Shondaroni wrote:
Quote:
Dear Dr. Bonsai,
My boyfriend just bought me a bonsai. From what i can see i think it is a baby juniper (what kind, I couldn't say). Of course he said, "care for it like our love, we'll watch it grow like our love (lol). Ok, from what i have read so far i'm in trouble. I've read that juniper's are not indoor plants. I've killed a bonsai b/4 from leaving it outside in Geogia. Now I live in Boston and it is cold! I'm going to put it in the windowsill but I don't think it will get enough light.
1st Q. _when do I start cutting ? (seasonwise)
2nd Q. How do i know what branches to cut? The woman that sold my friend this plant gave him some"fertilizer" that came in rock form and said apply a spoonful every other month. T or F? Lastly , I think the plant is planted too shallow b/c the root is coming out of the dirt but I don't want it to grow any larger. Should i repot?
Thanks for all of your advice in advance,
shondaroni
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Hi Shondaroni,
Chinese Juniper (Juniperus chinensis) is very cold tolerant. _It is frequently listed as hardy to USDA Zone 4 (-25 to -30F). This is for garden plants whose roots are somewhat protected.
Boston is probably zone 5-6., Georgia is zone 7-8. If it died during a Georgia winter, it wasn't because of cold.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/thisoldhous...feature20a.html
Your juniper should be fine outdoors if you take some steps to protect it from wind and extreme exposure. Juniper can be grown indoors, but as you suspected, keeping up the humidity and light levels without having the soil dry out is going to be very difficult in a heated apartment or home.
Here are some tips for Juniper seasonal care, including overwintering.
http://www.stonelantern.com/per2.html
Having some exposed roots at the base of the tree isn't unusual. Wait to fertilize until spring when you see some new growing tips. Bonsai rarely perish from underfertilization. It is usually because they are poorly located and over/underwatered.
Happy growing,
Dr.Bonsai