Tips on Caring for Your Juniper Bonsai Tree

Coniferous trees can be used to make lovely bonsai specimens, and among the most popular of conifers for bonsai is the juniper. The hugely popular juniper tree has over 50 varieties that can be found all over the world. Juniper are also one of the easiest bonsai trees to take care of, hence their popularity, particularly among novice bonsai growers. The juniper bonsai tree can be grown both indoors and outdoors, nonetheless, poor humidity, lack of decent light, and lack of a dormant period will ultimately kill them. A Juniper bonsai tree will tolerate short periods of being inside but if you really want it to thrive then keep it outside.

Juniper trees have two distinctive types of foliage that they display at different stages of their life. Young juniper trees have foliage that is like needles, and when they mature the foliage is more scale-like. Foliage will range in color from blue-greens to light-greens, even showing silver or gold hues on occassion.

A traditional juniper for bonsai is at times referred to as a Chinese Juniper. Another very popular species for bonsai is the Needle Juniper. The Needle Juniper gets it name from it’s very sharply pointed needles.

Watering Your Juniper

With most bonsai trees it would not be a good idea to let them dry out between waterings – not true with the juniper, it likes to dry out. Test the soil everyday to determine when it is time to water your juniper tree. If the soil in the pot looks and feels dry on the surface it is time to water it again. Put your finger into the soil to a depth of about one half to one inch. If the soil feels dry then you have to water your bonsai. Never allow your bonsai to go completely dry or it may suffer damage and die. Set your bonsai in the sink or in a container of water, practically up to the rim, for 15-30 minutes or until all the air bubbles stop rising and the soil is saturated. After watering using this suggestion you want to make certain that you allow it to drain completely because junipers are vulnerable to root rot if the roots sit in water. If you can’t soak your plants using this method then water thoroughly from the top, wait a few minutes, and then water again. You may need to do this a few times until the soil has been thoroughly soaked. A complete water cycle will go from the soil being completely soaked to being sort of dry.

A frequent spraying of your juniper bonsai’s foliage will help keep them free of dust and help them to breathe. This is particularly important for trees that have recently been repotted. Your bonsai is at risk of becoming dehydratred until the roots have recovered from the repotting and can bring water to the whole tree. A good spraying will also cut excess transpiration from the juniper’s foliage.

Make Sure Your Juniper Gets the Right Amount of Sunlight

Outdoors are where most Juniper bonsai trees are typically grown. A juniper bonsai tree will tolerate full sun, but the ideal circumstance would be to allow it to get low strength morning sunlight with afternoon shade. Alternatively, filtered or shaded sunlight all day would be fine.

Humidity

Almost all trees and plants love humid growing conditions. You can use a humidity tray beneath your potted juniper bonsai to maintain a higher level of humidity. Place your bonsai pot on top of the stones in the tray. After you’ve given your bonsai a good watering from the top the tray can also serve as a collection area for excess water. Again, a good spraying should be done in between waterings.

Fertilizing

Use a high nitrogen fertilizer in the spring and fertilize every three weeks, then use a more balanced fertilizer during the summer months, and then reduce the nitrogen for fall fertilizing. A diluted, half strength fertilizer will keep your roots from being damaged if you are using a chemical fertilizer.