The Juniper Bonsai is one of the most popular trees for Bonsai. There are over 50 different species of this tree, all of them are evergreen and can be found in a plethora of dry forests throughout the world. It’s an outdoor bonsai that will need shade during hot days and midday sun.The Juniper Bonsai has two types of foliage. First there is your ‘needle-like’ foliage, and the ‘scale-like’ foliage. Whilst a tree will exhibit both, the ideal Bonsai Tree will be one that exhibits one more than another. The foliage colour will differ depending on which plant you have, for example, you could get beautiful blue/green colour, or perhaps even a delightful silver/gold hue.
Types Of Juniper Bonsai
As mentioned previously, there are a plethora of different styles of Juniper Bonsai out there. However, the most common by far is the Chinese Juniper. This naturally has a combination of both types of foliage, however, this can make it difficult to grow. Therefore the trees which only have one type of foliage are normally chosen for Bonsai. If you want to find out more about the different types of Juniper Bonsai out there, it is worth getting in touch with a supplier of them.If your Juniper Bonsai is mostly ‘scale-like’ in terms of the foliage, you will want to put it in the shade during the midday sun. During the winter it will also need to be protected from the frost. There is no requirement for the light during this stage.
Do not ever grow your juniper indoors. This will cause them to die. No matter what you read, or are told, a Juniper Bonsai cannot live inside the house. It will not get on with the ‘environment’.
Juniper Bonsai Soil and Watering
If you are using organic soil, try not to over water your tree, otherwise root rot could occur. If you have just repotted your Juniper Bonsai, you will need to ‘mist’ it every so often in order to ensure that it is getting a lot of water. In fact, you should do this as it enables the tree to breathe.
The tree needs to be fed every fortnight using a high nitrogen fertiliser between the spring and mid-summer. Balanced feed until the late summer and a low nitrogen mix until the winter.
Repot your plant in April, try to avoid it too early during the year. Whilst some plants have been successfully repotted during later stages of the year, it isn’t recommended, especially on incredibly hot days. You will only need to repot the plant every 3-5 years. Only change a third of the soil at a time in any one repotting, and never leave the roots exposed.
Ideally you will want to keep your Juniper Bonsai in an inorganic soil which is clay based. This is because they suffer from poor health in organic soils. Choose a clay based soil which you know is going to survive for a number of years, if you are unsure, ask someone.
Juniper Bonsai Pruning
When you are pruning, always leave enough foliage on the branch so that it can continue to be supported. If you prune too heavily, that branch will die. You can continue to prune throughout April to the late summer, as it will constantly grow during this time. You can either pinch or scissor prune, ideally a combination of both of the techniques.Always make sure that you purchase your Juniper Bonsai from a reputable retailer. This way you can be sure that you are getting a plant that has had the ‘best start’ to its life, which of course will lessen the chance of problems in the future.
Juniper Bonsai – Junipers belong to the cypress family Cupressceae. These evergreen trees or shrubs have around 50 species. The wood of the Juniper tree is reddish-brown in color, fragrant and durable – which is also the source of the “cedan” lining mainly used for moth proof closets. Aside from this,oil which can be used for perfume and medicine can be distilled from the wood. The Juniper berries also have that distinctive gin taste while the leaves contain diuretic properties. Another use of the Junipers is for making bonsai which can be an indoor or outdoor ornament.
The Juniper bonsai is one of the most popular forms of bonsai which is also available in different species. Some of the species suitable for bonsai are Shimpaku, Sabina Juniper, Himalayan Juniper, Blue-Rug Juniper, Common Juniper and Chinese Juniper. The Juniper Bonsai is a shrub which has a very flexible trunk making it ideal for pruning and wiring. It is also highly adaptable to different environment and can live up to many years. In fact, the Juniper bonsai which are collected from the mountains as Yamadori can live for more than 200 years.
Here are some few points on how to properly take care of your Juniper bonsai:
- Light: The bonsai tree would thrive well in full sun although it would be best to expose the bonsai in the morning light and with some filtered afternoon light. For the outdoor bonsai, put it in a covered area so that it would be exposed to the sun but not during midday when it is the hottest time of the day. For the indoor bonsai, it should be exposed with a minimum of 2 hours of direct sunlight preferably in the morning or afternoon sun.
- Care during winter: The Juniper bonsai is a winter hardy plant. It is during winter when they experience dormancy. They can be kept outside even during winter. But during extreme winters, the plant should be protected especially if it is already below -10°C. Protect the plant through mulch beds, window wells, and others.
- Watering: When it comes to watering, ensure first that the soil used drains well. Juniper bonsai should beplanted in a well-draining soil to avoid waterlogging and prevent the root from rotting. The bonsai hates excessive water but at the same time it doesn’t like to be kept totally dry for long periods. It’s best to maintain moisture in moderation by watering it every after 2 or 3 days. It would also help the plant by misting the foliage to keep it free from dust.
- Feeding: Feed the Juniper bonsai after a period of two weeks as it grows until spring and mid-summer. Apply a balanced feeding as the summer continues and lessen it during hot periods until winter. Using a highly acidic fertilizer is recommended for the plant.
- Repotting: For the young Juniper bonsai of less than 6 years old, repotting should be done every two years. For bosai older than 6 years, repotting should be every 3-5 years. This is best done during spring and fall but avoid repotting during very hot days. It is recommended to use a well-draining and inorganic clay-based soil for the Juniper bonsai. In repotting, the Juniper bonsai mustn’t be left bare-rooted, changing the soil shouldn’t exceed a third of the whole soil mass.