This simple guide to juniper trees will help you get on the right foot. Let’s learn more about these famous trees and how to keep them happy and thriving!
Care of a juniper bonsai tree
It’s necessary to the juniper bonsai tree care among the most common types of bonsai; juniper trees belong to the cypress family. Native to the Northern Hemisphere, different types of junipers grow everywhere from the Arctic to Eurasia to parts of the United States.
How to care for juniper bonsai tree?
This bonsai can tolerate beginner mistakes and occasional periods of neglect much better than other species; However, you will still need to understand the primary care your tree needs. While these instructions will put you on the right track, remember: every tree is different. Watch your tree closely, get to know it, and adjust your care as needed.
1. Position
Juniper bonsai loves to be outside in a bright place. So please put them where they can receive at least four hours of sunlight daily, with a bit of shade in the afternoon. While they will be happy outdoors year-round in most locations, you’ll want to spread them out, cover them, or bring them to cool indoors if temperatures dip a lot below 15 degrees Fahrenheit (-10 degrees Celsius).
Bonsai Beware: While juniper maintains its foliage all year round, the frost protection mechanism in some species causes its needles to turn purple-brown. Don’t panic! Your tree does not die. Green colors will return once temperatures rise.
Can Juniper Bonsai Grow Indoors?
Most bonsai varieties are the happiest outdoors. (They are trees, after all!) But juniper bonsai trees can tolerate indoor growth if kept in the right conditions. Providing the adequate light, temperature, and humidity levels will be your biggest challenge.
1. Watering
One of the reasons juniper bonsai can handle a little neglect is that they are one of the few species that don’t mind losing pigeons. They are more likely to be over-watered than lightly thirsty. Plant your tree in well-drained soil, saturate well at shower time, and let the soil dry completely between waterings. (PSA: Your tree will still suffer if it gets dried out for extended periods, so don’t go overboard!)
Irrigation tips Pro
Be sure to drain excess water from the pot after watering, as waterlogged juniper is prone to root rot.
Juniper bonsai resembles a higher humidity level, which can be supplemented by spraying the leaves every few days or placing a pot on a moisture tray. (This is especially useful after re-decorating or with an indoor tree.)
In summer, water twice daily in the morning and evening; Avoid watering in the middle of the day, as the hot sun can burn the leaves. In winter, drink water once or twice a week – never when the temperature is below freezing. Want a hand? Soil moisture meters can help determine when to water.
2. Feeding
During the growing season, you will need to feed your tree once a month if you use solid fertilizer and weekly if you use a conventional liquid solution. To give your tree a steady dose of nutrients, We recommend that using a urea-free liquid fertilizer every time you water.
Feeding Pro Tips
The juniper bonsai trees do not need to be fertilized during the winter – but don’t forget to water them! Applying a nitrogen-rich fertilizer early in the growing season can help speed up your tree to support new growth.
3. Pruning & Trimming
Prune your bonsai plant from spring to late summer during the growing season. To keep your tree short, pinch off new shoots once they reach an inch in length. Instead of trimming the entire tree canopy (i.e., cutting the tips of the needle like a hair clipper), remove the hands to reduce foliage.
4. Wiring
Juniper bonsai trees are very malleable, which is how growers achieve attractive shapes and angles. Juniper can be bent and trained hard (mainly when small and pliable), but be careful with dead wood that can split easily. When bending juvenile branches to form new growth, tie tape or wrap it in raffia string for added protection.
5. Repotting
Once they reach age five, juniper trees should be replanted every two years. (Note: These trees do not require vigorous root pruning.) As the tree gets older and begins to grow more slowly, you can report it at a lower rate.
