Juniper Bonsai Tree Care

If you are stuck in deciding what type of Bonsai tree to grow, then you could do a lot worse that choosing a Juniper. These beautiful trees are considered excellent selections for people beginning Bonsai through to Bonsai enthusiasts alike. Together with the varieties of Pine, a Juniper Bonsai tree will tolerate a vast variety of living conditions and therefore are highly adaptable to being a Bonsai tree. This is especially true when combined with the Kengai Bonsai technique, or cascading style. This is when the Bonsai trunk and it’s branches

develop out over the Bonsai pot and descend below the horizontal aspect. Perfect conditions for Juniper Bonsais are when the tree is placed in full sun and the soil balance is slightly on the dry side. This again, is why growing a Juniper Bonsai tree is perfect for a Bonsai beginner, as watering levels are not a critical as other species. However, the Bonsai soil shouldn't be left to dry out permanently. On the flip side, plenty of water will not have any adverse effect either, proving the Bonsai pot has adequate drainage for the water to be free flowing.

When it comes to feeding a Juniper Bonsai tree, normally every 3 to 4 weeks at the start of Spring right through to mid Autumn is preferred. However, thoughts vary here, with some Bonsai enthusiasts opting to use organic fertilizers instead

With artificial Bonsai fertilisers tending to be harsher, it’s important that proper care should be used to ensure the Juniper Bonsai tee continues to grow and remain healthy. By using a weaker strength of about twenty-twenty-twenty Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium – NPK the Juniper Bonsai should have the perfect balance of nutrients. However, make sure not to use fertilisers during the warmer months or after repotting the Bonsai tree.

It’s a good idea when repotting the Juniper Bonsai tree to also snip away some of the roots, don’t go mad but a light pruning of roots is considered best. Do not be tempted to prune more than one third of the root ball, Juniper Bonsai trees that are younger than ten yeas should be repotted once every few years. Older Junipers depending on their condition can be repotted every three to four.

The correct Bonsai soil mixture is an important aspect of any Juniper Bonsai tree care program. A split of about ten percent peat, thirty percent rough sand and sixty percent soil is about as good as it gets for any Juniper Bonsai. However, a viable, but not quite as good alternative would be to us a mixture of sand, leaf mold and Loam in equal proportions.

With the roots and soli of our Juniper Bonsai taken care off, it’s time to turn our attention the top half. When repotting and especially when trimming any roots you should also take the time to prune away unwanted branches too.

A popular Bonsai technique that Bonsai enthusiasts often use to remove any unwanted new growth is called ‘finger pinching’. This involves rolling the shoot between thumb and forefinger before a sharp twist ensures a clean cut. Practice is best advised before performing this procedure however, as if used incorrectly can but extra strain of the trunk of the Juniper Bonsai tree. Once mastered, the finger pinching technique should be use frequently throughout the growing season in order to maintain balance to the foliage.

One thing to watch our for throughout your Juniper Bonsai tree care program is red spider insects. These are a common problem to all Juniper Bonsai trees. Tell-tale signs of infection with theses pests are yellow looking foliage and tiny spots on the underside of the Junipers branches. A good tip would be to use a lightly coloured peace of paper or any other whitish material and give a branch a light tap whilst holding the sheet of paper directly below. Hopefully this will disturb a few of the pests causing them to fall onto the paper. Any signs of life from the paper are likely to mean the Juniper is infected.

Tobacco dipped in water can be a good home made solution. However, it’s probably best to source a professional solution specifically designed to cure the infection of the Bonsai tree.

Once the insecticide has had chance to work for a few days, you should daily spray the infected areas with water, and allow to dry fully. If the infection still persists then you should seek further Juniper Bonsai tree care help.