Care For The Juniper Bonsai Tree - Part I
Bonsai practioners all over
the world have used the hugely popular juniper tree to create some of
the most spectacular bonsai specimens. The hugely popular juniper tree has over 50 varieties that can be
found all over the world. Juniper trees are very popular, especially among
beginner bonsai artist, because they are one of the easiest bonsai trees to take
care of. The juniper bonsai can be grown
indoors but it needs proper levels of both humidity and light to do well and without
these things it will promptly die. Generally
speaking you should only fetch your juniper bonsai tree inside to display for
short periods of time and then take it back outside where it will thrive.
At different stages of the juniper’s life it will display different types of
foliage. Young juniper trees have foliage
that is like needles, and when they mature the foliage is more scale-like. Depending on the species, Junipers may display foliage
that ranges in color from light greens to bluish greens to golden hues.
Among bonsai practioners, the Chinese Juniper
tree is one of the most traditional and popular variety of junipers. Another very
popular species for bonsai is the Needle Juniper. As you might guess, the Needle Juniper has very sharp
needles,
How to Water Your
Juniper
Unlike some other types of bonsai
trees Junipers in reality like to dry out between waterings. In order to
estimate when it is time to water you should feel the soil each
day. Your bonsai needs water when the soil
looks and feels dry on the surface. Feel down to about one inch deep
in the soil. Give your bonsai tree a
good watering if the soil feels dry. Don’t ever let your juniper bonsai dry out
completely or you will do it harm. 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. Be sure to drain the water thoroughly after taking it out of the sink or
container to make sure the roots aren’t sitting 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. Repeat this until your bonsai has
received a thorough soaking. A
complete water cycle will go from the soil being completely soaked to being sort of
dry.
A frequesnt spraying of your juniper bonsai’s
foliage will help keep them free of dust and help them to breathe. This is above all important for trees
that have recently been repotted. Junipers are able to
absorb adequate water through their foliage to keep from becoming
dried up until the roots have recovered sufficiently
to sustain the tree themselves. A good misting will help
to reduce the amount of water lost through trnspiration on hot days.
Just the Right Amount of Sunlight
Outdoors are
where most Juniper bonsai trees are typically grown. Ideally, a Juniper tree would prefer to get a good dose of morning sun, and
then have shade in the afternoon. Junipers can also do well with filtered sunlight
throughout the day.
Humidity
Humidty is a beneficial
environmental condition for nearly all trees. A humidity tray, or a plate with small stones and water placed beneath your
bonsai pot will help keep the humidity levels up. Be sure not to let your bonsai pot sit in the water. Excess water
can also be collected in the humidity tray after a thorough top-watering. Don’t forget
to give your juniper a good spraying in between waterings.
Feeding
A proper schedule would include fertilizing your juniper bonsai tree once every two
to three weeks during the growing season, beginning with a high nitrogen fertilizer in
the spring, a balanced fertilizer through summer and mid-autumn, and then a
low-nitrogen fertilizer until winter. If using chemical
fertilizers be sure to dilute to half strength so that roots are not damaged.
