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Originally Posted by rockm
"He uses the fridge for short dormancy periods and the rest of the time it stands in his apt window...it's been working for a couple of years so far."
Juniper and pines have no dormancy period--that is why they are evergreen. They retain foliage to take advantage of the ability to photosynthesize year round--something that gives them a leg up on their deciduous counterparts. Putting a conifer in a dark cold place won't induce dormancy or do them much good or contribute to indoor success.
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Um .... not so sure you are correct in this statement. You are (to my experience and book reading) partially right. Putting a conifer in a dark place will not induce dormancy - it will kill it due to lack of light.
Now putting a conifer in a dark and cold place will put it in dormancy but you have to follow very specific guidelines. It must be the proper season for cold (middle of summer is no good). It must be the proper temperature (below 34 degrees and with some cultivars below zero for a short period). The funny part is once they hit the degree they are looking for light does not effect dormancy. Lights can be on all day and night and the tree does not see it. Photosynthesis takes place in a range - for example (and this is an example for this post) between 34 degrees and 110 degrees. Below that and it's lights out. Above that and again it's lights out. Why? Because the plant is shutting down to save energy over the winter and during the harshest periods of heat. It's called survival. They do not take in water hardly at all and they do not transpire hardly at all. No photosynthesis means no food needed either.
How do I know this? Let's say I am growing plants that should not grow in central Florida. White pine, japanese larch and soon to add ponderosa pine. It has taken a long time and a lot of research to figure this out. Is this the best thing for the trees? No. Does it work? For now - ask me in 10 years if it is still working.
All you need is a cold room capable of getting down and holding at 34 degrees and a freezer that can go at least to zero. And a very good schedule system so you get the amount of time each cultivar needs for dormancy at the right temperature and time in the cold room and in the freezer.
One last point - pines have 2 growth spurts per year. One as spring rolls around when buds become candles and elongate (after winter) and one as fall starts the new buds form and set for next year (after the hell we call summer). My opinion is they have 2 dormancy periods - winter and summer. The japanese graft black and white pine in July with a higher success rate than winter grafts. Must be dormancy? Pines get no leg up per say - nothing I have grows slower.
Sorry - this post has nothing to do with juniper other than if you try hard enough and come up with all sorts of crazy ideas anything is possible. But keep junipers outside - OK?