsai Basics" to learn more.

Resources

• TIPS, SUPPLIES AND OTHER VALUABLE BONSAI INFO