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"Hey there, looks like you have a juniperus procumbins, or prostrate juniper. First off, how cold is it in new york? If it isnt below -10c your bonsai should be ok outside. Indoors is no place for a juniper, unless it has south facing light all day and good ventilation"

If the juniper has been grown in greenhouse conditions, or has been moved from a very warm origin, like Fla. or So. cal and hasn't been acclimated to colder conditions OVER TIME, it will probably be killed if it's plunked outside in frigid conditions below freezing- 32 F.

Junipers require a conditioning-or "hardening off" period, like all other temperate zone plants, to build up defenses against cold conditions. Since this looks to be a mass produced "mallsai" I would guess it's not been kept outdoors, or at least hasn't been kept outdoors over the autumn and into the winter. I would keep it inside for the remainder of the winter and get it back outside 24/7 come spring and the danger of frost has passed.

Forget about the moss. It is seasonal and will not survive inside. It is an accent to the tree and is replaceable come springtime. The crispy foliage is another matter. Typically, indoor junipers with first time owners have watering problems. They're either over watered and fussed over too much, or they are underwatered. Symptoms for both are the same--yellowing, crispy foliage.

Check the soil. If it's soggy like a sponge, it's getting too much water. Soil should be only damp or moist. Indoor plants in winter need far less water than an outdoor plant in summer. If the soil is dry an inch down or so, wait another day to water.

Also, check to see that the water you're providing is actually penerating the soil. Typically, bonsai like this are planted in very bad soil, which holds too much water. When it dries out completely however--which can happen in big retail establishments where plants get sporadic care or none at all--the soil becomes inpenatrable to water. Scratch down into the soil to see if it's dusty. If it's not moist an inch into the soil mass, water is only running of the surface and not getting inside where it can be used...

24-Jan-2007	#3
rockm bonsaiTALK ArchMaster Join Date: Oct-2003 Location: Fairfax, Va Country: USA USDA Zone: 7 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 4,561	"Hey there, looks like you have a juniperus procumbins, or prostrate juniper. First off, how cold is it in new york? If it isnt below -10c your bonsai should be ok outside. Indoors is no place for a juniper, unless it has south facing light all day and good ventilation" If the juniper has been grown in greenhouse conditions, or has been moved from a very warm origin, like Fla. or So. cal and hasn't been acclimated to colder conditions OVER TIME, it will probably be killed if it's plunked outside in frigid conditions below freezing- 32 F. Junipers require a conditioning-or "hardening off" period, like all other temperate zone plants, to build up defenses against cold conditions. Since this looks to be a mass produced "mallsai" I would guess it's not been kept outdoors, or at least hasn't been kept outdoors over the autumn and into the winter. I would keep it inside for the remainder of the winter and get it back outside 24/7 come spring and the danger of frost has passed. Forget about the moss. It is seasonal and will not survive inside. It is an accent to the tree and is replaceable come springtime. The crispy foliage is another matter. Typically, indoor junipers with first time owners have watering problems. They're either over watered and fussed over too much, or they are underwatered. Symptoms for both are the same--yellowing, crispy foliage. Check the soil. If it's soggy like a sponge, it's getting too much water. Soil should be only damp or moist. Indoor plants in winter need far less water than an outdoor plant in summer. If the soil is dry an inch down or so, wait another day to water. Also, check to see that the water you're providing is actually penerating the soil. Typically, bonsai like this are planted in very bad soil, which holds too much water. When it dries out completely however--which can happen in big retail establishments where plants get sporadic care or none at all--the soil becomes inpenatrable to water. Scratch down into the soil to see if it's dusty. If it's not moist an inch into the soil mass, water is only running of the surface and not getting inside where it can be used...