Cedar or Juniper? Dead or Alive?

frostywonder

My friend received a bonsai tree from her sister and, out of fun, named the tree "Squishy." Her sister told her that Squishy was a cedar, but it looks an awful lot like a juniper. I was wondering if anyone could give me good details of both trees, since we have not been able to find telling pictures. If it is a juniper, then it cannot be kept indoors, right? But what about cedars?

Here is a (not-so-good) picture of Squishy: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v.../squishy-00.png

In my opinion, Squishy should have been named Spikey. The tree is, best described, quite prickly. This worries me because I once bought a tree for someone and it turned out to be a juniper, which she kept indoors unknowingly - not that it mattered because the tree was dead before I ever bought it - and when she finally took it to a "tree doctor," he told her that it being prickly was a sign of it no longer being alive. I also read that junipers can look alive for almost six months after death, which was the case of hers. =(

I know for a fact that my friend over waters Squishy. Both her and her roommate water it 3-5 times a week and every time I visit, its pot is sitting in a tray of water. I have told them to cut back, but since I am hardly an expert they refuse to listen to me. =/

As for my tree, I have owned it for about a year and half now. The only problem I have ever had with it is that its bottom leaves turned yellow and fell off. I was told this was due to a nitrogen problem (the upper leaves pulling the nitrogen from the lower) and started to put little nitrogen sticks in the soil and there was no longer a problem. The pot itself is only 4 inches (10.16 cm) tall and 2.5 inches (6.35 cm) wide with no draining hole for water. I usually wait till the top soil is dry before I water and I always do three light waterings (letting the soil suck up the water before continuing to the next). Aside from leaves beginning to yellow every now and then I haven't had a problem, but I was wondering if I should maybe change pots or soil? Especially soil, since it seems like I am having to "nitrogen it" more frequently now.

I apologize for asking so many questions, but I am having a hard time finding any useful information in bonsai care books & webpages. Any help would be great! =)

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chkaplan

Looks like a juniper to me Frosty, and yes if it is, make sure you keep it outdoors. I have a juniper indoors, but that's because I didn't know anything about bonsai when I bought it, and I live on the 25th floor in Manhattan! Gotta find a happy home for her soon...

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