Aaron_K

Hi Goxflee,

The first thing you want to do is get those stones off the soil, as well as what looks to be a moss of some description. The stones, although they might look pretty, will interfere with the exchange of water and air to the soil, particularly if they are glued on as is often the case. The mosses/grasses can sap a lot of the nutrients from getting to your tree, so it would be best to get rid of them.

As you quite rightly said, Junipers are outdoor bonsai, with most species being hardy down to zone 3. If you suspect the tree is ailing, do not feed it, and let it recover on its own. Also, if the tree is in plain old potting compost, you might want to change the soil to a better draining mix that does not compact so easily.

The trouble with Junipers is that they can go on looking alive, for weeks after they are in fact dead. A simple test is to scratch a tiny bit of bark from the base of the trunk. If the cambium layer is green underneath, then your tree is alive. If it is not... then you have a dead bonsai.

All the best,

Aaron