How to Take Care of a Japanese Juniper Bonsai Tree

With proper care, a bonsai youngling will flourish for years.

With proper care, a Japanese Juniper bonsai tree will flourish for many years. These trees, native to Eastern culture, are simple to maintain and they provide owners with a rewarding part-time avocation. This indoor or outdoor plant demands few essentials for maintenance. The following guidelines will ensure that your Japanese Juniper bonsai will continue to thrive and provide aesthetic pleasure with its blue and green foliage, and springtime flowers.

Things You'll Need

• Japanese Juniper bonsai
• Water
• Plant food
• Sunlight

Instructions

1. Feel the soil on a daily basis to determine if the Juniper bonsai requires watering. Allow the soil to dry completely between watering sessions. When the soil is dry, water the tree by submerging the pot into a container of water, such as a filled sink. Allow the tree to soak for five to ten minutes, then remove it from the water to drain. If you would prefer to water the Juniper bonsai with a watering can, add the water in a series of applications, waiting a few minutes between each interval.

2. Provide your Juniper bonsai with fertilizer bi-weekly during the spring to fall months. Acceptable fertilizers include organic pellets, fish emulsion or organic seaweed fertilizer. Dilute chemical fertilizers to half strength if you choose to use this feeding option.

3. 

   A shady deck would be a well-suited location for a Juniper bonsai.

   Avoid direct sunlight by placing your Juniper bonsai in a shaded area. Low lighting is necessary and will allow your tree to flourish.

4. Maintain a favorable temperature. Juniper bonsai trees are capable of growing in a wide range of temperatures. Provide the tree with a "rest period" during cooler months, by placing it in a cool environment for an extended period of time. Ideally, the tree should remain at a temperature of 60 degrees or cooler during this time, allowing the the bonsai to enter a dormant stage.

5. Re-pot your Juniper bonsai on a schedule dependent on its age: For trees less than six years old, re-pot every two years. Switch to every three to five years after your Juniper bonsai has matured past six years old. As you perform the transplant, make sure to adequately water. Move the plant to a shady area for several weeks to allow for the growth of new roots.

Tips & Warnings

• You may also add nonessential elements to your Juniper bonsai, such as moss or having it sit on a bed of stones. Adding moss creates a decorative effect and aids in moisture retention. Placing the bonsai on top of a stone-filled tray is a decorative option that also provides an area for excess moisture to drain and helps to maintain ideal humidity.

References

• Sleepy Hollow Bonsai: Growing your Juniper Bonsai
• BonsaiGardener: Advantages of Owning a Juniper Bonsai Tree